Bristleworm infestation

[Avelino Alicea]

Any suggestions on how to get rid of all these bristleworms? At first it seemed okay as they were eating detritus and leftover food, but now they're so many I can't even get my yellow clown goby eggs to make it past their second day.

I've tried traps and they don't work. The worms are smart enough to not go all the way in so they are able to come right out after grabbing the bait.

There has to be a better, less intrusive way to get rid of them.

I have a red mithrax crab that's been catching some, and a blue striped dottyback that doesn't seem to know he's supposed to eat them (apparently tank bred).

Help help help.

 

[ScubaFish802]

Have you tried the maze style 3D printed traps as well? maybe stops them from being able to reach in and take it?

 

[homer1475]

You do realize their population is based on available food source?

Quit feeding so much and they will die back.

 

[Avelino Alicea]

Have you tried the maze style 3D printed traps as well? maybe stops them from being able to reach in and take it?

I have not. I got the one on the attached picture. Total garbage. I think I saw the 3D printed ones, unless I didn't get the right results, they didn't look like a maze.
I don't want to dip the rocks in chemicals or hot water because some have corals already attached to them and expanding.

 

[homer1475]

Coris wrasse, melanurus wrasse, leopard wrasse, they will all eat them like candy.

 

[Avelino Alicea]

You do realize their population is based on available food source?

Quit feeding so much and they will die back.

Um, I've gone down to feeding the fish once a day and a small amount. Been doing that for a while, so your suggestion that I'm feeding my fish so much is baseless. I know they thrive on extra food. When I said leftovers it wasn't meant to imply I overfeed my fish.

 

[New&no clue]

I bought an arrow crab. First night in the tank I checked him at night and he was munching away on a worm. He wont go after the big ones, but he eats the smaller ones.

 

[Avelino Alicea]

Coris wrasse, melanurus wrasse, leopard wrasse, they will all eat them like candy.

Thanks, will look into one of these.

 

[homer1475]

It's not baseless, it's how they regulate their population. You may have recently cut back on feeding, but it will also take time for them to die back.

 

[Xanthurum]

I hate to ask the obvious question but did you leave the trap in the tank overnight? If not you need to do that since they come out more at night. Second though it’s use bait that doesn’t come apart so easy like a chunk of shrimp.
arrow crabs also love to eat bristleworms as do many wrasses as mentioned above

 

[Conchman]

Cut back on feeding, any explosion of anything usually indicates a food source, plastic bottle and straws trap, look it up on you tube...or here...

 

[Avelino Alicea]

Update: built my own trap from suggestions. First time didn't work, but kept on trying and managed to get about a hundred out.

Was actually using my diy trap and another one I bought. However, there were too many, so I took drastic measures.

Painstakingly took the rocks out of the tank and dipped them in cold tap water. They came out of their crevices like crazy. I was able to clear most of them, but I know there are still a bunch more. I didn't want to risk killing my corals so I put everything back after getting as many worms out. Even plucked a bunch with tweezers.

I will try this whole thing again over the weekend. Hopefully I can rid of them all. I am still setting my traps as they were working.

 

[joseserrano]

I’m fairly sure the dipping the rocks in tap water is not a great idea. Patients may be needed here. Especially since there isn’t any indications of the bristle worms eating fish or coral

 

[Avelino Alicea]

I’m fairly sure the dipping the rocks in tap water is not a great idea. Patients may be needed here. Especially since there isn’t any indications of the bristle worms eating fish or coral

There was nothing on the rocks other than the bristleworms. It actually worked and I don't regret doing it. I had to take action because my yellow gobies are spawning and the worms kept eating the eggs.

 

[joseserrano]

There was nothing on the rocks other than the bristleworms. It actually worked and I don't regret doing it. I had to take action because my yellow gobies are spawning and the worms kept eating the eggs.

The possibility of contamination from the tap water and bacterial disturbance caused may change your tune in time, but either way, good luck with your quest.

 

[New&no clue]

I just spotted this guys this week.

 

[jaxteller007]

Melanarus wrasse and arrow crab decimated the infestation we had in our old tank. Oh and bumblebee snails.

 

[Mical]

6 line wrasse will devour them.

 

[Pistol Peet]

Any suggestions on how to get rid of all these bristleworms? At first it seemed okay as they were eating detritus and leftover food, but now they're so many I can't even get my yellow clown goby eggs to make it past their second day.

I've tried traps and they don't work. The worms are smart enough to not go all the way in so they are able to come right out after grabbing the bait.

There has to be a better, less intrusive way to get rid of them.

I have a red mithrax crab that's been catching some, and a blue striped dottyback that doesn't seem to know he's supposed to eat them (apparently tank bred).

Help help help.

Funnel trap home maid worked great for me only 2 dollars to make.