Bristleworm trap?

[Blue Meg]

I’ve been told that small bristle worms are ok. However, I’m starting to see some in the 8” range and wanted to do a little removing before things get too out of hand. I am somewhat suspicious about a leopard wrasse that went missing about a month ago, but my six line started to go after it after about six months.

Anyway, I was thinking about getting a 20 oz coke bottle, adding some rocks to weigh it down, stuffing in a cooked gulf shrimp from the grocery store, a couple of rocks for weight, and some monofilament to pull out the bottle when some worms go in. Any thoughts?

 

[Zeal]

If I was in your situation I'd find the rock it's living in and nuke the dang rock

 

[tastyfish]

I've never understood anyone getting rid of bristleworms. They are beneficial clean up crew and multiply/grow to the available food source.

They are detritivores and do not attack or eat anything which isn't dead or dying and rotting.

Leave them be and enjoy clean sand and efficient rock, with the pores kept clear by your bristleworm clean up crew.

 

[Tahoe61]

That is what that fish does, not a big deal.

Feed less and the population will decline. A couple of large ones in a tank is a benefit ime.

 

[Dom274]

I've never understood anyone getting rid of bristleworms. They are beneficial clean up crew and multiply/grow to the available food source.

They are detritivores and do not attack or eat anything which isn't dead or dying and rotting.

Leave them be and enjoy clean sand and efficient rock, with the pores kept clear by your bristleworm clean up crew.

Because it turns out, I'm allergic to them - And I swear they can sting through regular latex gloves.


Even so, I have always let them be. Like you, I thought they were beneficial to the tank and harmless to the other inhabitants.



NOT TRUE!

Last night I noticed BOTH my male and female mandrain had been stung by a bristle worm on their midbody/tail!

As of today, the purge is on. I do have a couple of "monster" ones at 8in, as well as a bunch in the 4-6 range. I'm gonna pull as many as I can with my tongs out over the next couple of weeks. They will be having nightmares about me. Future generations of bristle worms will refer to this as "the dark times".

 

[Zeal]

Because it turns out, I'm allergic to them - And I swear they can sting through regular latex gloves.


Even so, I have always let them be. Like you, I thought they were beneficial to the tank and harmless to the other inhabitants.



NOT TRUE!

Last night I noticed BOTH my male and female mandrain had been stung by a bristle worm on their midbody/tail!

As of today, the purge is on. I do have a couple of "monster" ones at 8in, as well as a bunch in the 4-6 range. I'm gonna pull as many as I can with my tongs out over the next couple of weeks. They will be having nightmares about me. Future generations of bristle worms will refer to this as "the dark times".

I freaked out the first time I saw one in my tank it was super tiny I almost ripped the rock out and burned the dang thing..


Then I did some research.. but if I see it getting massive I'm burning it