How did these worms get in my qt??

[boozeman27]

are these just common bristle worms? If so, how do you think they got in my bb qt? I only have a couple pieces of dry Marco rock crumbles in there and some marine pure block and some pvc tubes. I do have a couple of snails in there cause it’s really just a observation tank. Where in the heck could they have come from? This tank has only housed 3 fish since set up. Weird or common?

 

[boozeman27]

Oh and since the Chromis in the tank has Uronema, Can I put those worms in my dt? Or is that crazy! My dt is on day 87 and has no worm life in it that I know of.

 

[Labridaedicted]

Looks like bristleworms. They were probably in that live rock rubble when you added it. Nothing to worry about

 

[boozeman27]

Is it possible to infect my dt if I put the worms in it?

 

[boozeman27]

it was dry rock too btw

 

[Wiz]

For the most part bristle worms do not bother anything. They could have come in with the snails as well. I would not worry about them and my personal opinion is that it is perfectly okay for them to go in your tank.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

For the most part bristle worms do not bother anything. They could have come in with the snails as well. I would not worry about them and my personal opinion is that it is perfectly okay for them to go in your tank.

+1 for coming in on snails!

 

[MaddyP]

Is it possible to infect my dt if I put the worms in it?

I definitely wouldn't risk it. Bristleworms can be a good addition to your clean up crew, but if I had my choice I would choose a tank without them. Too many times have I picked up a rock out of the tank to get a surprise in the finger by these critters.

 

[boozeman27]

All right I won’t risk infecting my dt. Besides, if they came from the snails or dry rock, those are also in my dt from same source so there are probably hundreds in the dt already, I just haven’t seen them yet.

 

[boozeman27]

Thanks guys!

 

[Dhoggs]

Good CUC but I will personally NOT intentionally put them in my tank.

 

[cwalton00]

+1 for coming in on snails!

Yep!

 

[Liquid360]

All right I won’t risk infecting my dt. Besides, if they came from the snails or dry rock, those are also in my dt from same source so there are probably hundreds in the dt already, I just haven’t seen them yet.

I recently lost my reef in a horrible accident. In the remaining tank water, as it was exposed to air, hundreds of bristle worms abandoned their holes in a writhing gross mass. I’m VERY careful as well with qt. There’s nothing you can do and they’re harmless. They find a way into your system no matter how careful you are and generally you’ll have no idea they’re there

 

[Mical]

a coral banded shrimp will keep your bristle worm population in check

 

[Liquid360]

a coral banded shrimp will keep your bristle worm population in check

I’ve had a couple. Seriously aggressive lil guys

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I’m not worried about the worms themselves in the tank, but did everyone miss the fact he said the chromis in QT has uronema? Nothing that’s been anywhere near that QT should go anywhere near your DT without significant sterilization.

 

[andrewkw]

All right I won’t risk infecting my dt. Besides, if they came from the snails or dry rock, those are also in my dt from same source so there are probably hundreds in the dt already, I just haven’t seen them yet.

IMO you don't have a healthy biodiversity if your tank has no bristle worms. The only danger they present as what has already been pointed out is pricking you. The population is self regulating. If there is not a lot of wasted food there won't be a ton of worms. As scavengers they aren't going to all of a sudden turn vicious because there is no dead / dying food and start attacking healthy animals. They will simply starve to death.

Since these worms come from a tank that has disease I wouldn't add them so I'm not suggesting you put them in. What I am saying is eventually you should have some in your tank and you probably already do, it's nothing to be concerned about.

As for where they came from, wherever the rubble / marine pure came from is where the worms came from. If that's your DT then there are some in there.

 

[boozeman27]

Thanks everyone. I did not put them in my dt and will not. The marine pure was brand new, not a seeded piece from dt so that is ruled out. Just was curious as to how they got there as it was set up completely sterile. must have been the 3 snails i put in there to control some algae. The snails btw did not come from dt, but a shipment from LA. And the fact that they are huge! Very curious.

 

[andrewkw]

Thanks everyone. I did not put them in my dt and will not. The marine pure was brand new, not a seeded piece from dt so that is ruled out. Just was curious as to how they got there as it was set up completely sterile. must have been the 3 snails i put in there to control some algae. The snails btw did not come from dt, but a shipment from LA. And the fact that they are huge! Very curious.

Did you not check to see if the snails were alive before you put them in?

 

[boozeman27]

Yes snails were alive when put in there and still are.