lifespan of a bristle worm

[JVH]

I ask this because I had so many a few weeks ago that I would see. Can't imagine how many baby's or smaller ones I DON'T see!! I'm sure there are plenty! I have seen a few tiny ones but I had at least 3 or 4 GIANT suckers that I would see on a regular basis.. I don't know if they got so big they climbed out and are living in the house someplace:mad: OR, did they die? Or just in hiding? I have almost never had a day pass when during feeding this one or two fat ones would come out. Haven't seen them in over a week!
Are they short lived? My tank is up about8 month.

Side note...My peppermint shrimp was killed yesterday.... Loved that little guy.. Bristle worm? Or baby trigger fish?

 

[oldsaint]

My money is on the trigger for taking out your shrimp.
My understanding "bristle" worm's life cycles are approx a week to a month depending on the type of polychaete worm you're talking about. The term "bristle worm" is a catch all term used loosely to describe worms that fall in the class Polychaetes. There are many, 10,000+ . Google "Polychaetes life cycle" or life span and you will get more info.

 

[madtownguy]

I would set traps for them. I can't imagine a bristle worm getting to 7 inches in a month but I suppose it's possible, that was about the largest I had caught. I lost a lot of fish in a tank do to those dang pesks. Never lost any shrimp though, but never had a peppermint. The trap is cheap and worked well for me.

 

[JVH]

Is there specifically a bristle worm trap that you can get? Or is it a DYII type of thing and can you tell me what that is? I had to really big bristle worms and I tell you I have seen nor hide or hair of them! I did have one eat a baby clam I think he ate it from underneath the stand when I do my upgrade I am going to try and not bring them over though I know they're going to live in some of my rock but I would like to have a trap to get them before they get too big to do anymore damage ! I have a fire shrimp that I love great personality I'm afraid he might be next !I am hoping that my upgrade will be ready by the weekend and then I could move them all into a bigger tank with much more space

 

[madtownguy]

Google it, they are cheap. I lost a $250 fish to it not to mention about 5 others, if I see a bristle worm now for sure it is trap time. I don't know the life cycle, but I do know when I started having problems it was months after I added live rock.

It's just a green plastic tube with shrimp to put inside as bait.

 

[oldsaint]

Is there specifically a bristle worm trap that you can get?

Sneak into the wife or GF's drawer and snag some stocking or pantyhose. Toss some food in them and place them on the bottom of the tank. When the worms craw on the hose to get to the food their bristle stick to the netting like Velcro. Then just pull the hose out.

 

[Tahoe61]

Google it, they are cheap. I lost a $250 fish to it not to mention about 5 others, if I see a bristle worm now for sure it is trap time. I don't know the life cycle, but I do know when I started having problems it was months after I added live rock.

It's just a green plastic tube with shrimp to put inside as bait.

It was NOT a bristle worm that killed the fishes, it may have been a bristle worm doing what they should do and cleaning up. Trust me you losing fish was NOT and I repeat NOT the fault of a bristle worm.

They can live for years, I have had several in my tanks over 3 feet long.

Bristle worm populations are limited by food source, if you feed too much the population grows.

There are a number of predatory worms that make it into our tanks, the common Bristle worm is not one of them. Look else where for the demise of your fish.

 

[madtownguy]

It was NOT a bristle worm that killed the fishes, it may have been a bristle worm doing what they should do and cleaning up. Trust me you losing fish was NOT and I repeat NOT the fault of a bristle worm.

They can live for years, I have had several in my tanks over 3 feet long.

Bristle worm populations are limited by food source, if you feed too much the population grows.

There are a number of predatory worms that make it into our tanks, the common Bristle worm is not one of them. Look else where for the demise of your fish.

Although I can't say with certainty it was because it always happened during the night, once I removed a few the deaths stopped happening. All the fish were healthy with no signs of stress, eating well. The worm makes the most sense because they tend to come out at night in my tank. I was advised that could be what it was and either way they are ugly and not something I really want in the tank.

 

[Mattrg02]

I've had a few mystery fish deaths, but I've never seen a worm nearby. I've got some in my tank that are large too. They come out at night and stay close to their rocks.

I once saw a mandarin and a pistol shrimp team up on one. Funniest thing I've ever seen.

The mandarin found out the hard way why they're called bristles. The pistol got him a piece though after he blasted it a few times.

 

[madtownguy]

This thread jinxed me, just saw one today in my new tank. Got a trap on order, I really can't stand them. They just look like bad news to me.

 

[Fish_BowLisha]

It was NOT a bristle worm that killed the fishes, it may have been a bristle worm doing what they should do and cleaning up. Trust me you losing fish was NOT and I repeat NOT the fault of a bristle worm.

They can live for years, I have had several in my tanks over 3 feet long.

Bristle worm populations are limited by food source, if you feed too much the population grows.

There are a number of predatory worms that make it into our tanks, the common Bristle worm is not one of them. Look else where for the demise of your fish.

When I first started reefing there were plenty of people giving opinions on these guys. At first I agreed they were hideous looking and I didn't want them in my tank but then I researched them and found they are quite beneficial to the balance of a tank. They have come to be just as important to me as my little blue legged hermits. They are not hunters merely scavengers. But I suppose if you don't have any scraps they could begin to fend for themselves just as the crabs have been rumored to do. It's all about balance...probably why I'm so addicted to this hobby. The seemingly evasive, never ending, quest to achieve perfect balance

 

[luke33]

I wouldn't worry to much about the worms as like mentioned above they pose little harm. I have had them live for years in my tank's and every now and then they do get a little large but I've never had any take out a fish. I believe if they tried to take down a fish the fish would get away 99 out of 100 times. I've had a few large one's take out snails before though, but they were 8" +

I bet the trigger took out the shrimp. Also I believe an arrow crab would cut down on the worm population.

 

[Bensadork]

I have a bristleworm in my tank that is pushing a foot long. And that's in a 46 gallon tank. He always hangs out in the same place everyday under the front of the rocks in my tank. He likes to poke his head out when i drop flake food in. I have never once seen that bristlework mess with my peppermint shrimp, my emerald crab, my hermits, or any fish I have. If you aren't seeing that bristleworm take out its tank mates, I would be leary to assume that it is. I have seen my peppermint shrimp chomping down on some baby stomatella snails though.

 

[Tahoe61]

Arrow Crabs will munch on large bristle worms like candy, but Arrow's get large and obnoxious fast, they are cool though.
Most Dotty backs will actively pursue all size of bristle worms.
If you absolutely can not tolerate bristle worms for what ever reason a knee high stocking tied at the end with a small piece of raw fish or shrimp will attract bristle worms at night. The worm gets caught up in the nylon fibers, and you simply remove them.

At one time I had a 3 foot bristle worm living in the same tunnel as my pistol shrimp and my yellow watchman goby, got the images to prove it.

Not everything ugly and creepy is bad in this hobby, it's a package deal.

 

[JVH]

Sneak into the wife or GF's drawer and snag some stocking or pantyhose. Toss some food in them and place them on the bottom of the tank. When the worms craw on the hose to get to the food their bristle stick to the netting like Velcro. Then just pull the hose out.

I like that idea a lot! Only I wear the panty hose!! J=Judith! LOL sorry for the confusion.

 

[JVH]

bristle worms at night. The worm gets caught up in the nylon fibers, and you simply remove them.

At one time I had a 3 foot bristle worm living in the same tunnel as my pistol shrimp and my yellow watchman goby, got the images to prove it.

Not everything ugly and creepy is bad in this hobby, it's a package deal.[/QUOTE]

WHAT?! That's crazy! I heard the a big goby will eat a bristle worm or a visa versa if the goby is small.
I guess you just never know!

 

[JVH]

I have a bristleworm in my tank that is pushing a foot long. And that's in a 46 gallon tank. He always hangs out in the same place everyday under the front of the rocks in my tank. He likes to poke his head out when i drop flake food in. I have never once seen that bristlework mess with my peppermint shrimp, my emerald crab, my hermits, or any fish I have. If you aren't seeing that bristleworm take out its tank mates, I would be leary to assume that it is. I have seen my peppermint shrimp chomping down on some baby stomatella snails though.

Same for me! But lately I haven't seen them during feeding or in the night so I think the giant one is gone! Also had a larger emerald crab that was loving my bubble algae and one day something tore it apart! I could not figure out what could have done that besides another hermit because I have one pretty large one who I have seen start trouble before..
But I guess it could have been a bristle! Which now I honk took our my baby clam! I didn't care they were there even though they are not my favorite but if they are taking out livestock they gotta go

 

[JVH]

I wouldn't worry to much about the worms as like mentioned above they pose little harm. I have had them live for years in my tank's and every now and then they do get a little large but I've never had any take out a fish. I believe if they tried to take down a fish the fish would get away 99 out of 100 times. I've had a few large one's take out snails before though, but they were 8" +

I bet the trigger took out the shrimp. Also I believe an arrow crab would cut down on the worm population.

The trigger fish is pretty small.. Geeze! I also have a fire shrimp I'm pretty fond of...He is pretty quick so 'Im hoping he can hang in another few days till I get my new biger tank ready..
Would hate to loose him! Also don't want to get rid of trigger fish. He has such a great personality..
I do need to increase my CUC. What do you think is safe?

 

[bobbychullo]

It was NOT a bristle worm that killed the fishes, it may have been a bristle worm doing what they should do and cleaning up. Trust me you losing fish was NOT and I repeat NOT the fault of a bristle worm.

They can live for years, I have had several in my tanks over 3 feet long.

Bristle worm populations are limited by food source, if you feed too much the population grows.

There are a number of predatory worms that make it into our tanks, the common Bristle worm is not one of them. Look else where for the demise of your fish.

This is correct ^^^^^^^^^^^^

You need to get a photo of the worm to show us if you can. I would post a photo before doing anything extreme. The commom bristleworm as we know them i this hobby eats detritus not live flesh. A Eunicid Polychaete is a different story...

the pics below are a common bristleworm, they will not kill a fish. Ive seen my fish with their bristles stuck in their face but it was because my fish got too close of a looky...

 

[JVH]

That picture is definetly the worms in my tank! However I think something happens because yet again today they did not come out afte feeding as They did before..
And just to clarify I had a plan that was eaten by something and I'm vessel my arm was in the empty shell when I came home and my shrimp was half eaten though that I am pretty sure I know was the triggerfish