Poll- Bristle worms: good or bad
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alyee5
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Here's the best I got...I only took the picture on my Iphone...it was actually floating in the currents of my tank which is what caught my eye...when it hit the sand it seemed to bury itself...but since it is white/translucent it was hard to find again...
Sorry if I am derailing this post...I can start another thread if needed...thx!
Sorry if I am derailing this post...I can start another thread if needed...thx!
Lionfish Lair
Renee
Yes, totally.
There are some that can be more of a nuisance than others. Like the common Eurythoe complanata, they are big and strong. I've played tug-o-way with them over chucks of food. They also are the variety that sticks you easily when you move around rocks. Those I could do without, but they aren't bad. Your variety is probably a Linopherus and I actually have a little pod tank with a few of these in there that I share among my other tanks. You can bounce those in your hand and they don't stick in like the other guys. They have little eyes and I actually really like them....
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Lionfish Lair
Renee
Oh, he could still have powerful mandibles tucked away in there, but the structures that you can see aren't the correct body to mandible ratio for size. They also tend to hold them a little differently than the angle seen in the picture.
Lionfish Lair
Renee
Here's the best I got...I only took the picture on my Iphone...it was actually floating in the currents of my tank which is what caught my eye...when it hit the sand it seemed to bury itself...but since it is white/translucent it was hard to find again...
Sorry if I am derailing this post...I can start another thread if needed...thx!
That's probably an epitoke.
scardall
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Type and size of bristle worm matters. Example of not so good size and type(Caribbean Fire Worm)
Paullawr
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I've had large bristleworms but never had any issues with them.
I'd occasionally go on a thinning exercise if they started to increase in population.
Overall good reef scavenger. I've only ever seen them go after detritus / dead fish, prawns etc that I'd out in there for the inverts.
The do have an advantage of getting in to nooks and crannies other inverts can't get to.
I'd occasionally go on a thinning exercise if they started to increase in population.
Overall good reef scavenger. I've only ever seen them go after detritus / dead fish, prawns etc that I'd out in there for the inverts.
The do have an advantage of getting in to nooks and crannies other inverts can't get to.
runzwithscissors
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Nope. Saw some in Virginia as well.....think they were waving at each other
Lionfish Lair
Renee
None are too big to actively "go after", IMO, but if one wandered out to where I could grab him, it was GAME ON!
That finger in the picture that scardall posted is my husband's. I fondly remember his face when I said "You got stuck? Don't move! Lemme get my camera!". That was the first time he was stuck in 30 years and that's the first time we "met" the complanatas. The were not a common bristleworm years ago and really just came about in the last 10-ish years.
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Lionfish Lair
Renee
I kindda don't think it's the common variety of bristleworm, though....
scardall
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I felt your husbands pain twice so far. ( the pinkish guys are harmless under 1.5")(still handle gently and only when required) Fortunately I have tweezers handy all the time. Note: Getting a Camera to take pics of my finger was NOT on my mine, even when I was stuck the second time days latter of the 1st one.( both were UN-expected as well) I have been in the hobby actively since 82'. Been Reefing since early 90's and until Oct 2016' , I had not felt the pain these guy will inflect if touched. Tools /stuff needed if stuck with spines) Tweezers, vinegar soak for 1.5 minutes (helps dissolve spine bits left over) , Rinse with warm water, Alcohol rinse withe washing hand like normal. I have read the bite is real UN-pleasent and some skin will be lost where stuck. ( not much/no worries) Fun Hobby Huh
Lionfish Lair
Renee
My famous words..."I promise I'll stitch you up, just let me first get the camera."
I remember we used Apple Cider vinegar because we didn't have any plain. Soaked it for 5 and they were gone.
I remember we used Apple Cider vinegar because we didn't have any plain. Soaked it for 5 and they were gone.
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Debramb
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I'm going for "good", sometimes they're as interesting as the fish! Great at clean-up. I agree about thinning the herd! I just captured 5 or 6 of the fat & long (5") last night! They actually will float up in current for netting (after dark) with a lift from underneath.
Lionfish Lair
Renee
How could one say they're bad with a face like this "Oh! Hallo!"
Elementalj
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I don't get worried till they're the size of the sandworms on Arrakis!
Aren't there three subspecies of Bristol Worms? There is the Bristolus connecticus, and the very closely related Bristolus virgianicus and Bristolus tennesseensis. The first of the three has a hard exterior and is known for hard hitting danger to the reef, doing bodily harm in any way it can, while the latter two just run around the tank very quickly in a counterclockwise fashion. It is rather strange to see the tennesseensis and virgianicus spend so much energy for seemingly little gain..... a great waste of energy.
Now taking firmly entranced tongue out of cheek!
Now taking firmly entranced tongue out of cheek!
