Poll- Bristle worms: good or bad

[ebushrow]

Your poppulation of bristle worms is largely dependent on how much you feed...if you over feed and have food on the bottom for the hermits to get, bristle worms are faster....more food =bigger worms= more babies...this has been from my experience. They are awesome scavengers for the leftover food and waste, however, too big of a population may cause problems and corals will be at risk....mostly since when a small portion dies, bristle worms will eat the dead part, and I am betting that they just can't help themselves and keep eating into the good flesh of the corals. I think that is how they have gotten such a bad reputation.

 

[stevieduk]

So after setting up my new tank I noticed I have a good amount of Bristol worms. I've been doing some research and seems like one person will say they good and the next will say they are bad. I wanted to do a quick poll to see what everyone thinks. Are they a valuable part of a CUC? Are they reef safe or is it better to try and get rid of them?[/QUOTEIIf you get to many worms , you know you are feeding your fish to much

 

[Wiz]

If it's still alive and you don't want it send it to me please.

Wow you read my mind....I just found this in my tank last nite...I think it's a Bristle Worm...and I threw him back in based on what I had read and been wondering if that was the right call...

My bigger question was how it got into my system...I suspect a coral frag, but I dipped in Coral Rx 2-3 and QT'd before entering my tank...
everything else was dry rock/sand...makes me wonder why I bother QT'ing sometimes...

 

[Wiz]

I personally like bristle worms they do not bother me at all even a very large population does not bother me. I've yet to get one big enough to cause a problem but I would imagine the size would be the worst Factor.

The original worm is very cool looks similar to a eunice head but not quite the same worm structure. I'd love to see more pics. Preferably closer if you could.

The one in the bucket very well could be a bristle Worm. But the very white sides to it kind of concerned me a little. However I am not extremely well-versed in bristle worms either. But if you ask me it matches that picture of the Caribbean fireworm pretty well. What do you think @Lionfish Lair

 

[alyee5]

If it's still alive and you don't want it send it to me please.

He/she/it's back in my tank...I'll let you know!

 

[Wiz]

That's cool.I just hate to see them killed. And that one is pretty different looking. Cool. :-D

 

[Lionfish Lair]

The fatty is a Caribbean for sure a.k.a. Eurythoe complanata. It's a bristleworm, yet has been given the common name the Caribbean Fireworm. It's still not a true fireworm, like the Hermodice carunculata. The carunculata eats living things in your tank and is a predator, the complanata is a scavenger like other britleworms.

Just a tidbit.... all fireworms are bristleworms, but not all bristleworms are fireworms....

 

[Lionfish Lair]

I've only seen 2 true fireworms in a hobbyist's tank.

 

[Wiz]

I missed you @Lionfish Lair ! I didn't know. I have some fireworms on route. You'll have to help me I'd them

 

[Debramb]

I personally like bristle worms they do not bother me at all even a very large population does not bother me. I've yet to get one big enough to cause a problem but I would imagine the size would be the worst Factor.

The original worm is very cool looks similar to a eunice head but not quite the same worm structure. I'd love to see more pics. Preferably closer if you could.

The one in the bucket very well could be a bristle Worm. But the very white sides to it kind of concerned me a little. However I am not extremely well-versed in bristle worms either. But if you ask me it matches that picture of the Caribbean fireworm pretty well. What do you think @Lionfish Lair

I agree! This is right after feeding, note the pods fighting for food w/worms, pods are faster lol

 

[Debramb]

Above, a couple of those were "removed" lol
When they are large, I harvest! Is it true the females "burst" and die after breeding?

 

[Alef21]

I pull out this 3 years ago!!!

 

[Wiz]

Awesome! That's a beast

 

[Steveooo1976]

I never worry about them. Good Cuc.

 

[scottbapilot]

What in the world is a Bristol worm?? Are they only found in Tennessee?

Half of them are also found in West Virginia.

 

[bif24701]

Half of them are also found in West Virginia.

west Virginia

Not

West Virginia

I'm sure that was probably autocorrect

 

[Sir Chris]

What's ur guys take on spaghetti worms?

 

[Debramb]

Ribbon Worm? How old was your tank???
Wow

 

[Wiz]

Another great cleaner if you ask me.

What's ur guys take on spaghetti worms?

 

[Paul B]

They are fine as long as you are not a crustacean as they hunt them down and eat them when they shed. I can't keep arrowcrabs or shrimp any more as they get eaten when they shed.
I think they wait behind a rock and trip the crabs when they walk by.