So many bristleworms!!!! Help!!!!

[Makubex]

I just took a look at my 75 with a flashlight at night time and spotted like at least 12 gray bristleworms! All about 1-1.5 inches long, I have a 12" serpent sea star in there as only fish for now, will it eat them? I NEVER introduced them!! They mustve come somehow, but the only time I saw one was MONTHS ago on a zoanthid that i dipped in freshwater, I am SURPRISED... how do they multiply and grow so quick? What are their disadvantages? When do they become a pest and why? Thanks

 

[JCM]

They multiply and grow because there is food available. They are keeping your tank clean. You don't need help.

 

[Makubex]

Why and when are they considered a pest? Is it because they reproduce a lot? Why is that a problem? Im confused

 

[revenant]

Arrow crab?

 

[Dkmoo]

you should check on the "too many speghetti worm" thread that's also being discussed now, here:

Spaghetti worm problem

How many is too many spaghetti worms filling up my bottom of my tank

www.reef2reef.com

Same concept applies to bristle worms.

the reason people say its pest b/c its a general name - some types - like the "fire worm" is definitely a pest. But most of the time what you have is the good kind. Google bristle worm vs fire worm to see the difference and see what you have.

 

[Makubex]

They multiply and grow because there is food available. They are keeping your tank clean. You don't need help.

Yes but once they reproduce like mice and u have so many of them wouldnt they become a pest? Ive seen people picking them out bc theres too many of them... im confused, why would they become a pest?

 

[JCM]

Yes but once they reproduce like mice and u have so many of them wouldnt they become a pest? Ive seen people picking them out bc theres too many of them... im confused, why would they become a pest?

They multiply when there is food available and die back when there isn't. Like mentioned above, fireworms are a problem but too many bristle worms isn't.

 

[Makubex]

any idea why these bristleworms turn blue? I turned the light on and all went under the sand and one was out and 85% of its body was blue!

 

[Dkmoo]

any idea why these bristleworms turn blue? I turned the light on and all went under the sand and one was out and 85% of its body was blue!

that means its the good kind - blue probably you are seeing its dark intestine under the lighting and its orange/brownish flesh skin.

 

[Alexopora]

I just took a look at my 75 with a flashlight at night time and spotted like at least 12 gray bristleworms! All about 1-1.5 inches long, I have a 12" serpent sea star in there as only fish for now, will it eat them? I NEVER introduced them!! They mustve come somehow, but the only time I saw one was MONTHS ago on a zoanthid that i dipped in freshwater, I am SURPRISED... how do they multiply and grow so quick? What are their disadvantages? When do they become a pest and why? Thanks

As long as they are the regular bristleworms and not fireworms. They are fine. People may consider pests since they may seem unsightly and disgusting to some. For me, they are just part of cuc and do a great job of keeping my tank clean alongside the other cuc.

 

[PeterZammetti]

I just took a look at my 75 with a flashlight at night time and spotted like at least 12 gray bristleworms! All about 1-1.5 inches long, I have a 12" serpent sea star in there as only fish for now, will it eat them? I NEVER introduced them!! They mustve come somehow, but the only time I saw one was MONTHS ago on a zoanthid that i dipped in freshwater, I am SURPRISED... how do they multiply and grow so quick? What are their disadvantages? When do they become a pest and why? Thanks

They are great for a tank. Will not harm anything. Careful when you put your hand in sand of course but they will not harm a thing. The only real hitchhiker problems out there are flatworms and aphasia. The Nasarius snails are awesome with bristles when you see them out at night.

 

[Cell]

This is a bristleworm problem:

 

[|Frank|]

This is a bristleworm problem:

 

[srobertb]

This is a bristleworm problem:

 

[Ef4life]

This is a bristleworm problem:

Wasn’t the truth here that they fresh water dipped their rock and this was just dead and dying worms that jumped out of the rocks.