What are these crazy worms?

ItsAName · Apr 11, 2018

Every coral frag I pull up has about 10 to 50 of them under them. If I had to guess, I must have 1000s in the sand. Every golf ball area of sand probably has 5 or so of them. About 75% are half the size as the ones in the picture.

Are they bad? Should I get something to eat them?

Fudsey · Apr 11, 2018

Bristle worms, do not touch them but good part of cuc. Although you will get answers say nuke them, they eat left over food

Fudsey · Apr 11, 2018

From my old tank, this is just a few I got out

eaze333 · Apr 11, 2018

isopod of some sort?

ItsAName · Apr 11, 2018

Fudsey said:
Bristle worms, do not touch them but good part of cuc. Although you will get answers say nuke them, they eat left over food

Is it ok to have so many?

ItsAName · Apr 11, 2018

Fudsey said:
From my old tank, this is just a few I got out

Oh wow, they get huge. I wonder how long from my size to the ones in your picture.

Erica-Renee · Apr 11, 2018

These worms self regulate, Meaning if you over feed your tank they will over run your tank . Having a super abundance of them, Seeing them often when lights are on is a sign your tank is OVERFED...

With the above said there could be other reasons of having so many, New non cured live rock die off and so on. My Matted file fish thinks they are tasty snacks.They are a vital part of a aquarium eco-system

Good Luck

Fudsey · Apr 11, 2018

The number you have will fluctuate with the amount of food available to them. My old tank's rock was literally loaded with them. If I moved a piece they would be all over the bottom sand

Erica-Renee · Apr 11, 2018

ItsAName said:
Oh wow, they get huge. I wonder how long from my size to the ones in your picture.

Those are not that large check out videos on youtube for bristle worms

tastyfish · Apr 11, 2018

Young bristleworms. Excellent clean up crew and great for the tank. As above, don't stroke them

Numbers will adjust to the food supply. So if you are feeding lots and there is lots left over, there will be more bristleworms to clean it up

rockstarta78 · Apr 11, 2018

Bristleworms are really good CuC. That being said, I still hate worms of any and every type. They just give me the creeps. For this reason only, last week I ordered a yellow coris wrasse. And not to mention I love the look of coris wrasse.