Why do people dislike bristleworms?

TnFishwater98 · Mar 10, 2023

I wanted to get rid of them when I started seeing the numbers grow in one of my tanks. Since then they have declined in numbers. I’ve sold a few locally to people that had anemone tanks. They look cool but will definitely move and spread(mainly shaded/low light areas). Kinda of like some mushrooms. Good CUC (filtering food particles or chucks) but they will kill small snails.

multsh · Mar 10, 2023

They have like a red 'stalk', but green in the center. About a month or so now.

TnFishwater98 · Mar 10, 2023

multsh said:
They have like a red 'stalk', but green in the center. About a month or so now.

Do they glow under your blues?

multsh · Mar 10, 2023

TnFishwater98 · Mar 10, 2023

TnFishwater98 said:
Do they glow under your blues?

Mine look more like Zoas/Palys …
Do you have a straight on pic? Definitely different species.

jmichaelh7 · Mar 10, 2023

TnFishwater98 said:

thats an infestation though . I just want to pull out my long tweezers that i use for mine lol

multsh · Mar 10, 2023

They look a lot like this....

jmichaelh7 · Mar 10, 2023

Paul B said:
They do kill clams when they get big. And bristleworms can get like a foot long. I have thousands of them and they are great scavengers with a bloodhound sense of smell. Besides that, I have no problem with them.

I sometimes trap them when I get to many.

i want to know how to make this!!

TnFishwater98 · Mar 10, 2023

jmichaelh7 said:
thats an infestation though . I just want to pull out my long tweezers that i use for mine lol

That’s not my DT.

multsh · Mar 10, 2023

Straight on view....

TnFishwater98 · Mar 10, 2023

multsh said:
They look a lot like this....

We know , we are comparing pics. Here’s a couple more.

TnFishwater98 · Mar 10, 2023

multsh said:
Straight on view....

Yep I can define better even though blurry in this pic. I think they will spread a bit then decline in population. They shouldn’t climb high on your LR but surprised they are so exposed.

multsh · Mar 10, 2023

It's crazy, but they infested my tank now! Almost like at aiptasia rate!

multsh · Mar 10, 2023

TnFishwater98 said:
Yep I can define better eve though blurry in this pic. I think they will spread a bit then decline in population. They shouldn’t climb high on your LR but surprised they are so exposed.

They are expanded the entire day, light on or off and out in the open....

thatmanMIKEson · Mar 11, 2023

Highjackers beware!! New threads are available

Nlara · Mar 11, 2023

I’m not a fan because if they prick you it sucks!

EricR · Mar 11, 2023

exnisstech said:
... I've never been stung but I do have a high pain tolerance and callused hands from the work I did before I retired

Same here -- have a bunch of 'em, pull them bare-handed when stuck in pond filter material I use,,, also grab by hand sometimes to show people bristles under digital microscope.

Never been stung or pricked -- maybe mine are just really "nice"

hart24601 · Mar 11, 2023

My fish like to sleep in the rockwork and I often see them with Bristleworms spines sticking out of their skin. I know the spines irritate me if I get them so I prefer to not have them, at least the big monsters, in the tank.

Alexraptor · Mar 11, 2023

I love bristleworms! I'm having a terrible time though trying to reestablish a viable population in my 25g, after it was wiped out by fulgida worms (which I "think" I'm finally rid of!).

They were also really helpful when I had my Mandarin, in keeping her 15G spotless, despite heavy feeding.