Wilber the Worm - He's Big!

Cyclone-G · May 20, 2020

I was curing some live rock in the basement and put a couple of pieces from my main system's sump into the tub to seed the rock with some bacteria. A few weeks later when I took out the rock to use it I noticed a huge bristle worm in the bottom. He was about 10" long the size of my thumb in diameter. They always look smaller when you put them in a container. We named him Wilber, and he will be in my next Cyclone Reef movie. What do you think about bristle worms, are they good, or bad for your tank? Anybody have stories or pics of a big one?

MelReefer · May 20, 2020

In my opinion bristle worms are not bad. I had them in my tank and they did a good job cleaning up detritus. When I got my royal gramma they all mysteriously disappeared.

Mike N · May 20, 2020

I have tons of them both in displays and sumps in multiple systems. They're an important part of CUC.

Alarmguy66 · May 20, 2020

I had a big one like that who just LOVED to munch on Green Star Polyps. Not a big problem, considering how fast they grow. Other than that one incident, never had a problem, and certainly wouldnt be an issue in a sump.

lavoisier · May 20, 2020

I've never had a problem with them and welcome the bio diversity they bring.

Cyclone-G · May 20, 2020

Alarmguy66 said:
I had a big one like that who just LOVED to munch on Green Star Polyps. Not a big problem, considering how fast they grow. Other than that one incident, never had a problem, and certainly wouldnt be an issue in a sump.

I didn’t know they ate GSP. Now there is a great reason to keep them in your tank

Cyclone-G · May 20, 2020

Alarmguy66 said:
I had a big one like that who just LOVED to munch on Green Star Polyps. Not a big problem, considering how fast they grow. Other than that one incident, never had a problem, and certainly wouldnt be an issue in a sump.

I didn’t know they are GSP. Now there is a great reason to keep them in

Cyclone-G · May 21, 2020

Wilber the worm makes his TV debut (YouTube) Friday May 22nd at noon.

K7BMG · May 21, 2020

Ha ha gotta follow this one.

Cyclone-G · May 22, 2020

jaxteller007 · May 22, 2020

When we first set up our 75g tank I didn't really know what I was doing. Not enough filtration, over feed, lack of cuc and no creatures to control the bristle worm population. We had far, far too many and some were probably big enough to take out small fish. I've yet to see any in our new tank since we started it from scratch but I wouldn't mind a small population of them in there eating detritus and stuff.
Some of the ones that came out of our first tank were as think as a finger and quite long.

Copingwithpods · May 22, 2020

Boy! He thicc boy!

El_Guapo13 · May 22, 2020

I have some long ones, but none are that thick.

bsr2430 · May 22, 2020

I was eating a sub from Sheetz.... probably shouldn’t have watched this,haha!

Cyclone-G · May 22, 2020

Yeah, that thing was pretty creepy to watch. Lila couldn't even look at it. You would not believe the stink in that container after 2 days.

You can experience Wilber in all his glory, during that short story.
I'll be sculpting rock while Wilber watches
Must be fun to see while he sits in his notches
Alas old Wilber meets his demise
A good old buddy of a worm, kind of caused some cries
But nobody wanted him so what could I do
He needed to go when the show was through

Cyclone-G · May 22, 2020

Question of the day: Has anybody ever been stung by a Bristle Worm? I believe some of the sores I've gotten on my hands might be from them but no proof of that.

robbyg · May 22, 2020

Cyclone-G said:
Question of the day: Has anybody ever been stung by a Bristle Worm? I believe some of the sores I've gotten on my hands might be from them but no proof of that.

Yes several times and that is why I no longer keep them. It is not a bad sting like a bee or wasp but it is painful enough that you will jump. I dropped a rock in the tank while lifting it as one stung me from underneath. Luckily it did not break the glass.

If you don't remember the sting you either have very thick skin or it was not a Bristle worm. When those barbs get into your skin you know it instantly.