Worm..i think fire or bristle

[Steven91]

I was doing my week water change today and while i was stirring my sand bed around i happened to catch a glimpse of what i thought was a worm or maybe a piece of fish poop. I happened to catch it in a container before it was buried again in sand, and it was a worm. I don't know what kind, though I believe it is a bristle or fire worm. How do I know if I have more and how do I get rid of them?

 

[Mikedawg]

You can be sure you have more; some good YouTube videos on building a bristleworm trap. Here's an interesting one:
Not sure you want to get rid of them; they add diversity and are good members of CUC IMHO. The amount of excess food/detritus in you tank is a limiting factor for their reproduction.

 

[Rjukan]

Looks like a bristle worm to me.

And I would be happy to find one, wouldn't worry about others

 

[Steven91]

You can be sure you have more; some good YouTube videos on building a bristleworm trap. Here's an interesting one:
Not sure you want to get rid of them; they add diversity and are good members of CUC IMHO. The amount of excess food/detritus in you tank is a limiting factor for their reproduction.

I know they can be good, though I thought large ones can be bad? and i'll keep that trap in mind if i see any large ones

Looks like a bristle worm to me.

And I would be happy to find one, wouldn't worry about others

Thanks, I rather it be a bristle worm rather than something truly destructive.

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

It's a bristle worm good cuc

 

[Steven91]

It's a bristle worm good cuc

Awesome, I'm taking a guess i should put it back in my tank and let it go do its job

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

Awesome, I'm taking a guess i should put it back in my tank and let it go do its job

I would

 

[Steven91]

I would

Awesome, thank you guys. you are all awesome

 

[theMeat]

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

Awesome, thank you guys. you are all awesome

You're welcome

 

[Hemmdog]

Awesome, I'm taking a guess i should put it back in my tank and let it go do its job

You have others, that one is big lol. If you already got it out I’d just keep it out.. but that’s just because I find them spooky

 

[Hemmdog]

Why did I watch that! Why!

 

[Steven91]

Why did I watch that! Why!

I was wondering the same thing, that's the stuff of nightmares and horror movies

 

[Steven91]

Should I be worried about any sand sleeping fish, wrasses or gobies?

 

[DSC reef]

I would not be worried at all. Bristleworms are scavengers and detrivores, not fish killers. FWIW, that video of the infestation tells me the tank was over fed, and will take time to even get like that and is an anomaly. I would not worry the slightest about bristle worms. There food source will determine the numbers.

 

[Rjukan]

lol, how's that even possible

 

[rkpetersen]

I know they're safe and even good but I still instinctively want to kill them with fire.
I can't abide suddenly seeing them all pink, furry and writhing, not to mention sneaky, so I admit that I have removed them before.
One tank though now has a large melanurus wrasse so any bristle worms that would dare show themselves in the daylight would be toast.

 

[Steven91]

I would not be worried at all. Bristleworms are scavengers and detrivores, not fish killers. FWIW, that video of the infestation tells me the tank was over fed, and will take time to even get like that and is an anomaly. I would not worry the slightest about bristle worms. There food source will determine the numbers.

Thank you, was looking at getting a black leopard wrasse and wanted to make sure it would be safe (as long as its well fed)

 

[DSC reef]

Thank you, was looking at getting a black leopard wrasse and wanted to make sure it would be safe (as long as its well fed)

Your welcome. Definitely safe my friend.

 

[Evan28395950]

I know they're safe and even good but I still instinctively want to kill them with fire.
I can't abide suddenly seeing them all pink, furry and writhing, not to mention sneaky, so I admit that I have removed them before.
One tank though now has a large melanurus wrasse so any bristle worms that would dare show themselves in the daylight would be toast.

Haha I’m the same way, I’m actually in the process of removing them by Net now, just browsing related threads to pass the time while the scared ones come back out