Worms stealing coral food

[Whiterabbitrage]

Bristle worms have been stealing food from my Trachy. They apparently live under him, and just reach up and grab his food. It doesn’t matter if I feed in daylight. It doesn’t matter if I snatch the worms out with tweezers. Other worms are there right away grabbing the food and the coral has no chance to get any.

I’ve cut back feeding a couple months ago. Maybe that’s why the worms are so desperate but it’s frustrating. Anyone have this trouble? Anyone have ideas?

 

[Evan28395950]

Make a DIY trap.

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[PanchoG]

Wrasses

 

[Bill_Moorman]

What you could do is take a plastic water bottle and cut the top off to make a shield and place it over your corals after feeding for a bit so they can eat their food.

Or you could use tongs and remove the bristle worms manually.

I know they are gross looking, however, they are a good member of the CUC. I hate them but I know if something dies or food isn’t eaten, they’ll take care of it.

It’s all about balance. If you feed too much, they will be in bigger populations.

 

[W1ngz]

Have you considered just moving the trach elsewhere so the worms move into the rocks? The might find a hole full of detritus somewhere else.
-cut feeding
-some wrasses eat them
-coral banded shrimp eat them

 

[Braves Fan]

Saw someone in the forum one time put some food on a small rock ,, placed a piece of nylon sticking around the rock ,, worms came out to get the food ,, their many legs got stuck in the netting ,, guy removed the netting ,, threw it away ,, and did it all over again till he didn’t have a worm problem ,, just don’t let the wife catch you cutting up her stockings

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

There was plenty of over feeding going on when I first got a school of anthias. Now they are used to eating on a schedule but there was a population explosion of worms. Wingz, that’s a good idea! I’m going to put a lab beaker in the tank! That way the Trachy can sit on clean sand but the worms can’t climb the sides of the beaker.

Braves- I will be trying the stocking trap too. Thanks!

Thanks everybody for being nice

 

[vetteguy53081]

Elevate trachy on another rock -OR lift trachy and quickly run net under and scoop them up and discard them

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

I elevated the Trachyphyllia onto an upside down glass cup. Haven’t fed it in three days. Tonight I fed it and two worms crawled out to steal the food! They came from underneath. Crazy! I shook him really well before I set him on the cup. They must be living between his folds.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I elevated the Trachyphyllia onto an upside down glass cup. Haven’t fed it in three days. Tonight I fed it and two worms crawled out to steal the food! They came from underneath. Crazy! I shook him really well before I set him on the cup. They must be living between his folds.

That's crazy!!