Bristle worm...good guy or bad? - Aquarium Advice

sw-addict · 12-30-2003, 06:31 PM

Just curious as to some opinions about these. Seems as though most people think they are bad news. The [acronym:b19bec2f22="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:b19bec2f22] says the burrow through [acronym:b19bec2f22="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:b19bec2f22] and end up destroying it. On the other hand we have read that they are not harmful.

jamal-188 · 12-30-2003, 06:41 PM

They are beneficial to your tank from what I understand. They eat left over food and other junk in the tank helping to clean it.

jks1 · 12-30-2003, 07:46 PM

i agree- bebeficial. I would remove one if it was say 4-5" long but other than that i would leave it alone. Things are there for a reason.

astride13 · 12-30-2003, 07:48 PM

If they eat any of your fish, you should remove them.

ReefLady · 12-30-2003, 08:46 PM

Quote:

The [acronym:2e801fc4d5="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:2e801fc4d5] says the burrow through [acronym:2e801fc4d5="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:2e801fc4d5] and end up destroying it.

[acronym:2e801fc4d5="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:2e801fc4d5] .... oh, sorry - needed a good laugh.

They are a beneficial scavenger/detritus eater. They will also keep a [acronym:2e801fc4d5="Deep Sand Bed"]DSB[/acronym:2e801fc4d5] aerated if you have one. I used to remove ones that were 6"+ because I thought they were *creepy*, but I've never seen one do any harm, and they're just too difficult to remove.

fishstixs05 · 12-30-2003, 10:00 PM

99.99% of bristleworms are completley harmless to the reef aquarium, scavenging and eating detritus. Really the only damaging ones are fireworms, so check out pics of them. Other than than, I would consider bristleworms to be a plus in an aquarium. [acronym:e24f0e4019="By the way"]BTW[/acronym:e24f0e4019], size really doesnt matter if it is one of the harmless species, [acronym:e24f0e4019="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:e24f0e4019]!!

12-30-2003, 06:31 PM	#1
sw-addict Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 188 Images: 2	Bristle worm...good guy or bad? Just curious as to some opinions about these. Seems as though most people think they are bad news. The [acronym:b19bec2f22="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:b19bec2f22] says the burrow through [acronym:b19bec2f22="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:b19bec2f22] and end up destroying it. On the other hand we have read that they are not harmful.

12-30-2003, 07:48 PM	#4
astride13 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Coral Springs, FL Posts: 215	If they eat any of your fish, you should remove them. __________________ Adrian

12-30-2003, 10:00 PM	#6
fishstixs05 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: May 2003 Location: El Dorado Hills, CA Posts: 458 Images: 14	99.99% of bristleworms are completley harmless to the reef aquarium, scavenging and eating detritus. Really the only damaging ones are fireworms, so check out pics of them. Other than than, I would consider bristleworms to be a plus in an aquarium. [acronym:e24f0e4019="By the way"]BTW[/acronym:e24f0e4019], size really doesnt matter if it is one of the harmless species, [acronym:e24f0e4019="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:e24f0e4019]!! __________________ In the Sacramento Area, join Marine Aquarium Rountable of Sacramento at www.marineaquarist.org or the Sacramento Aquarium Society at www.sacramentoaquariumsociety.org

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12-30-2003, 06:41 PM	#2
jamal-188 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: PA Posts: 1,809 Images: 9	They are beneficial to your tank from what I understand. They eat left over food and other junk in the tank helping to clean it.

12-30-2003, 07:46 PM	#3
jks1 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 115 Images: 12	i agree- bebeficial. I would remove one if it was say 4-5" long but other than that i would leave it alone. Things are there for a reason.