Bristle Worms - Aquarium Advice

Stowers02 · 09-28-2004, 11:57 PM

I recently noticed that my reef tank has bristle worms. At first I didn't know what these creatures were so I researched them on the web and found a plethora of mixed opinions on them. Some say they are good for the bio-system of the tank, others say they cause damage to corals and are a pest. Some sites also provide several ways to remove them. So should I try to remove them and if so what is the best method? Any advice would be appreciated.

xxmoorishmanxx · 09-29-2004, 12:03 AM

some kinds live in the sand and very rarely go into the rocks and bother corals, but some fire worms such as hermodice sp. will be more of a threat.

[acronym:6cd9dbb4c2="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:6cd9dbb4c2]
P.S Sand dweller is Eurythoe sp.

Josh

phases99 · 09-29-2004, 10:06 PM

Innocent until proven guilty is the best approach.

klam · 09-30-2004, 12:56 PM

If the bristle worms you have look like this than they are beneficial, just your average bristle worm.

http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/pic...q_bristle.html

quarryshark · 09-30-2004, 01:25 PM

Yup, I have a bunch in my tanks, they don't bother anything to this point.

Brad · 10-07-2004, 02:17 AM

I agree with the photo. That's one of the type that seem quite harmless. The one's that attack corals tend to be more attractive (bushier spines, a bit more colorful, and thicker bodied) They also tend to be bolder...crawling wherever they please. Fortunately, that also makes them easy to catch.

The harmless ones seem to be much more timid, rarely extending themselves fully out any particular hole.

Now..if you aren't trying to keep corals, you're probably ok to keep them all.

09-28-2004, 11:57 PM	#1
Stowers02 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 12	Bristle Worms I recently noticed that my reef tank has bristle worms. At first I didn't know what these creatures were so I researched them on the web and found a plethora of mixed opinions on them. Some say they are good for the bio-system of the tank, others say they cause damage to corals and are a pest. Some sites also provide several ways to remove them. So should I try to remove them and if so what is the best method? Any advice would be appreciated.

09-29-2004, 10:06 PM	#3
phases99 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chesterfield, VA Posts: 803 Images: 4	Innocent until proven guilty is the best approach. __________________ 46g [acronym:236a9756fc="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:236a9756fc], 65 lbs Fiji [acronym:236a9756fc="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:236a9756fc], 4" Aragamax [acronym:236a9756fc="Deep Sand Bed"]DSB[/acronym:236a9756fc], Coralife 2X96w [acronym:236a9756fc="Compact Flourescent"]CF[/acronym:236a9756fc], CPR Bakpak II, CPR Aquafuge 12 w/ 2x9 Coralife Mini Aqualight, 4 Maxijet 600's, PCI 200W Titanium Heater, 2 Blue Green Chromis, 1 Gold Bar Maroon Clown, 1 Purple-Stripe Dottyback, Finger Leather, Trumpets, Rose Coral Open-Brain, Pagoda Cup, Xenia, Star Polyps, Yellow Polyps, Various Mushrooms, Toadstool Leather, 12 Astraea, 10 Nassarius, 4 Bumble Bee, 6 Cerith Snails, 12 Red Tip Hermits.

09-30-2004, 12:56 PM	#4
klam Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 730	If the bristle worms you have look like this than they are beneficial, just your average bristle worm. http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/pic...q_bristle.html __________________ Paintballs look like bubble gum 14G starphire,150W [acronym:2ed2cd9cf2="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:2ed2cd9cf2]+32W act03,AquaClear 150 [acronym:2ed2cd9cf2="Hang On Back"]HOB[/acronym:2ed2cd9cf2] filter, 75W EboJager, IceProbe chiller, Remora skimmer, closed loop SCWD mag5, auto toper-offer. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...lam/banner.jpg

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09-29-2004, 12:03 AM	#2
xxmoorishmanxx Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Normal, IL Posts: 1,110 Images: 15	some kinds live in the sand and very rarely go into the rocks and bother corals, but some fire worms such as hermodice sp. will be more of a threat. [acronym:6cd9dbb4c2="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:6cd9dbb4c2] P.S Sand dweller is Eurythoe sp. Josh

09-30-2004, 01:25 PM	#5
quarryshark Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 5,377 Images: 53	Yup, I have a bunch in my tanks, they don't bother anything to this point.

10-07-2004, 02:17 AM	#6
Brad Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: British Columbia Posts: 754 Images: 11	I agree with the photo. That's one of the type that seem quite harmless. The one's that attack corals tend to be more attractive (bushier spines, a bit more colorful, and thicker bodied) They also tend to be bolder...crawling wherever they please. Fortunately, that also makes them easy to catch. The harmless ones seem to be much more timid, rarely extending themselves fully out any particular hole. Now..if you aren't trying to keep corals, you're probably ok to keep them all.