are bristle worms bad?

MRICKEN1012 · 04/19/2009, 11:40 PM

I have been seeing more bristle worms lately (during the day).
Should I remove them? How? Will any fish eat them? What do they do thats bad?

MisterAtlantis · 04/20/2009, 12:03 AM

I am still in the research area at the moment, and this is a subject I find confusing, have been reading about DSB's [deep sand bed sorry hate all these acronyms does anyone have a list as to what they all stand for], my understanding is that in a DSB all these creatures are actively encouraged as they break down waste material, but these creatures die as well adding to waste, hence the need to continually add fresh creatures to maintain the biodiversity.
But i'm not sure if this applys to shallow sand beds as well

xxwake4lifexx · 04/20/2009, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MRICKEN1012
I have been seeing more bristle worms lately (during the day).
Should I remove them? How? Will any fish eat them? What do they do thats bad?

I know I have at least one in my 29g that's like 3 inches long, all stretched out. I hear some people say they are good and some say they are bad. I think they are good - but only to a certain point. If I'm wrong, someone correct me, but aren't they helpful in cleaning up excess waste, food, etc? Once they get to a large size, then I think its safe to say you could remove them.

drummereef · 04/20/2009, 12:33 AM

I've personally never had a bristle worm bother any fish or coral in my tank. I think they are good detrivores to have. Now if there's tons of them that's a different story, but I welcome the few I have.

ehayden · 04/20/2009, 12:41 AM

I agree with Brett. Anything that reaches "plague" proprtions should be controlled, but bristle room are good detrivours. Fireworms are harmfull. But they are rare.
Erik

xxwake4lifexx · 04/20/2009, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ehayden
I agree with Brett. Anything that reaches "plague" proprtions should be controlled, but bristle room are good detrivours. Fireworms are harmfull. But they are rare.
Erik

That reminds me... I was at a LFS this past week and the guy goes, "Josh come here and see this big son of a gun!" Some customer brought in like a 1.5 foot long fireworm from a 55g tank! They had it in an old 160g salt bucket. NASTY!

ehayden · 04/20/2009, 01:16 AM

but bristle room are good detrivours.

Hah! meant bristle worms.

1602reefer · 04/20/2009, 11:33 AM

I used to hate them to, they just looked super creepy. But now I've learned to love them because they are part of your clean up crew to keep your tank happy and healthy. All they eat is dead matter and extra pieces of food your fish don't eat. If you think you see a bunch during the day, wait until night and then look at your tank, you won't want to go to sleep.

KarlBob · 04/20/2009, 12:27 PM

What bristle worms do that's bad is to sting you when you touch them. Most people are not sensitive to most bristle worms, but the ones called "fire worms" are painful to most people. Luckily, as mentioned above, fire worms are pretty rare. If you happen to be sensitive to your bristle worms, or if you develop sensitivity after being stung multiple times, the reactions could get worse over time. One more reason to wear gloves when you put your hands in your tank.

Some people also dislike bristleworms because they look "creepy". Some have accused large bristleworms of attacking and killing fish. What's more likely is that the fish was already dead, and the bristleworm was just cleaning up the body.

WaterKeeper · 04/20/2009, 12:41 PM

They are also hard to swallow in a stir fry but in the tank they are welcome critters.

xxwake4lifexx · 04/20/2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WaterKeeper
They are also hard to swallow in a stir fry but in the tank they are welcome critters.

power boat jim · 04/20/2009, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WaterKeeper
They are also hard to swallow in a stir fry but in the tank they are welcome critters.

Hope you are not talking from personal experience!

WaterKeeper · 04/20/2009, 01:00 PM

They do add some nice crispiness when fried in a Wok but those bristles are the problem.

power boat jim · 04/20/2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WaterKeeper
They do add some nice crispiness when fried in a Wok but those bristles are the problem.

One word ......Tweezers

WaterKeeper · 04/20/2009, 01:08 PM

Why have a reef tank if you need to go to the frozen food section and buy Mrs. Paul's?

power boat jim · 04/20/2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WaterKeeper
Why have a reef tank if you need to go to the frozen food section and buy Mrs. Paul's?

Good point, just another way to strech a dollar in a tough economy.

WaterKeeper · 04/20/2009, 01:32 PM

I make a sauce for Pomacanthus imperator that is out of this world. Only problem is they need to be in a FO tank and you can't harvest any corals for a garnish.

Juruense · 04/20/2009, 01:42 PM

Bristleworms are your friends.

Deminos · 04/20/2009, 02:46 PM

Recently noticed one of my shrimp gobies with a face full of bristles, was fine a few days later. Other than that have not had any problems with them. I do sometimes grab the overly big ones out of the display at night and dump them into the sump.

jnb · 04/27/2009, 09:58 AM

I have so many BW's - the one circled in red is one I would remove if given the chance as they inflict more pain then the more accpetable one circled in yellow

04/19/2009, 11:40 PM	#1
MRICKEN1012 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: michigan Posts: 662	are bristle worms bad? I have been seeing more bristle worms lately (during the day). Should I remove them? How? Will any fish eat them? What do they do thats bad?

04/20/2009, 12:33 AM	#4
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	I've personally never had a bristle worm bother any fish or coral in my tank. I think they are good detrivores to have. Now if there's tons of them that's a different story, but I welcome the few I have. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

04/20/2009, 11:33 AM	#8
1602reefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 93	I used to hate them to, they just looked super creepy. But now I've learned to love them because they are part of your clean up crew to keep your tank happy and healthy. All they eat is dead matter and extra pieces of food your fish don't eat. If you think you see a bunch during the day, wait until night and then look at your tank, you won't want to go to sleep. __________________ want to learn. Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef tank, 4 x 54 watt t5 light, 60+ lbs of figi live rock, backpack2 skimmer, 2 korallia 3's.

04/20/2009, 12:27 PM	#9
KarlBob Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Laveen, AZ Posts: 2,309	What bristle worms do that's bad is to sting you when you touch them. Most people are not sensitive to most bristle worms, but the ones called "fire worms" are painful to most people. Luckily, as mentioned above, fire worms are pretty rare. If you happen to be sensitive to your bristle worms, or if you develop sensitivity after being stung multiple times, the reactions could get worse over time. One more reason to wear gloves when you put your hands in your tank. Some people also dislike bristleworms because they look "creepy". Some have accused large bristleworms of attacking and killing fish. What's more likely is that the fish was already dead, and the bristleworm was just cleaning up the body. __________________ Later, KarlBob Current Tank Info: No tanks for now. Starting over in Austin sometime next year.

04/20/2009, 12:41 PM	#10
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	They are also hard to swallow in a stir fry but in the tank they are welcome critters. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

04/20/2009, 12:03 AM	#2
MisterAtlantis Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 25	I am still in the research area at the moment, and this is a subject I find confusing, have been reading about DSB's [deep sand bed sorry hate all these acronyms does anyone have a list as to what they all stand for], my understanding is that in a DSB all these creatures are actively encouraged as they break down waste material, but these creatures die as well adding to waste, hence the need to continually add fresh creatures to maintain the biodiversity. But i'm not sure if this applys to shallow sand beds as well

04/20/2009, 12:41 AM	#5
ehayden Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 62	I agree with Brett. Anything that reaches "plague" proprtions should be controlled, but bristle room are good detrivours. Fireworms are harmfull. But they are rare. Erik

04/20/2009, 01:16 AM	#7
ehayden Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 62	but bristle room are good detrivours. Hah! meant bristle worms.

04/20/2009, 01:00 PM	#13
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	They do add some nice crispiness when fried in a Wok but those bristles are the problem. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

04/20/2009, 01:08 PM	#15
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Why have a reef tank if you need to go to the frozen food section and buy Mrs. Paul's? __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

04/20/2009, 01:32 PM	#17
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	I make a sauce for Pomacanthus imperator that is out of this world. Only problem is they need to be in a FO tank and you can't harvest any corals for a garnish. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

04/20/2009, 01:42 PM	#18
Juruense Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1,138	Bristleworms are your friends.

04/20/2009, 02:46 PM	#19
Deminos Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Reserve Twp. Posts: 63	Recently noticed one of my shrimp gobies with a face full of bristles, was fine a few days later. Other than that have not had any problems with them. I do sometimes grab the overly big ones out of the display at night and dump them into the sump.

04/27/2009, 09:58 AM	#20
jnb Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: S.E. Florida Deerfield Beach Posts: 2,581	I have so many BW's - the one circled in red is one I would remove if given the chance as they inflict more pain then the more accpetable one circled in yellow