Bristle worm help

Saltwat3rAddict · 11/24/2009, 11:56 PM

are these bristle worms good or bad? ive read that these things can take out fish? and they leave a good sting. i noticed a tiny tiny one lurking in the rocks as i layed in my bed and observed my tank.(its right next to my bed, my eyes arent that good) soooo are these little things good or bad?

Sisterlimonpot · 11/25/2009, 12:09 AM

They were once believed to be bad but they are harmless (except if you get pricked by one) Some would suggest to keep an eye on them because once they get to be about 6-8 inches they start to wreak havoc.

jenjen · 11/25/2009, 12:10 AM

IMO leave them be. They're great scavengers, and their population will self regulate. If there's stuff for them to eat, you'll have lots of them. If there isn't any food their population will reduce. They're beneficial in that they eat extra 'junk' in your tank. I have never removed any and don't have any issues related to them.

Watch out though, because they do pack a painful sting if you happen to touch one.

jamest0o0 · 11/25/2009, 12:11 AM

good! they clean up and the common bristle worm you see will not harm anything, they are blamed a lot of the time though because they will be at the scene of a dead fish. There are bad ones out there, but it seems very rare to come across them. They can sting you which isn't live threatening just an annoyance from what I hear, so wear gloves! hope this helps

spleify · 11/25/2009, 12:12 AM

Oh my gosh, get it out now!!!!! It is the devil!!!

No, I'm just kidding, like sister said they are harmless and they are actually very good at getting into all the tiny little holes in your rock and cleaning up.

HTH

Good luck

jamest0o0 · 11/25/2009, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sisterlimonpot

They were once believed to be bad but they are harmless (except if you get pricked by one) Some would suggest to keep an eye on them because once they get to be about 6-8 inches they start to wreak havoc.

From what I've read if it is the scavenger type it doesn't matter how big they are, they shouldn't harm anything. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Saltwat3rAddict · 11/25/2009, 12:16 AM

alright, cause i did a little red light bug hunting for the first time. veryyyy interesting i must say, i didnt think this much stuff lived in there. i saw a bristle worm and was like uh ohhh. but in the end i guess i have no worries. thanks for the help guys

peasofme · 12/02/2009, 05:23 AM

eunice worms are the evil ones. they are black with huge teeth and look like millipedes. rare.

strifilo · 12/02/2009, 05:35 AM

Yep, the bristle worms are fine. They will help keep the tank clean, and do not hurt anything.

gkugelman · 12/02/2009, 01:14 PM

I second the "wear gloves!" sentiment! If you are not careful, and accidentally brush up against a worm, it's pretty painful, and the bristles are not easy to get out.

peasofme · 12/02/2009, 01:15 PM

how big do the worms have to be for it to be dangerous? i've handled smaller ones no problem.

theyammieguy · 12/02/2009, 01:24 PM

Just find my thread "holy crap" in reef discussion. I'm having people tell me to leave them be and others telling me to get them out. They have been in my tank for years and I don't plan on removing them.

heatdissipation · 12/02/2009, 01:31 PM

The sting can really ruin your day, as mine was yesterday....

TeePee · 12/02/2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theyammieguy

Just find my thread "holy crap" in reef discussion. I'm having people tell me to leave them be and others telling me to get them out. They have been in my tank for years and I don't plan on removing them.

Here's the "holy crap" thread that ammieguy put up yesterday. Pretty impressive bristleworm population!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1738847

wazzo · 12/02/2009, 02:05 PM

i had many in my 36 gal. was worried at first but they never did any harm. helped keep the tank pretty clean. my wife & i watched one about 10-11" rome around some rock for about 30 min. they actualy stayed away from fish & inverts durring feeding, but once they were done those worms would come out looking for scraps. even w/ lights on.

wazzo · 12/02/2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teepee

here's the "holy crap" thread that ammieguy put up yesterday. Pretty impressive bristleworm population!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1738847

wow!!! Thats alot!! That would worrie me too!!

gps · 12/02/2009, 02:12 PM

I wore one of those disposable glove while trying to remove it. Its hairs were sharp and strong enough to penetrate the glove and give me quite an itch....

Double or triple up your gloves or suffer

theyammieguy · 12/02/2009, 02:16 PM

Actually I posted it about two weeks ago.

TeePee · 12/02/2009, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theyammieguy

Actually I posted it about two weeks ago.

Dohhhhh, sorry, I first came across it yesterday. My bad. But still quite an impressive population!

11/24/2009, 11:56 PM	#1
Saltwat3rAddict Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 78	Bristle worm help are these bristle worms good or bad? ive read that these things can take out fish? and they leave a good sting. i noticed a tiny tiny one lurking in the rocks as i layed in my bed and observed my tank.(its right next to my bed, my eyes arent that good) soooo are these little things good or bad? __________________ "A handful of patience is worth more than a toilet full of fish" ~FISH~ 2 Percula Clowns (Albert & Terrance) 1 Red Firefish (Thinking of name) 1 Blue Tang 1 Pearly Jawfish ~CORAL~ Galaxy Coral Hammer Coral Orange Ric Green Goni ~CLEANERS~ 3 Nassarius Snails 1 Cleaner shrimp (Pierre)

11/25/2009, 12:09 AM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	They were once believed to be bad but they are harmless (except if you get pricked by one) Some would suggest to keep an eye on them because once they get to be about 6-8 inches they start to wreak havoc. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

11/25/2009, 12:10 AM	#3
jenjen Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Langley BC, Canada Posts: 1,710	IMO leave them be. They're great scavengers, and their population will self regulate. If there's stuff for them to eat, you'll have lots of them. If there isn't any food their population will reduce. They're beneficial in that they eat extra 'junk' in your tank. I have never removed any and don't have any issues related to them. Watch out though, because they do pack a painful sting if you happen to touch one. __________________ "Challenges forge the greatness in you" Current Tank Info: 180gal softy reef (Apr '09)

11/25/2009, 12:12 AM	#5
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	Oh my gosh, get it out now!!!!! It is the devil!!! No, I'm just kidding, like sister said they are harmless and they are actually very good at getting into all the tiny little holes in your rock and cleaning up. HTH Good luck __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

11/25/2009, 12:16 AM	#7
Saltwat3rAddict Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 78	alright, cause i did a little red light bug hunting for the first time. veryyyy interesting i must say, i didnt think this much stuff lived in there. i saw a bristle worm and was like uh ohhh. but in the end i guess i have no worries. thanks for the help guys __________________ "A handful of patience is worth more than a toilet full of fish" ~FISH~ 2 Percula Clowns (Albert & Terrance) 1 Red Firefish (Thinking of name) 1 Blue Tang 1 Pearly Jawfish ~CORAL~ Galaxy Coral Hammer Coral Orange Ric Green Goni ~CLEANERS~ 3 Nassarius Snails 1 Cleaner shrimp (Pierre)

11/25/2009, 12:11 AM	#4
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	good! they clean up and the common bristle worm you see will not harm anything, they are blamed a lot of the time though because they will be at the scene of a dead fish. There are bad ones out there, but it seems very rare to come across them. They can sting you which isn't live threatening just an annoyance from what I hear, so wear gloves! hope this helps

12/02/2009, 05:23 AM	#8
peasofme Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: usa Posts: 1,405	eunice worms are the evil ones. they are black with huge teeth and look like millipedes. rare.

12/02/2009, 05:35 AM	#9
strifilo Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: League City, Texas Posts: 52	Yep, the bristle worms are fine. They will help keep the tank clean, and do not hurt anything.

12/02/2009, 01:14 PM	#10
gkugelman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 258	I second the "wear gloves!" sentiment! If you are not careful, and accidentally brush up against a worm, it's pretty painful, and the bristles are not easy to get out.

12/02/2009, 01:15 PM	#11
peasofme Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: usa Posts: 1,405	how big do the worms have to be for it to be dangerous? i've handled smaller ones no problem.

12/02/2009, 01:24 PM	#12
theyammieguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 1,691	Just find my thread "holy crap" in reef discussion. I'm having people tell me to leave them be and others telling me to get them out. They have been in my tank for years and I don't plan on removing them.

12/02/2009, 01:31 PM	#13
heatdissipation Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jersey Shore PA Posts: 257	The sting can really ruin your day, as mine was yesterday....

12/02/2009, 02:05 PM	#15
wazzo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NOR CAL Posts: 51	i had many in my 36 gal. was worried at first but they never did any harm. helped keep the tank pretty clean. my wife & i watched one about 10-11" rome around some rock for about 30 min. they actualy stayed away from fish & inverts durring feeding, but once they were done those worms would come out looking for scraps. even w/ lights on.

12/02/2009, 02:12 PM	#17
gps Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Placentia Posts: 1,417	I wore one of those disposable glove while trying to remove it. Its hairs were sharp and strong enough to penetrate the glove and give me quite an itch.... Double or triple up your gloves or suffer

12/02/2009, 02:16 PM	#18
theyammieguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 1,691	Actually I posted it about two weeks ago.