Bristle worm infestation?

rudipez · 11/05/2009, 12:53 PM

Hello all, So I was wondering how I can tell if I have a bristle worm infestation? I know they are good to have to a certain point but lately I have just noticed one too many. Usually when I feed they come out to feast. When I turn off my lights it seems as though they are every where possible in the tank

. These worms won't stay small forever and I just don't know what to do. I have even thought about tearing down the tank and start all over. These worms seem to be getting out of control

.

Any input or advice would be greatlly appreciated!

kzickovich · 11/05/2009, 12:57 PM

I had the same problem I just started to feed less.

sharrison · 11/05/2009, 01:25 PM

send them to me. i'll take them for my new 180.

skeeter_ca · 11/05/2009, 02:11 PM

I'll be glad to take some also. I'll pay for shipping.

skeeter

rudipez · 11/05/2009, 02:33 PM

Geeezzz....I don't even know where to begin as far as shipping. You can have some for free if not all of them. I REALLY hate bristle worms.

greenesgreen · 11/05/2009, 03:16 PM

may want to try an arrow crab, they eat bristle worms.

sharrison · 11/05/2009, 03:21 PM

have you tried firecrackers with water proof fuse?

you could put the firecrackers in all the holes in your live rock, tie them together, put a long leader water proof fuse on there and blow them up.

der_wille_zur_macht · 11/05/2009, 03:28 PM

FWIW, many of the common varieties will more or less stay small forever - the real monsters (and dangerous varieties) are incredibly rare in the hobby.

Another thought, as some above have hinted. Bristleworms are more or less self-regulating, opportunistic creatures - they won't thrive unless you provide them ideal conditions. In most cases, this means lots of food. So, take a look at your stock levels and how much you're feeding, and evaluate if you can cut back. Vacuum the live rock and/or blow it off with a turkey baster on a regular basis when you're doing water changes to help remove old gunk, and up your flow so you can keep detritus in suspension long enough to filter it out before they gobble it up.

robot2222 · 11/05/2009, 04:27 PM

someone mentioned arrow crabs.what about hermit crabs or adding a cuc so the crabs and snails eat excess food instead of bristle worms.

rudipez · 11/05/2009, 07:00 PM

Well it is a BIG relief that bristle worms don't get huge. I will feed less and try a arrow crab. Thanks for all the input!

drywallninja · 11/05/2009, 07:39 PM

Coral banded shrimp eat them too

iceman79 · 11/05/2009, 07:42 PM

Just feed your tank once a day your fish will survive

bertoni · 11/05/2009, 08:50 PM

Be careful with the arrow crab. They can be highly predatory. I wouldn't risk it.

11/05/2009, 12:53 PM	#1
rudipez Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Elmwood Park, Il. Posts: 175	Bristle worm infestation? Hello all, So I was wondering how I can tell if I have a bristle worm infestation? I know they are good to have to a certain point but lately I have just noticed one too many. Usually when I feed they come out to feast. When I turn off my lights it seems as though they are every where possible in the tank. These worms won't stay small forever and I just don't know what to do. I have even thought about tearing down the tank and start all over. These worms seem to be getting out of control . Any input or advice would be greatlly appreciated!

11/05/2009, 02:11 PM	#4
skeeter_ca Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,007	I'll be glad to take some also. I'll pay for shipping. skeeter __________________ skeeter - It is easier to ask for forgiveness than premission. My motto to my wife. Current Tank Info: 75rr,6"dsb,refugium,auto top-off & semi-auto water changer, OM squirt. 4 MJs 1200, Started on 03/03/06

11/05/2009, 03:28 PM	#8
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	FWIW, many of the common varieties will more or less stay small forever - the real monsters (and dangerous varieties) are incredibly rare in the hobby. Another thought, as some above have hinted. Bristleworms are more or less self-regulating, opportunistic creatures - they won't thrive unless you provide them ideal conditions. In most cases, this means lots of food. So, take a look at your stock levels and how much you're feeding, and evaluate if you can cut back. Vacuum the live rock and/or blow it off with a turkey baster on a regular basis when you're doing water changes to help remove old gunk, and up your flow so you can keep detritus in suspension long enough to filter it out before they gobble it up. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

11/05/2009, 07:42 PM	#12
iceman79 Registered Reefhead Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 572	Just feed your tank once a day your fish will survive __________________ Reef keeping gods favorite hobby Current Tank Info: 72 bowfront mixed reef >20 gallon softie tank

11/05/2009, 08:50 PM	#13
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Be careful with the arrow crab. They can be highly predatory. I wouldn't risk it. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/05/2009, 12:57 PM	#2
kzickovich Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Zion Il Posts: 959	I had the same problem I just started to feed less.

11/05/2009, 01:25 PM	#3
sharrison *"Registered Member"* Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Waynesboro, TN Posts: 354	send them to me. i'll take them for my new 180.

11/05/2009, 02:33 PM	#5
rudipez Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Elmwood Park, Il. Posts: 175	Geeezzz....I don't even know where to begin as far as shipping. You can have some for free if not all of them. I REALLY hate bristle worms.

11/05/2009, 03:16 PM	#6
greenesgreen Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 61	may want to try an arrow crab, they eat bristle worms.

11/05/2009, 03:21 PM	#7
sharrison *"Registered Member"* Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Waynesboro, TN Posts: 354	have you tried firecrackers with water proof fuse? you could put the firecrackers in all the holes in your live rock, tie them together, put a long leader water proof fuse on there and blow them up.

11/05/2009, 04:27 PM	#9
robot2222 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: phoenix, arizonia Posts: 1,283	someone mentioned arrow crabs.what about hermit crabs or adding a cuc so the crabs and snails eat excess food instead of bristle worms.

11/05/2009, 07:00 PM	#10
rudipez Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Elmwood Park, Il. Posts: 175	Well it is a BIG relief that bristle worms don't get huge. I will feed less and try a arrow crab. Thanks for all the input!

11/05/2009, 07:39 PM	#11
drywallninja Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Rocklin CA Posts: 93	Coral banded shrimp eat them too