Bristle worm infestation

[mdbannister]

I liked my bristle worms for a while as they always helped keep things clean. However, I'm kind of getting over run. I have heard that wrasses sometimes eat them, is this true? I'm looking for something to keep the population in check.

[mdbannister]

I'm thinking I might get the McCoster's Flasher Wrasse. I'm thinking of buying a trio from LA.

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[Jerry W]

IME, bristle worm populations fluctuate based on the amount of food your tank recieves. Feed less and the numbers drop off over time. Some wrasses will eat small worms but the larger ones usually go untouched. When you say over-run, what are you seeing in terms of numbers? I used to have a lot of them in my larger tank and liked the way they kept the sandbed shifted.

[_shorty_]

I haven't tested this - but aren't arrow crabs supposed to be good at getting your bristle worms?

[SecretiveFish]

My marine beta went to town on the bristle worms in my tank.... There are now only bristle worms in the overflows and sump.

However, the population should go down if there is not enough food for them. Are you dealing with a lot of waste in your system?

[Jonviviano]

I made a trap out of a large clean pill bottle. I drilled a 1/2 inch hole in the lid and put a 6 inch piece of rubber hose through in. Push the hose until it sits halfway in the bottle, but does not touch and sides. Let the rest of the hose sit on your sand bed so the bristle worms can use it like a ramp. I added a small piece of shrimp and by the next morning i caught 10+ bristleworms. Remove the lid and dump in the toilet. I would just be careful not to totally decimate there population, They can be good scavengers

[mdbannister]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm just looking to keep them in check not kill them completely. I've got a 75g, and they keep things pretty clean. Just seems like there are a lot of them.

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[RonV]

I have a Melanurus Wrasse (Halichoeres Melanurus) that eats bristleworms, you can also do the bottle trap as Jonviviano said. Honestly I would leave them be if there not bothering anything and their not very large.

[TimmyD16]

Like people have said, population fluctuates with available food... Do with this information as you will...

[jc-reef]

Originally Posted by RonV

I have a Melanurus Wrasse (Halichoeres Melanurus) that eats bristleworms, you can also do the bottle trap as Jonviviano said. Honestly I would leave them be if there not bothering anything and their not very large.

+1......I too have a Melanurus Wrasse that often dive bombs into my sandbed to grab a worm that is too close to surface. Its cool to watch if I happen to be walking by when it does it. They are benefitial and will self regulate as the population booms then the avail food will disapear, thus decrease in numbers....just like in nature.

GL!