cleaner shrimp and fireworms

So Cal shaggy · 03/08/2006, 03:32 PM

anyone ever had their cleaner shrimp search out and eat fireworms? I observed one of my cleaner shrimp eating a 1" long fireworm the other evening after lights out and thought that it found a dead one but the very next evening I was watching him and he was poking around under the edges of my live rock and he pulled another one out of the sand and I watched as it spent 5 minutes eating that one also. I have never seen a cleaner go after fireworms has anyone else.

Entropy · 03/08/2006, 03:40 PM

I never have, but consider yourself lucky!

The only critter I have seen eating worms was my sixline and that was tiny bristleworms that where unwise enough to come out when the lights where on.

kusanagiz · 03/08/2006, 06:37 PM

I'd love to have my cleaner shrimp live off worms in my tank. I have a ton of them already.

So Cal shaggy · 03/08/2006, 06:41 PM

I found it quite amusing to watch when it catches one it spends about 1-2 minutes spining it around almost as if it was trying to stay away from the hairs.

sps_addict · 03/08/2006, 06:56 PM

Yup, I've seen my cleaner and my old peppermints do that. Quite interesting watching them ripe them into pieces and eating them.

JN Reef · 03/08/2006, 11:03 PM

So six-line wrasses and shrimps eat bristleworms???

sps_addict · 03/09/2006, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JN Reef
So six-line wrasses and shrimps eat bristleworms???

I've also seen a Yellow Watchman Goby (which I had several years ago) eat a few when I was around the tank, and saw a friends Copperband eat one (doesn't eat the aptisia's though). I believe some species of Eunice worms eat bristleworms as well as several species of ribbon worms.

Entropy · 03/09/2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JN Reef
So six-line wrasses eat bristleworms???

Yes, but only the small worms. They will not eat the big ones. They keep the worm population in check though by eating all the small ones. I never see any in my tank, although I know there are some in the rocks.

d0cdave · 03/09/2006, 11:57 AM

Arrow crabs eat bristle worms also... saw mine dig in the sand and pull them out. Quite entertaining watching the crab brace himself on a rock and pull with both "hands"

SBJim · 03/10/2006, 11:09 AM

Before I got my sixline, I could see bristleworms at all times. Now I never see any.

SBJim · 03/10/2006, 11:21 AM

Before I got my sixline, I could see bristleworms at all times. Now I never see any.

iSeeMax101 · 02/27/2016, 08:03 PM

What are the long, white worms in the tank. Look like they come out of little holes. Almost slightly transparent. What eats those?

clowndog · 03/01/2016, 04:34 PM

Cleaner shrimps are opportunists. They will get their hands on anything they can grab including those christmas worms. I eyewitnessed cleaner shrimps ambushed the beautiful christmas worms after lights off, and eat them.

BeanMachine · 03/01/2016, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iSeeMax101

What are the long, white worms in the tank. Look like they come out of little holes. Almost slightly transparent. What eats those?

Vermatid snails.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog...tiprong-attack

03/08/2006, 03:32 PM	#1
So Cal shaggy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Anaheim, Ca Posts: 395	cleaner shrimp and fireworms anyone ever had their cleaner shrimp search out and eat fireworms? I observed one of my cleaner shrimp eating a 1" long fireworm the other evening after lights out and thought that it found a dead one but the very next evening I was watching him and he was poking around under the edges of my live rock and he pulled another one out of the sand and I watched as it spent 5 minutes eating that one also. I have never seen a cleaner go after fireworms has anyone else. __________________ Thanks, Jeff "You go inside the cage, cage goes in the water, you go in the water, shark's in the water ... our shark. Farewell and adieu to you fair Spanish ladies . . ." Current Tank Info: 135 gal reef tank, 50 gal DIY sump

03/08/2006, 03:40 PM	#2
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	I never have, but consider yourself lucky! The only critter I have seen eating worms was my sixline and that was tiny bristleworms that where unwise enough to come out when the lights where on. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

03/08/2006, 06:37 PM	#3
kusanagiz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Marino Posts: 931	I'd love to have my cleaner shrimp live off worms in my tank. I have a ton of them already. __________________ Chris Current Tank Info: 60g acrylic, 10 gallon sump, Aquac Urchin skimmer, 76lb LR (Marshall, Tonga, Fiji), 2x250W MH 4x96 PC, 2 SEIO 1100

03/08/2006, 06:41 PM	#4
So Cal shaggy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Anaheim, Ca Posts: 395	I found it quite amusing to watch when it catches one it spends about 1-2 minutes spining it around almost as if it was trying to stay away from the hairs. __________________ Thanks, Jeff "You go inside the cage, cage goes in the water, you go in the water, shark's in the water ... our shark. Farewell and adieu to you fair Spanish ladies . . ." Current Tank Info: 135 gal reef tank, 50 gal DIY sump

03/08/2006, 06:56 PM	#5
sps_addict Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,169	Yup, I've seen my cleaner and my old peppermints do that. Quite interesting watching them ripe them into pieces and eating them. __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: JBJ 28gallon - LED Mod for the Kids. Teaching them young :D

03/08/2006, 11:03 PM	#6
JN Reef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Inland Empire Posts: 965	So six-line wrasses and shrimps eat bristleworms??? __________________ What you think about, you bring about. Current Tank Info: nano nano

03/09/2006, 11:57 AM	#9
d0cdave Premium Non-Reefer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ventura County, CA Posts: 1,022	Arrow crabs eat bristle worms also... saw mine dig in the sand and pull them out. Quite entertaining watching the crab brace himself on a rock and pull with both "hands" __________________ Out of the hobby. Current Tank Info: Left reef hobby - enjoying my $10/mo power bills (solar!)

03/10/2006, 11:09 AM	#10
SBJim Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 544	Before I got my sixline, I could see bristleworms at all times. Now I never see any.

03/10/2006, 11:21 AM	#11
SBJim Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 544	Before I got my sixline, I could see bristleworms at all times. Now I never see any.

02/27/2016, 08:03 PM	#12
iSeeMax101 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Palmdale Posts: 1,173	What are the long, white worms in the tank. Look like they come out of little holes. Almost slightly transparent. What eats those?

03/01/2016, 04:34 PM	#13
clowndog Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 17	Cleaner shrimps are opportunists. They will get their hands on anything they can grab including those christmas worms. I eyewitnessed cleaner shrimps ambushed the beautiful christmas worms after lights off, and eat them.