New Take Hitchikers

chasingmytail · 12/17/2007, 07:57 PM

When I bought my Live Rock, I didn't think they realy ment LIVE ROCK> Mine came with Brittle Stars (2 I can find) 1 Star (Small unknown type), Feathers, Enough Aptaisia to feed a colony of Kliens Butterfly.

My only problem is the worms.

I have what I belive to be too many brittle worms.

I have been able to identify 3 differnt varities based on color.

I have read that the worms arn't too bad if not too many, but wow. I can visble see more than 30 at a time in Light / Low Light.

In the dark, too many to count.

I can see the marks in my substrate in the morning where they are scoring the sand.

Never seen the full size of any, but several have been out 6" from the rock.

I would like suggestions on how to control them. I tried a homemade trap with frozen carnivor food and none went in.

Is it worth buying a trap for them?

125g New Tank
PL-2000 Wet Dry
100lbs Live Rock
180 lbs Aragonite substate
50lbs Leech Rock
1 extra powerhead for circulation

6 Damsiles
3 Crabs

harryk · 12/17/2007, 08:02 PM

i do believe that there are fish that will eat them. I think a sixline wrasse will, but i'm not 100%. I do know that arrow crabs will hunt them down and eat them. Or you can manually remove them with a long pair of tweezers.

Harry

boggs32 · 12/17/2007, 08:09 PM

I gave in and started removing them by hand. I would be interested in a list of fish/inverts that eat worms though.

sirgeez · 12/17/2007, 08:54 PM

Six-line wrasse, Arrow Crab & Coral Branded Shrimp will all help keep bristle worms under control

stevelkaneval · 12/17/2007, 08:58 PM

just so you know bristle worm reproduce based on avalible food. just leave them and they will ween themselves out. they are good to have, they eat ditrius and other waste

ILoveReefer · 12/17/2007, 09:02 PM

I agree with stevelkaneval 100%. I'd worry more about the Aptaisia's you have.

12/17/2007, 07:57 PM	#1
chasingmytail Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 19	New Take Hitchikers When I bought my Live Rock, I didn't think they realy ment LIVE ROCK> Mine came with Brittle Stars (2 I can find) 1 Star (Small unknown type), Feathers, Enough Aptaisia to feed a colony of Kliens Butterfly. My only problem is the worms. I have what I belive to be too many brittle worms. I have been able to identify 3 differnt varities based on color. I have read that the worms arn't too bad if not too many, but wow. I can visble see more than 30 at a time in Light / Low Light. In the dark, too many to count. I can see the marks in my substrate in the morning where they are scoring the sand. Never seen the full size of any, but several have been out 6" from the rock. I would like suggestions on how to control them. I tried a homemade trap with frozen carnivor food and none went in. Is it worth buying a trap for them? 125g New Tank PL-2000 Wet Dry 100lbs Live Rock 180 lbs Aragonite substate 50lbs Leech Rock 1 extra powerhead for circulation 6 Damsiles 3 Crabs

12/17/2007, 08:09 PM	#3
boggs32 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 69	I gave in and started removing them by hand. I would be interested in a list of fish/inverts that eat worms though. __________________ send me an e-mail at: boggs32@marshall.edu Thanks! Ricky Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef & 24 Nano Predator/Reef

12/17/2007, 08:58 PM	#5
stevelkaneval Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: oshkosh wisconsin Posts: 633	just so you know bristle worm reproduce based on avalible food. just leave them and they will ween themselves out. they are good to have, they eat ditrius and other waste __________________ "I live too serve you lord Megatron." "Were is the cube?" "The humans have taken it." "You fail me yet again Star Scream, get them." Current Tank Info: 20 long,korilia 1,and small ph,aquaclear70 moded fuge,coralife pc's,aqualight flouresent,seaclone skimmer,35lbs lr,green mushrooms and red and blue,and dragon eye zoas,assorted hermit crabs,nassarius snails,turbo snail,

12/17/2007, 08:02 PM	#2
harryk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 262	i do believe that there are fish that will eat them. I think a sixline wrasse will, but i'm not 100%. I do know that arrow crabs will hunt them down and eat them. Or you can manually remove them with a long pair of tweezers. Harry

12/17/2007, 08:54 PM	#4
sirgeez Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 100	Six-line wrasse, Arrow Crab & Coral Branded Shrimp will all help keep bristle worms under control

12/17/2007, 09:02 PM	#6
ILoveReefer Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cheektowaga Posts: 851	I agree with stevelkaneval 100%. I'd worry more about the Aptaisia's you have.