Bristleworm

Russian123 · 03/06/2009, 11:59 PM

I know people say take them out immediate and how deadly they are etc etc. But I haven't had any problem with my little guy, however Today I put in a Pulsing Xenia (apparently where the bristle worm lives. And he is continuing to poke out and look at whats going on. The Xenia continues to reduce in size, but once the bristleworm leaves, the Xenia is normal again, So i don't believe he's causing any harm to the Xenia is he?

Salamander · 03/07/2009, 12:09 AM

No reason to get rid of bristle worms. Anyone plucking them out really doesn't know much about reefs.

Flipper62 · 03/07/2009, 12:12 AM

Bristle worms are awesome.....Good to have.....

Everything will be fine, They just need to get adjusted to the area. There will be times that things come alive & come out of the rock..... then everyone & everything will adjust.....its all normal.

jenglish · 03/07/2009, 01:08 AM

bristleworms is a common name that covers a very broad range of worms, polychealtes (sp). In general the great majority are harmless detritovores. there are a few called fireworms by common name that can actively predate fish. You need a good picture of the head to get a positve ID. If you have a worm less than 3-7 inches I think it is being paranoid to try to catch it and take a pic under magnification but there is always the remote possibity you have a nasty one.

joeychitwood · 03/07/2009, 08:35 AM

As mentioned above, bristleworms are good for a reef tank (in moderation, just like everything else.) If you look at older reef books, however, you'll find that the common wisdom in the 1980s and early 1990s was that all bristleworms should be removed ASAP.

andrew jacoby · 03/07/2009, 09:36 AM

If you think you only have one I am sure you have a lot more. Look at your tank after the lights are off for an hour or two. I am amazed at all the night life I have and the fact I have more than 1 bristle worm.

03/06/2009, 11:59 PM	#1
Russian123 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas Posts: 299	Bristleworm I know people say take them out immediate and how deadly they are etc etc. But I haven't had any problem with my little guy, however Today I put in a Pulsing Xenia (apparently where the bristle worm lives. And he is continuing to poke out and look at whats going on. The Xenia continues to reduce in size, but once the bristleworm leaves, the Xenia is normal again, So i don't believe he's causing any harm to the Xenia is he? __________________ POUR DOWN SENTA!!

03/07/2009, 12:09 AM	#2
Salamander Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 2,103	No reason to get rid of bristle worms. Anyone plucking them out really doesn't know much about reefs. __________________ I feel more like myself now than I did before. Current Tank Info: 120g mixed reef, 2 x 250W DE MH, 2 x 54w T5, MSX 200 SKimmer, 2 Koralia 4's, 40g fuge/sump, QT

03/07/2009, 12:12 AM	#3
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	Bristle worms are awesome.....Good to have..... Everything will be fine, They just need to get adjusted to the area. There will be times that things come alive & come out of the rock..... then everyone & everything will adjust.....its all normal. __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW Last edited by Flipper62; 03/07/2009 at 12:25 AM.

03/07/2009, 01:08 AM	#4
jenglish Marquis de Carabas Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,523	bristleworms is a common name that covers a very broad range of worms, polychealtes (sp). In general the great majority are harmless detritovores. there are a few called fireworms by common name that can actively predate fish. You need a good picture of the head to get a positve ID. If you have a worm less than 3-7 inches I think it is being paranoid to try to catch it and take a pic under magnification but there is always the remote possibity you have a nasty one. __________________ Jeremy Brown liquor never hurt anybody “Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: broken and dry

03/07/2009, 08:35 AM	#5
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	As mentioned above, bristleworms are good for a reef tank (in moderation, just like everything else.) If you look at older reef books, however, you'll find that the common wisdom in the 1980s and early 1990s was that all bristleworms should be removed ASAP.

03/07/2009, 09:36 AM	#6
andrew jacoby Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 100	If you think you only have one I am sure you have a lot more. Look at your tank after the lights are off for an hour or two. I am amazed at all the night life I have and the fact I have more than 1 bristle worm.