Can you say Holy Bristle Beard!!

J4Life · 07/09/2009, 01:12 PM

Well after cutting my lights off for about 36 hours to help reduce a little red slime outbreak I discovered that the algae has really diminished and my fancy tail blenny now has a "bristle beard"

During the time with the lights off he must have tried to take on a fairly good sized bristle worm/fire worm because his poor face is all jacked up!!

I got to give the little fella credit though. He is just as active as ever and hunting down food to eat the moment I through it in the tank.

I will see if I can try and snap a picture and post it later. I feel sort of sorry for the guy. I know it has to hurt. I have gotten the little bristles in my skin before and they irritate you like crazy.

Anyone else ever had a fish jacked up by a bristle worm?

Thanks

jayelblock · 07/09/2009, 02:36 PM

must see a picture of this...

evsalty · 07/09/2009, 02:42 PM

This thread is useless without what?

Anyone?

Anyone?

Bueller?

Bueller?

Superstretch18 · 07/09/2009, 02:50 PM

I've seen that happen to pseudochromis before. Difference is that those actually eat bristleworms. Not sure why a blenny thought tangling with a bw was a good idea!

I wouldn't worry about it though; they should grow out in a week or so...

LoyalConvict · 07/09/2009, 02:51 PM

Dave Harms · 07/09/2009, 03:00 PM

J4Life · 07/09/2009, 03:14 PM

Guys although I do appreciate your humor I would prefer that unless you have something to actually contribute, please do not post in this thread.

As I stated in my first post I will try and get a picture soon. I am just not at a point that I can.

Thanks,

Bill

J4Life · 07/09/2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Superstretch18
I've seen that happen to pseudochromis before. Difference is that those actually eat bristleworms. Not sure why a blenny thought tangling with a bw was a good idea!

I wouldn't worry about it though; they should grow out in a week or so...

Thanks Superstretch. I wasn't to worried about it since he has been moving around fine and eating.

ladyonyx · 07/09/2009, 03:37 PM

Poor guy. I'm sure he'll be fine though, especially if it isn't effecting his eating habits. I guess he won't be trying to eat bristle worms anymore...

J4Life · 07/09/2009, 04:53 PM

I am not even sure why he tried in the first place. Maybe he thinks he is part wrasse now that I have a sixline in the tank with him.

J4Life · 07/09/2009, 05:59 PM

Ok as promised here is a picture of the little fella with a mouth loaded up with bristles. It isn't the best picture but it was all I could get. He wasn't cooperating very well.

So no more mutiny about pictures.

luther1200 · 07/09/2009, 06:19 PM

Oooooww. Can you catch him, and maybe pluck them out with tweezers? That looks painful, but they say fish don't have much feeling in there mouths. Although I am not sure how true that is.

J4Life · 07/09/2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by luther1200
Oooooww. Can you catch him, and maybe pluck them out with tweezers? That looks painful, but they say fish don't have much feeling in there mouths. Although I am not sure how true that is.

No chance in catching this guy he has been in my tank too long and is fast. Plus I try to keep my hands out of the tank. My Yellow Tang has gotten the habit of trying to spine lately. He thinks he is boss!

luther1200 · 07/09/2009, 06:35 PM

He should be alright. It just might take some time for the bristles to work there way out.

J4Life · 07/09/2009, 07:41 PM

Yeah he should recover well. It must have been a big honking bristle worm though. The spines are pretty big.

I have a couple large ones in my sump but I haven't seen any large ones in the main display tank. Not sure I want too either.

JAustin · 07/09/2009, 07:51 PM

If he had feeling in his face before he doesn't now!

He should work them out. Is he eating? If he is still eating I wouldn't sweat it.

J4Life · 07/09/2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JAustin
If he had feeling in his face before he doesn't now!

He should work them out. Is he eating? If he is still eating I wouldn't sweat it.

I'm not sweating it. He is eating like a champ!! It is all sort of funny when you think about it. A blenny trying to chomp down a bristle worm. Too bad I didn't witness it first hand. Instead I turn my lights back on to find Santa Claus in my tank.

tank o tang · 07/09/2009, 08:38 PM

Can't imagine he feels to much pain, can't be any worse then bashing and dragging his lips over rock all day.

J4Life · 07/09/2009, 09:21 PM

You have a good point there. I just don't see how they can stomach swallowing gravel either.

07/09/2009, 01:12 PM	#1
J4Life Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 1,397	Can you say Holy Bristle Beard!! Well after cutting my lights off for about 36 hours to help reduce a little red slime outbreak I discovered that the algae has really diminished and my fancy tail blenny now has a "bristle beard" During the time with the lights off he must have tried to take on a fairly good sized bristle worm/fire worm because his poor face is all jacked up!! I got to give the little fella credit though. He is just as active as ever and hunting down food to eat the moment I through it in the tank. I will see if I can try and snap a picture and post it later. I feel sort of sorry for the guy. I know it has to hurt. I have gotten the little bristles in my skin before and they irritate you like crazy. Anyone else ever had a fish jacked up by a bristle worm? Thanks __________________ Go Panthers! Got JC? <o)))>< Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, Reef tank

07/09/2009, 02:50 PM	#4
Superstretch18 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 571	I've seen that happen to pseudochromis before. Difference is that those actually eat bristleworms. Not sure why a blenny thought tangling with a bw was a good idea! I wouldn't worry about it though; they should grow out in a week or so... __________________ -Shaun- ...like making a pen that works in space. Yes, you spent $1 billion NASA and got it to work, good job. But totally impractical when the Russians spent a few cents and simply used pencils... Current Tank Info: TBD

07/09/2009, 02:51 PM	#5
LoyalConvict Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 468	__________________ Contemplating sushifried I Have - Ichthyophobia, Hydrophobia, Hyalophobia, and Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia Current Tank Info: 90 Reef, 55 fuge - 75 FOWLR 30 fuge

07/09/2009, 03:00 PM	#6
Dave Harms Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 466	__________________ Dave Harms Current Tank Info: Established July 2008: 12g Oceanic, 4x 24w T5's, VorTech MP10, Tunze Nano Wavebox 6206, Phosban Reactor w/ BRS GFO powered by a Tunze Silence, Marineland Penguin 350, 50w Stealth heater

07/09/2009, 03:14 PM	#7
J4Life Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 1,397	Guys although I do appreciate your humor I would prefer that unless you have something to actually contribute, please do not post in this thread. As I stated in my first post I will try and get a picture soon. I am just not at a point that I can. Thanks, Bill __________________ Go Panthers! Got JC? <o)))>< Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, Reef tank

07/09/2009, 02:36 PM	#2
jayelblock Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: tulsa Posts: 408	must see a picture of this...

07/09/2009, 02:42 PM	#3
evsalty hmmmmmm Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NW Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,531	This thread is useless without what? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

07/09/2009, 03:37 PM	#9
ladyonyx Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woodridge, IL Posts: 107	Poor guy. I'm sure he'll be fine though, especially if it isn't effecting his eating habits. I guess he won't be trying to eat bristle worms anymore...

07/09/2009, 04:53 PM	#10
J4Life Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 1,397	I am not even sure why he tried in the first place. Maybe he thinks he is part wrasse now that I have a sixline in the tank with him. __________________ Go Panthers! Got JC? <o)))>< Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, Reef tank

07/09/2009, 05:59 PM	#11
J4Life Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 1,397	Ok as promised here is a picture of the little fella with a mouth loaded up with bristles. It isn't the best picture but it was all I could get. He wasn't cooperating very well. So no more mutiny about pictures. __________________ Go Panthers! Got JC? <o)))>< Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, Reef tank

07/09/2009, 06:19 PM	#12
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	Oooooww. Can you catch him, and maybe pluck them out with tweezers? That looks painful, but they say fish don't have much feeling in there mouths. Although I am not sure how true that is. __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

07/09/2009, 06:35 PM	#14
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	He should be alright. It just might take some time for the bristles to work there way out. __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

07/09/2009, 07:41 PM	#15
J4Life Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 1,397	Yeah he should recover well. It must have been a big honking bristle worm though. The spines are pretty big. I have a couple large ones in my sump but I haven't seen any large ones in the main display tank. Not sure I want too either. __________________ Go Panthers! Got JC? <o)))>< Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, Reef tank

07/09/2009, 07:51 PM	#16
JAustin Acropora Nut Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 1,628	If he had feeling in his face before he doesn't now! He should work them out. Is he eating? If he is still eating I wouldn't sweat it. __________________ 211g Planet Aquariums Hybrid PVC bottom 48"x34"x30" and steel stand from CustomReefCreations - Reeflo Super Dart - OM 4way - SRO XP3000 External - ATI Dimmable 8x54w - Apex.

07/09/2009, 08:38 PM	#18
tank o tang Thread Lurker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: CT Posts: 1,527	Can't imagine he feels to much pain, can't be any worse then bashing and dragging his lips over rock all day. __________________ A 5 gallon bucket of water dosen't look like much till it's on your living room floor Current Tank Info: 180gal

07/09/2009, 09:21 PM	#19
J4Life Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 1,397	You have a good point there. I just don't see how they can stomach swallowing gravel either. __________________ Go Panthers! Got JC? <o)))>< Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, Reef tank