Bristle worms or Fireworms?

factorybacking · 09/10/2010, 01:56 PM

I've recently took in a 24 gallon Nano Cube. The lady could no longer care for it and she told me she had a "fireworm" problem. Upon looking at it, my first guess was they are bristle worms. I've done some research but cannot tell the differences of the two. Although I do know fireworms are just a type of bristle worm, but how the heck do I tell if these suckers are the bad ones? Also how would I go about getting rid of some. They are everywhere.

gumbii · 09/10/2010, 02:17 PM

get an arrow crab... or um... i can't think of a fish that would eat them and fit in that tank... a small coris wrasse...?

if you aren't feeding them, get rid of them... if there are too many of them, they can't be good...

oh oh oh oooo ooo... um...

you could get some nylon form like some silk stockings... and put some squid or shrimp in there... in the night throw it where they live, and in the morning throw it away... do it a couple of times... wear some gloves...

factorybacking · 09/10/2010, 03:14 PM

Cool, Ill try the nylon thing. Does it have to be squid or shrimp? I have some silver sides will that work?

gumbii · 09/10/2010, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by factorybacking

Cool, Ill try the nylon thing. Does it have to be squid or shrimp? I have some silver sides will that work?

i've only seen people doing squid... i don't know if you could use shrimp, but i would try it...

factorybacking · 09/10/2010, 04:53 PM

So will silver sides work?

562socal · 09/10/2010, 05:06 PM

six line wrasse will take care of those suckers.

KWoo008 · 09/10/2010, 05:38 PM

I had a Neon Dottyback that munched on them. That thing would have bristles poking out of its mouth all the time.

factorybacking · 09/10/2010, 05:44 PM

Thanks for the info..still waiting to see if silver sides and nylon will work..?

gumbii · 09/10/2010, 08:31 PM

i dunno... the thing about squid is that it stays inside the nylon... the silverside will fall apart and make a mess...

factorybacking · 09/10/2010, 08:39 PM

Gotcha, well I've got some shrimp im going to try. Just put the shrimp in the nylon, correct? Don't need to use a rubber band?

RandyFolds · 09/10/2010, 08:41 PM

There is about a 0.0000000001% chance that they are fireworms, especially if there are a bunch of them and they are small. No one but an expert will be able to tell them apart. Typically you find fireworms because they are destroying crap and are like two feet long.

If they are just regular ole' bristleworms and you think the population is too large, add a Coral Banded Shrimp and it will cull them, but honestly, they are harmless, and I would go so far as to say they are extremely beneficial in a reef tank. Their population is self regulating; the more you feed, the more you will have. Maybe just feed light for a month and see where you are at?

factorybacking · 09/10/2010, 08:49 PM

Thank you for that info. Yeah I just took a flash light to see how many of these suckers there are and WOW. Almost every inch of LR (About 35 lbs) is covered with them ranging from - <-- that big to I'd say about 4". Who knows if there is a big daddy hiding in there somewhere. The only thing in the tank are two perc's no corals or anything. I'd like to rid of some, i think i'll give the nylon/shrimp deal a try and see what I get.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyFolds

There is about a 0.0000000001% chance that they are fireworms, especially if there are a bunch of them and they are small. No one but an expert will be able to tell them apart. Typically you find fireworms because they are destroying crap and are like two feet long.

If they are just regular ole' bristleworms and you think the population is too large, add a Coral Banded Shrimp and it will cull them, but honestly, they are harmless, and I would go so far as to say they are extremely beneficial in a reef tank. Their population is self regulating; the more you feed, the more you will have. Maybe just feed light for a month and see where you are at?

gumbii · 09/10/2010, 08:57 PM

i wouldn't recommend banded shrimp... those dudes get big and will eat your fish... but so will arrow crabs, but those are easier to catch...

anyways... if you don't feed the bristle shrimps the population will go down... they eat themselves or die or something... people that are heavy feeders will have more worms... that's a fact...

factorybacking · 09/10/2010, 10:12 PM

I've got some nylon with shrimp in there right now. I'll check it in the morning and see my progress..if any.

nikecivic · 09/11/2010, 12:16 AM

Do you mean coral banded shrimp? I have had a pair for a year and a half and no issues.

psykokid · 09/11/2010, 02:02 AM

i used to have a big bw problem..

he was scary big. I changed out alot of my LR and re-aquascaped not too long ago so i dont have anywhere near as many BW's as i used to.. Still there though.. I have alot of spaghetti worms now.. its one thing or another.. I'll take spaghetti worms over bristleworms any day though..

gumbii · 09/11/2010, 02:20 AM

ajskfdljaslkd;fjaskldfjhaslkdjfkasl;jflas;kjfakslfjaskldjs

KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!!!!!!...

09/10/2010, 01:56 PM	#1
factorybacking Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: Temecula California Posts: 516	Bristle worms or Fireworms? I've recently took in a 24 gallon Nano Cube. The lady could no longer care for it and she told me she had a "fireworm" problem. Upon looking at it, my first guess was they are bristle worms. I've done some research but cannot tell the differences of the two. Although I do know fireworms are just a type of bristle worm, but how the heck do I tell if these suckers are the bad ones? Also how would I go about getting rid of some. They are everywhere.

09/10/2010, 05:38 PM	#7
KWoo008 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lake Balboa, CA Posts: 2,526	I had a Neon Dottyback that munched on them. That thing would have bristles poking out of its mouth all the time. __________________ Kelly

09/11/2010, 12:16 AM	#15
nikecivic Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ventura County / So Cal Posts: 1,570	Do you mean coral banded shrimp? I have had a pair for a year and a half and no issues. __________________ MASVC Board Member (2013-14 Treasurer) ---------------------- Current Tank Info: 180 Glass Tank (6'x2'x2') with a Bubble King Mini 160 (on the second Red Dragon pump), Korallin 1502, Apex w/WXM, Ecotech Radion G1 w/TIR lenses, (2) Ecotech MP40w (one w/ES upgrade) w/Battery Backup, (2) Jebao WP25, Jebao DC12000, 55g acrylic sump

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09/10/2010, 02:17 PM	#2
gumbii Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: bell gardens, ca Posts: 3,927	get an arrow crab... or um... i can't think of a fish that would eat them and fit in that tank... a small coris wrasse...? if you aren't feeding them, get rid of them... if there are too many of them, they can't be good... oh oh oh oooo ooo... um... you could get some nylon form like some silk stockings... and put some squid or shrimp in there... in the night throw it where they live, and in the morning throw it away... do it a couple of times... wear some gloves...

09/10/2010, 03:14 PM	#3
factorybacking Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: Temecula California Posts: 516	Cool, Ill try the nylon thing. Does it have to be squid or shrimp? I have some silver sides will that work?

09/10/2010, 04:53 PM	#5
factorybacking Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: Temecula California Posts: 516	So will silver sides work?

09/10/2010, 05:06 PM	#6
562socal Moved On Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 132	six line wrasse will take care of those suckers.

09/10/2010, 05:44 PM	#8
factorybacking Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: Temecula California Posts: 516	Thanks for the info..still waiting to see if silver sides and nylon will work..?

09/10/2010, 08:31 PM	#9
gumbii Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: bell gardens, ca Posts: 3,927	i dunno... the thing about squid is that it stays inside the nylon... the silverside will fall apart and make a mess...

09/10/2010, 08:39 PM	#10
factorybacking Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: Temecula California Posts: 516	Gotcha, well I've got some shrimp im going to try. Just put the shrimp in the nylon, correct? Don't need to use a rubber band?

09/10/2010, 08:41 PM	#11
RandyFolds Reef Troll Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Eagle Rock, CA Posts: 1,241	There is about a 0.0000000001% chance that they are fireworms, especially if there are a bunch of them and they are small. No one but an expert will be able to tell them apart. Typically you find fireworms because they are destroying crap and are like two feet long. If they are just regular ole' bristleworms and you think the population is too large, add a Coral Banded Shrimp and it will cull them, but honestly, they are harmless, and I would go so far as to say they are extremely beneficial in a reef tank. Their population is self regulating; the more you feed, the more you will have. Maybe just feed light for a month and see where you are at?

09/10/2010, 08:57 PM	#13
gumbii Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: bell gardens, ca Posts: 3,927	i wouldn't recommend banded shrimp... those dudes get big and will eat your fish... but so will arrow crabs, but those are easier to catch... anyways... if you don't feed the bristle shrimps the population will go down... they eat themselves or die or something... people that are heavy feeders will have more worms... that's a fact...

09/10/2010, 10:12 PM	#14
factorybacking Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: Temecula California Posts: 516	I've got some nylon with shrimp in there right now. I'll check it in the morning and see my progress..if any.

09/11/2010, 02:02 AM	#16
psykokid Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 1,454	i used to have a big bw problem.. he was scary big. I changed out alot of my LR and re-aquascaped not too long ago so i dont have anywhere near as many BW's as i used to.. Still there though.. I have alot of spaghetti worms now.. its one thing or another.. I'll take spaghetti worms over bristleworms any day though..

09/11/2010, 02:20 AM	#17
gumbii Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: bell gardens, ca Posts: 3,927	ajskfdljaslkd;fjaskldfjhaslkdjfkasl;jflas;kjfakslfjaskldjs KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!!!!!!...