Bristle worms

Ivydoodles · 05/20/2020, 08:14 AM

My son tells me I have bristle worms. I saw some day one of setting up the tank but have not since. My son saw them in the middle of the night. I bought an arrow crab from the LFS. He says if I feed the crab fish food with the other fish he wont eat the worms? True?
I am having a hard time making sure the crab isn't getting any fish food. He is determined. Poor thing.

Sk8r · 05/20/2020, 08:24 AM

The worms are beneficial to your tank. The crab, not so much.

Anemone · 05/20/2020, 02:01 PM

If you feed your fish, the crab will get some. The crab will still hunt and do crab things when not eating fish food.

And, as Sk8r said, bristle worms are not a problem, just part of the natural clean-up crew.

Kevin

Sugar Magnolia · 05/20/2020, 03:11 PM

I'd be more concerned about the crab. They get big and aggressive, can and will catch sleeping fish and eat them.

Ivydoodles · 05/20/2020, 07:46 PM

My son says they are the fire ones which are bad? He is new to the hobby so we are learning.

Anemone · 05/20/2020, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivydoodles

My son says they are the fire ones which are bad? He is new to the hobby so we are learning.

Yes, fireworms are bad (eat corals) and eunicid worms (commonly referred to as bobbit worms) are bad (eat snails, corals, clams, and once they get big enough, can eat fish). Good thing is, both fireworms and eunicid worms are fairly easy to identify, as are your standard variety bristle worms. Search for some pictures and descriptions, and you'll be able to tell the difference. I doubt you have fireworms.

Kevin

Ivydoodles · 05/21/2020, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anemone

Yes, fireworms are bad (eat corals) and eunicid worms (commonly referred to as bobbit worms) are bad (eat snails, corals, clams, and once they get big enough, can eat fish). Good thing is, both fireworms and eunicid worms are fairly easy to identify, as are your standard variety bristle worms. Search for some pictures and descriptions, and you'll be able to tell the difference. I doubt you have fireworms.

Kevin

The ones I saw were very very tiny and looked orange. I saw them in rock and the sand on the first day and haven't seen them since. I hope they are harmless. I don't like this arrow crab he is creepy.

Sk8r · 05/21/2020, 01:08 PM

Bristleworms. Look up hermodice carunculata on google. That's a fireworm. They're gorgeous. Bad news. But exremely rare. What you describe is just good old bristleworms. Tell your son they're a very good clean-up crew and cost a dollar apiece to buy online.

05/20/2020, 08:14 AM	#1
Ivydoodles Registered Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 20	Bristle worms My son tells me I have bristle worms. I saw some day one of setting up the tank but have not since. My son saw them in the middle of the night. I bought an arrow crab from the LFS. He says if I feed the crab fish food with the other fish he wont eat the worms? True? I am having a hard time making sure the crab isn't getting any fish food. He is determined. Poor thing.

05/20/2020, 08:24 AM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	The worms are beneficial to your tank. The crab, not so much. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/20/2020, 02:01 PM	#3
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	If you feed your fish, the crab will get some. The crab will still hunt and do crab things when not eating fish food. And, as Sk8r said, bristle worms are not a problem, just part of the natural clean-up crew. Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s

05/20/2020, 03:11 PM	#4
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	I'd be more concerned about the crab. They get big and aggressive, can and will catch sleeping fish and eat them. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

05/21/2020, 01:08 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Bristleworms. Look up hermodice carunculata on google. That's a fireworm. They're gorgeous. Bad news. But exremely rare. What you describe is just good old bristleworms. Tell your son they're a very good clean-up crew and cost a dollar apiece to buy online. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/20/2020, 07:46 PM	#5
Ivydoodles Registered Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 20	My son says they are the fire ones which are bad? He is new to the hobby so we are learning.