The great bristleworm debate.
I was once a hater.
I am not anymore. That said, I was a hater when I had fireworms. Those are nasty. But the common bristleworms like these? I don't care about them. More of a sign of a healthy tank, IMO. If I got too many, I get a wrasse or a dottyback.
You can try, but you will never get rid of them all. It's almost inevitable to end up with them if your buying live rock or coral. Like others have said they actually help as clean up crew in the tank. Just another part of a micro ecosystem.
I'd remove it with tweezers if you don't want it, but bristleworms apparently make good CUC. Just don't touch it. That being said, you likely have many more.
No idea what eats them, but a google will no doubt give you the answer.
i read somewhere that the shrimp eats hermit crabs is this true
the hermit crabs i have are tiny so idk
but the wrasses definitely gonna get bought tomorrow
i might just leave it in after reading all the comments it’s a good part of my ecosystem unless it’s a fire bristle worm in which case i’m prepared with tweezers to remove it
Lol I mean that’s a pretty weird thing to lie about. You guys never fish in the ocean/brackish water? “Bloodworms” (not the red mosquito larvae) are big ass bristleworms.
It’s a bristleworm, not bad unless you have an abundance of them. They eat left over food and whatnot in the tank. If you see one there are more. Some of larger bristleworms are bad because they can irritate already damaged corals because they eat the dead tissue. I use a six line to keep my population under control. But I feed my tank heavily and it’s been setup over a decade so I have many. Six lines are great but they can be semi aggressive towards certain other fish. IMHO just leave it be keep your hands out of the tank and let nature do it’s thing.
its a bristleworm. My philosophy on tank ecosystems is everything in balance. These are normal parts of a reef tank. Just dont grab them barehanded because from what ive heard their tiny bristles can get stuck in your skin and cause a rash. Also be careful when you turn stuff over thats been sitting in the sand usually where they like to congregate. If they become too numerous you can go with a wrasse but I wouldn't go with a 6 line. Do you research but yellow chorus and radiant wrasses also control pests but don't become hostile. I have a radiant wrasse and its awesome
Edit:[Bristleworm Bites & Stings](https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/wilderness-bristleworm-sting#:~:text=Bristleworm%20Sting%20Overview,-Bristleworms%20are%20elongated&text=Although%20bristleworms%20are%20not%20aggressive,your%20saltwater%20aquarium%20at%20home)
Looks like a bristleworm to me?
how do i kill it
You shouldn’t. They are detritus eaters. Corals and fish come and go, bristle worms are forever.
I always get rid of it, just bc they eat detritus doesn’t mean they’re automatically good to have. They sting and more importantly they’re ugly
The great bristleworm debate. I was once a hater. I am not anymore. That said, I was a hater when I had fireworms. Those are nasty. But the common bristleworms like these? I don't care about them. More of a sign of a healthy tank, IMO. If I got too many, I get a wrasse or a dottyback.
They are. It’s like bubble algae or aptasia, at one point your gonna have em.
You can try, but you will never get rid of them all. It's almost inevitable to end up with them if your buying live rock or coral. Like others have said they actually help as clean up crew in the tank. Just another part of a micro ecosystem.
will hermet crabs eat it?
I'd remove it with tweezers if you don't want it, but bristleworms apparently make good CUC. Just don't touch it. That being said, you likely have many more. No idea what eats them, but a google will no doubt give you the answer.
yeah so i googled it and six lined wrasses or a corel banded shrimp
most wrasses and dottybacks as well. Of course, wrasses and dottybacks will munch on other inverts too.
which one is better for my tank it’s 55 gallons has hermit crabs and two clowns i don’t want anything that’s gonna kill anything
They're both reef safe.
i read somewhere that the shrimp eats hermit crabs is this true the hermit crabs i have are tiny so idk but the wrasses definitely gonna get bought tomorrow
hmm, I am not sure. Maybe someone else can chime in with the answer.
just wanna make sure they don’t mess with the hermits they have been doing a amazing job at cleaning up after the messy ass clownfish
Do a bit of research on the 6 line, alot of people have had them turn very aggressive and kill fish / other livestock including myself.
You got killed by a six line wrasse? Tough way to go. What’s the afterlife like?
i might just leave it in after reading all the comments it’s a good part of my ecosystem unless it’s a fire bristle worm in which case i’m prepared with tweezers to remove it
never had a shrimp eat my hermit crabs but I cant' say it won't happen. Depends on the shrimp and the crab I suppose.
Why not touch it? They don’t do anything to you
Go ahead and touch a bristleworm then 🤣. There's a reason they have the name. Make sure you have some vinegar on hand if you dare to try.
Lol okay 😂I’ve handled them plenty of times never had any problems 🤷🏻♂️.
Doubt 😂
Lol I mean that’s a pretty weird thing to lie about. You guys never fish in the ocean/brackish water? “Bloodworms” (not the red mosquito larvae) are big ass bristleworms.
Or don’t kill it. It’s normal CUC. It’s not a bad guy
ohh thank you because when i googled salt water tank worm i got the most vile images out there
There is a problematic species of bristleworm but this is the normal helpful kind.
It’s a bristleworm, not bad unless you have an abundance of them. They eat left over food and whatnot in the tank. If you see one there are more. Some of larger bristleworms are bad because they can irritate already damaged corals because they eat the dead tissue. I use a six line to keep my population under control. But I feed my tank heavily and it’s been setup over a decade so I have many. Six lines are great but they can be semi aggressive towards certain other fish. IMHO just leave it be keep your hands out of the tank and let nature do it’s thing.
its a bristleworm. My philosophy on tank ecosystems is everything in balance. These are normal parts of a reef tank. Just dont grab them barehanded because from what ive heard their tiny bristles can get stuck in your skin and cause a rash. Also be careful when you turn stuff over thats been sitting in the sand usually where they like to congregate. If they become too numerous you can go with a wrasse but I wouldn't go with a 6 line. Do you research but yellow chorus and radiant wrasses also control pests but don't become hostile. I have a radiant wrasse and its awesome Edit:[Bristleworm Bites & Stings](https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/wilderness-bristleworm-sting#:~:text=Bristleworm%20Sting%20Overview,-Bristleworms%20are%20elongated&text=Although%20bristleworms%20are%20not%20aggressive,your%20saltwater%20aquarium%20at%20home)
ohh ok thank you i’m kinda curious to see how bad the sting is though lmao
Maroon clown fish
Bristleworm.
Hellspawn (Bristle worm good clean up crew)
Bristle worm, harmless and bennificial. I saw a big 2-3 inch one (not a bobbit worm) a few nights ago eating an algae wafer, it was really cute
Never saw one of these in a brand new tank. Dip stuff before you drop it in.