What is this?

[Pennies2Cents]

Hi all,


ok s i was feeding time and then all oa sudden this thing came out of the live rock in our tank, its about 8 inches long and what looked like it was eating stuff from the sand bed.. I had never seen it before not even when we first set up our tank..

I tried take some pics.. Sorry if they are blurry, but can someone please tell me what this ugly snake looking thing is.. :hypnotyized:

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk90/avonorders2005/DSC_0158.jpg

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk90/avonorders2005/DSC_0153-1.jpg

[seatrueblue]

Looks like a regular bristle worm to me.:) They are good scavengers that mostly come out at night.

[mama]

yeah...from all i have read, that looks like the ole bristle!! i have never had one...yet!!

[Pennies2Cents]

Now that I know the name, I looked it up on the web and most people say that they can be a problem for reef aquarist? Is this true? We just got an anemome will it be under attack with this worm? What about our other corals and such?

[seatrueblue]

I have only heard of people having problems with them if you have way too many. This can happen if you over feed your tank. If you aren't over populated with bristle worms, then I think they are good to have. They will clean the insides of the live rock parts you can't get to.

[subsailor]

This is pulled from WWM. IMO they are a good part of the cleanup crew.


Hello,
<<Howdy>>
Love your website.
<<Thanks>>
I would like your opinion on bristleworms.
<<Ok...a beneficial detritivore <G>.>>
I seem to have an abundance of them (pink to reddish colors).
<<Most folks do.>>
I have a very large (300g) fish/invert only tank. I have tried several anemone’s with little success. All three times within days they had wrapped themselves around the intake valve in the substrate, which is located in a dark cave of live rock, and died.
<<Then stop trying. Anemones need/require systems designed specially for them to preclude just this sort of thing.>>
I have read that some bristleworms are predators to anemone’s, is this true?
<<An extremely large bristleworm can be a problem, but this is rare. And bristleworms didn't drag your anemones over to the intake tube...>>
Is there a need to remove these critters?
<<Not likely...usually self limiting as long as you are not grossly overfeeding the tank.>>
I have also read a lot on your site about these pesky scavengers and you seem to be in the camp that they are multiplying due to overfeeding.
<<Yep>>
I have never seen anyone write about how much to feed.
<<More of a "learned" response according to your stocking densities, type/needs of the animals, filtration, etc..>>
Here is what I have, could you give me an idea as to what, how much, and how often would you feed the tank.
<<Mmm...I'll try...>>
1 Large (5-6") Blue Hippo Tang, 1 Juv Emperor Angel, 3 sm to med pink skunk clowns, 2 small ocellaris clowns, 1 bi-color Pseudochromis, 1 yellow watchman goby, 1 powder blue tang (3-4"), 1 yellow tang (4"), 1 med flame angel, 1 fire shrimp, 2 serpent stars, 2 sand sifter stars, 1 Lemonpeel angel (3-4"), and 1 purple firefish. Sorry about the spelling of some of the fish. Thanks for all you do to help.
<<A couple to several small feedings per day is best when possible. A general guideline for this tank would be a mix of 4-5 of the frozen "cubed" foods (Mysis shrimp, krill, plankton, squid, vegetable (angel) mixes, etc.) per feeding. Watch to see that all is consumed, while still providing enough for the less aggressive feeders. A bit of experimentation may be necessary to find the correct balance.>>

[coraline79]

I have had one since I set my tank up. It will show about 4 inches of it's body, and it has never caused a problem as far as I know. Comes out at night and during feeding intermittently. I "overfeed" probably, but have never seen another one.

I have a 30 long tank w/ plenty of coral, 1 small naso tang, a bicolor blenny, diamond goby, engineer goby, and a target mandrin. 50lbs of liverock also, all from wolf reef.

my definition of overfeeding: everyday I feed a large pinch of formula 2, phytopeast 5 drops, tablespoon of rotifeast, and once a week, I drop in a melted cube of spirulina brine.

[Kristy]

They are good scavengers, but we pull them out when they get that big. Just in case. :)

[dustint21]

If you have live rock Im about 90% sure there is a bristle worm in you tank! The are ok like everyone else has said, just make sure you get the bigger ones like that one you have out! They cant multiply very quickly if you dont!

[SoLiD]

I put the bigger ones in my refugium. They are always moving around down there.

-David

[dustint21]

Here is a pic i found when researching them when i first got into the hobby! This lady had an article about this worm eating her small fish!! Dont know if its true! But she kept it in its own tank just cause she didnt feel right killing it!

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h59/dustint21/bristle.jpg

[CynthiaM]

It's true that once they multiply, they can become problematic. They will spawn in your tank, making it look cloudy. Be ready to do a water change or if you have skimmer, get it cranking. I found the best way IME, is to have a wrasse e.g. (coris wrasse, sixline wrasse, radiant wrasse) they will keep the population down. Just remember most wrasses are jumpers so an enclosed canopy is must.

[CoryDude]

If it's really around 8", I'd try to pull it. The easiest way is to find out which rock they're in and pull and isolate that rock for collection. Or you can use forcepts at night, whenever it comes out to feed. Never had any luck w/the commercially avail. traps.

I had one that size that killed a few small clams and damaged an elegance coral.

[Pennies2Cents]

Wow that pic was good one.. I didnt think they could really get that big.. I had read about it but just didnt think it was possible. (speachless) on the other hand late last night i was researching this odd creature and found some home made ways to catch it. Well, I tried the nylon hose with brine shrimp and believe it or not some african cichlid flakes.. I put the bait it in tank right where I last seen it crawling around.
I left it in overnight with no lights whats so ever, complete darkness and then this afternoon I checked and quess what I caught the monster and then 2 extra babies I was shocked.. I took pictures, the one good picture was him coming out of the stocking. I will get those up just as soon as I can.. Thanks for all your help..