Bristleworm infestation - what to do?

[alton]

Long nose Hawk fish and Pseudochromas eat bristle worms

[Mr Cob]

Just wanted to add that it takes a lot longer than a couple of weeks for a fish to starve so you can imagine that it would take much, much, much longer for a bottom feeder to starve.

[los.tejanos83]

Thanks for all the posts...have wanted to add a flame hawkfish...guess i'll simply keep an eye out for the 'loch ness' monster type bristleworm and leave all others alone.

[tropheusmaster]

Bristol Worms have no jaw so they can do no harm to corals or fish. also i have a 6 line wrasse and it is gentle and harmless

[ErikH]

I have a whole load of bristleworms in both of my tanks. They have never attacked a clam or a seahorse for that matter. Infact, they are my primary clean up crew in my SH tank, along with spaghetti worms. Wrasses tend to be jumpers, so unless you have a specialized cover over your tank, I wouldn't purchase one.

[runamukus]

When I had my 55 setup, my coral banded shrimp would hunt for bristle worms and eat them. I watched several times as it got excited, pulling a bristle worm out of a rock and then tearing it apart and eating it. In my biocube 14, I THOUGHT I saw my cleaner shrimp going to town on a bristle worm, but it moved to the back too quickly for me to be sure. I have tons (well not tons but lots) of bristle worms in my 14 gal biocube and they have not caused any problems yet...

[reefer man]

ive heard that if u place some food in a piece of panty hose and tie it in a knot nd leave it for a while they willsomehow get into it

[drgnbttrfly]

I have a

Cleaner Wrasse
Lunar Wrasse
Sixline Wrasse

and I kept an Eightline for a significant period for someone else


I have NEVER had a problem with jumping...

knock on wood but the only time they try to jump is when I am actively trying to net them.

My topless tanks I kept the water at least 1.5 inches down...up to three depending on the size

My main tank is a 125 long Oceanic. It has a glass top with a considerable space in the back. I have the plastic add ons...but since my tank is not predrilled there is alot going out and there is room to get out.

I kept the tank uncovered for months with no problem.

My wrasses don't even start when I put my hand in the tank now. They are familiar with where I feed in the tank and move toward me when I come to that area. They are smarter than we give them credit for.

Jumping IMHO...means fear or danger...be it tank condition or they are actually just afraid...

If you QT your wrasse for 6-8 weeks and give it time to get to know you and that you will feed it and love it and not hurt it even when you mess with the tank...if you do water to water transfers (no flipping suffocating fish) they will essentially learn to trust you and will stay put.