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pa_reptileman_4 
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Joined: August 22 2007
Location: kunsan, korea
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 Posted: September 22 2008 at 8:33am |
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fellow reefers
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pitiful guppy tank.
shane
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Mark Peterson
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Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
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Posted: September 22 2008 at 9:56am |
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The truth is that only a few of the possibly 100's of types of Bristleworms munch on coral.
Don't let yourself fall victim to unfounded fear and ignorance.
It usually goes this way:
A new hobbyist sees one bristleworm cleaning up the dead or dieing portion of a coral or simply the detritus at the base of a coral. Then someone screams Killer Bristleworm and the rumors start to circulate.
The truth is: Bristleworms are our friends. They help clean the tank as part of the cleanup crew. That's why LS and LR are good things to start with because they bring Bristleworms. They are also useful as an indication of overfeeding.
They live in the sand and especially at the base of porous LR like LBTR.
Edited by Mark Peterson - September 22 2008 at 10:15am
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Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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IdahoReef
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Joined: April 09 2008
Location: Buhl, ID
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Posted: September 24 2008 at 10:32pm |
I have quite a few bristle worms, some quite large. The large ones live where ever the heck they WANT to.  I don't know if I have a "problem" or not though. I have a friend that wants a few and that pipe trick sounds like the trick for getting some to him safely.
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Slick Eelie
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Posted: September 28 2008 at 7:31pm |
I never saw my 6 line wrasse eat any, but my sand perch loved them.
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James Mellor
Eagle Mountain
210 gallon reef
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Yindar
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Posted: September 28 2008 at 9:17pm |
I'm confused  yet again..Dumb question(s) time! 
Of everything I've read about Bristle worms, I've come to the understanding that they are not a good thing to have in your tank. But another book I have, showed this as a Bristle Worm (also refered to this as a Fireworm). Both pictures are from a book.
So these are the good ones? 
And these are the bad ones?
What I have seen (and probably have in my tank now) are like this but the body is more redish in color. I picked up some small rock pieces from someone and when I got home there were six of these crawling around the bottom of the bucket. I do have an Arrowhead crab and also a CB Shrimp in my tank so I hope I'm covered. But I would like to understand why Bristle Worms are beneficial or evil and which type is which. Someone please enlighten me!
Edited by Yindar - September 28 2008 at 11:10pm
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IdahoReef
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Posted: September 28 2008 at 10:20pm |
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I have the worms that are shown in the second picture. Without any reference or story to validate what is occurring it is difficult to give you a proper evaluation. I do know this though; bristle worms are scavengers. Dying or dead flesh puts out a different smell than live animals do. They seek out the dead or dying scents. In the second picture I would guess that the fish (a catalina goby) is either dead or very close to it and they are just doing what comes naturally. If bristle worms were hunters, I would not have nearly then number of snails in my tank that I do as they would decimate them in short order. I certainly would not have nearly the number of baby snails.
My worms live in and around my rock, they also live in the sand. There is nothing living in my tank that would be able to keep the rock crevices and cavities clean like they are able to do.
Ultimately, the choice is yours to decide whether to keep them or not.
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larhalli
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Posted: September 29 2008 at 12:34pm |
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I also have to say like Mike (MIKEDEN) and Shane (pa-reptileman-4) that I do not like the big ones. Since first getting into this hobby my opinions have changed on how I feel about bristleworms. I used to stay up nights and catch as many as I could. I think my record was 24 in one night. You can never catch them all. I also once thought they were eating my zoos and mushrooms. Never any real evidence of that, they just hung out in the rocks they were attached to and came out when I fed them. They gave me the creeps. Now I rarely see them, maybe once in a while when I feed my tanks. The trick is like what has been stated. Don't over feed your tanks. I am sure the Coral Banded and other shrimp mentioned will work but I really never witnessed any of my shrimp actually going after or eating any. I no longer have any of these shrimp and my bristleworm population now is the least it has ever been. But I still may be tempted to get the big ones out if I ever see any again. I think they are an essential part of the clean up crew.
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Larry Halliday
West Jordan
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Aquaristnewbie
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Posted: September 29 2008 at 2:10pm |
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I have learne that they are good. Out of my arrow and coral banded I see the arrow constantly with bristle worms and have only see the coral banded a few times. I agree with above that I do not like the big ones but keep your feeding in check and you should be fine with these guys. They are great cleaners.
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150 gallon Reef
Millcreek Utah
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Mike Savage
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Posted: September 29 2008 at 5:24pm |
The bristleworms in my tank look like the bottom picture. I believe fireworms are a type of bristleworm.
Mike
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PMGuernsey
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Posted: September 29 2008 at 10:29pm |
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I have one in my small 5 gallon tank with only coral in it that I have nicknamed snoopy, because he lives in the same rock as some of my polythoa and anytime I feed them he snoops around to get some. Since it is on my desk I see him sometimes while doing homework. I think hes great because beside the one hermit crab and snail he is the only other semi big live animal in the tank. I used to worry about them, but I almost get excited to see them now, I don't really have that many though. I sometimes stay up at night and spot light them for fun.
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gobie
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Posted: October 29 2008 at 7:51am |
Could be wrong but whenever I switch from one tank to another my bristle worms look like the top pic , but when they are out feeding they look like the bottom pic. seems like when they are scrunched up they are more bushy , and when they are stretched out thier bristels bunch together the more they stretch? I have never had a problem with them either way ,plus I watch them push out built up detirus from the rock work wich must help a little.
One other thing I have noticed about them is when I have an over population of them they do tend to sting my yellow headed jaw fish more around the gill area as well as all of the firefish I have had and lost. Looks like they have gotes . Feeding every 3 days keeps them in check for me.
Edited by gobie - October 29 2008 at 8:32am
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135 with vhos
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