Bristle Worm Convention (Rated PG-13)
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Invertebrates
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions about invertebrates.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1968
Printed Date: July 26 2026 at 1:50pm
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Topic: Bristle Worm Convention (Rated PG-13)
Posted By: Ryan Willden
Subject: Bristle Worm Convention (Rated PG-13)
Date Posted: February 24 2004 at 5:50pm
I had a Dwarf Lion in my reef refugium for about a week, and I decided I'd better feed him, so I picked up a few feeder goldfish (I know, I know, it's not his regular diet  ) Anyway, after thrashing around the refugium for awhile in an unsuccessful attempt to acclimate to saltwater, the goldfish decided to cuddle up next to a rock in my fuge. After about 5 minutes, this was what I found.
I came back and checked about three hours later, and there was nothing left. Now I know what happens to fish in our tanks that disappear without a trace.
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Replies:
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: February 24 2004 at 6:17pm
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This post could not come at a better time. I was preparing to ask a question just a second ago..... How far do most of you go to remove dead fish from your tanks? For me, if I can reach in and grab it then I do. But if it is behind a rock or in the back of the tank or I have to reach around something, then I leave it. I figure why reach in the tank and scare the other fish. Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: February 24 2004 at 6:33pm
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Ryan, very cool pictures! Looks like you ought to feed them more often Adam, if I can see it and reach it I'll remove it. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: Ryan Willden
Date Posted: February 24 2004 at 7:05pm
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Adam and Jon, Thanks. I thought it was a pretty interesting
scene. I couldn't believe these things just started coming out of the rock like ants coming out of an anthill. Pretty crazy. |
Posted By: Meeshi_ma
Date Posted: February 24 2004 at 7:39pm
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Wow! That's just plain scary! And I was worried because I found one the other day! |
Posted By: Ryan Willden
Date Posted: February 24 2004 at 7:52pm
| What's interesting is that I have only seen them in my main tank about a dozen times. I'm sure there are more that I don't see hidden in the rock, but it's kind of interesting what happens when you "ring the dinner bell." My refugium seems to be a good place for them to multiply. |
Posted By: ewaldsreef
Date Posted: February 24 2004 at 8:56pm
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Ryan, How long do you think it would take to get rid of a human body that way?
Adam You said why reach your hand in there and scare other fish? I am always putting my hand in the tank moving corals, cleaning and such. My fish are so used to it half the time I can pet my tangs. ------------- Contact me for professional aquarium maintenance and localy grown coral frags. [URL=http://www.aquatitranquility.com][/URL] |
Posted By: Ryan Willden
Date Posted: February 24 2004 at 9:00pm
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Bruce, I'm not sure how long it would take to get rid of a body
with these guys. Do you have one that needs disposing of? 
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Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: February 24 2004 at 10:28pm
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Ryan, How long do you think it would take to get rid of a human body that way? "You need at least sixteen pigs to finish the job in one sitting, so be wary of any man who keeps a pig farm. They will go through a body that weighs 200 pounds in about eight minutes. That means that a single pig can consume two pounds of uncooked flesh every minute. Hence the expression, "as greedy as a pig." " A great movie... ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: February 25 2004 at 6:34am
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Fantastic, awesome pics Ryan. Thanks very much for sharing that with us.
It's a little known fact that Bristleworm larvae are free-floating and become a major source of coral and small invert food. In my own personal observation, in a tank that stops receiving food, the Bristleworms will eat all the detritus and then start ingesting sand just to clean off the organic matter on the particles surfaces. This could effectively clear a so-called clogged sand bed in a matter of weeks or months. Bristleworms are our friends 
(just don't  one with a bare hand  )------------- 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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Posted By: Crazy Tarzan
Date Posted: February 25 2004 at 7:23am
| My bristle worms are just like my fish... they all start coming out when I feed the tank. Also I always have my hands in my tank as well, and my fish are used to it, and the shrimp will come clean my hand. They don't run from me, and my little female clown will take shrimp from my hand many times. I've seen my bristle worms eating sand, then spitting it back up many times. In fact I have problems many times with my bristle worms stealing the food out of my anemone. |
Posted By: Shane H
Date Posted: February 25 2004 at 8:20am
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I rarely remove dead fish. If I can grab them I feed them to an anemone or fuzzy mushroom. If I can't, then the crabs and worms get them.
It really ticks me off when my anemone gets a more expensive meal than I do. 
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Posted By: kini
Date Posted: February 25 2004 at 9:24am
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The only fish(large yellow tang) I have lost recently didn't even give me a chance to get him out. Swimming around the night before - totally gone the next day. Between my brittle star and crabs there was nothing left... |