Utah Reefs Homepage
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Bristle/Fire Worms - Large and Plenty
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Bristle/Fire Worms - Large and Plenty

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
DVadar View Drop Down
Guest
Guest


Joined: October 29 2002
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 99
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DVadar Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Bristle/Fire Worms - Large and Plenty
    Posted: October 29 2002 at 9:57am

I've noticed recently that when I feed the tank several large worms come out and the base of my Live rock, near the sand bed.  Some of them are the thickness if a pencil, a light pink color with white tufts of hair(?) all along the sides.  They look like a combination flatworm and caterpillar.

I've noticed them this big in the tank 4 months ago, but nothing has been attacked or missing, should I be concerned they are so big?

Back to Top
Adam Blundell View Drop Down
Presidency
Presidency
Avatar

Joined: June 24 2002
Location: Davis County
Status: Offline
Points: 18526
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Adam Blundell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 29 2002 at 11:47am

Don't worry about them.  They are probably more of a benefit than of a problem.  Bristly worms are very common, and unless they become huge (like 12") or take over the tank, then there isn't anything to worry about. 

Actually you should be happy with the variety and abundance of organisms that live in your tank.

Adam

Come to a meeting, they’re fun!
Back to Top
Jake Pehrson View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: June 13 2002
Location: Murray, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 4279
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jake Pehrson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 30 2002 at 9:44am
I agree with Adam, but I would keep an eye on them.  Most of them are harmless, but sometimes you will get some that will feed on corals and/or clams.
Jake Pehrson

Murray

coralplanet.com

:)
Back to Top
Mark Peterson View Drop Down
Paid Member
Paid Member
Avatar

Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark Peterson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 01 2002 at 12:45am

Watch out at night because they like to come out of the water and carry newborn babies back to their lair!!!!! The babies are then horrendously transformed into even larger killer bristleworms that destroy more than coral.

Happy Halloween

Back to Top
Mark Peterson View Drop Down
Paid Member
Paid Member
Avatar

Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark Peterson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 01 2002 at 1:00am

Bristleworms are our friends. They are part of the cleanup crew.

Actually, if your tank is not too old, we might wonder how they got to be full grown so quickly. What kind of food source could they have? Lots of uneaten food, lots of detritus, too many dead and disappearing fish or inverts?

I once had some very large green ones I didn't like the look of so I removed them.

They can be caught with a piece of seafood wrapped in several loose layers of bridal veil material and dropped down on fishing line. When they crawl partway into the bundle pull them out of the tank. But don't squeeze them with your fingers, because the white fuzzy bristles are irritating and hard to remove, sort of like porcupine quills!

Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.03
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.125 seconds.