What should be done with Bristle Worms

[corrado007]

I just discovered that I have some bristle worms (grey with brown bristles) and about 3-4 inches long when streching out. I've read both that they are great janitors and that they can hurt inverts and fish. What is the best action to take with these little guys? Just in case it helps to know, I have a 60 gal tank with a few chromis, LR, and a few Kenya Trees. I plan to add a few more fish, some Xenias, a pair of Ocellaris and perhaps an anemone.

[Warnberg]

There are several different verities of bristle worms, it really depends on the type on if you should remove them or not.

[corrado007]

Bristle Worm.JPG

Here's a picture of it if that helps to determine its type. Sorry, it's a small pic.

[SaltySam]

Looks a lot like the one I have. It's been in my 90 gal. for several years.
I've never had any problems. To be so big it's amazing he can disappear for months at a time. A couple of times I thought he was dead only to have him reappear. The only reason he's in the open for this photo was he had just been returned to the tank. Every once in awhile I get the urge to reaquascape, relevel the tank, or this last time replace the stand.

[blue_eyes53813]

ohh my god,, ,is that really a bristle worm????

[BrothaWolf]

thats where gumi worms come from

[reefjitsu]

Normally, I am a leave them alone no matter what size they are kind of guy. The corrado007 posted looks like a Hermodice sp. to me, and that is one of my exceptions. They are known coral and anemone eaters. Get rid of it, banish it to the sump, do not trust it.

I actually don't like the looks of the one SaltySam posted either. If it has coexisted for years without damage, I would say it is harmless then.

[blue_eyes53813]

Umm yea,,, I would not keep them in my tank... nope.. pretty sure

[rDr4g0n]

do not eat bristle worms. they make you feel weird.

[corrado007]

SaltySam's pet looks very much like my little guy, just like 5 times as big. I guess if it hasn't harmed anything in his tank it may be ok. Perhaps I'll exile him to the refugium, he can live out his days in the LR rubble eating all the gunk that ends up in there. I think I'll keep my eye out for more opinions just to be on the safe side.

[bluespotjawfish]

thats where gumi worms come from

do not eat bristle worms. they make you feel weird.

Do not eat gumi worms, they make you feel weird!

[Woodstock]

Don't assume that just because it is ugly it is bad. Although there are predatory type worms that are non reef-safe, most are and can be an important part of a cleanup crew.

A Spineless Column

Fireworms are really common in reef aquaria. They probably account for ninety or more percent of the worms seen in reef aquaria. Most fireworms are scavengers in tropical marine environments, albeit a few of the about 120 species are predatory, and one or two are parasitic. The fireworms that are most frequently found in aquaria may be very abundant. Even a small aquarium may have thousands of them, and they are beneficial scavengers.

Some fireworms often reach quite substantial sizes and aquarists are sometimes astonished to find that their tanks may contain worms over 18 inches (60 cm) in length, and with the diameter of a pencil. Most of these giants are probably individuals of the common Caribbean species, Eurythoe complanata, and are exceptionally diligent and beneficial members of the guild of scavenging animals found in our aquaria.

Fireworms are great scavengers, and even the bigger species are occasionally seen prowling around during the day, particularly after food has been added to the tank.

The fireworms, in particular, seem quite pre-adapted for reef aquarium existence, and their populations in reef aquaria are thriving. The number of these worms in such systems is quite large, and for the fireworms in particular, their numbers probably dwarf those of all other species the same size or larger in reef aquaria. We might, with a great degree of accuracy, refer to our tanks not as coral reef aquaria, but rather as tropical reef worm habitats. The success aquarists have keeping other animals is to a great extent dependent upon their success at keeping thriving populations of these scavenging worms.

[Dragon Wrasse]

Originally Posted by BrothaWolf

thats where gumi worms come from

Nice! I knew that....mine are chewy.....

[cheeks69]

I removed this one from my tank because my zoanthids were disappearing, don't know if it was him but my zoanthids are doig much better since his removal. AFA Bristle Worms in general I find them to be very beneficial.

[Witfull]

hmm,,bristle worms, hitch-hiker crabs, and thieving shrimp....tonights recipe?