At what point do bristleworms become a problem?

[Brah02]

I just came in, lights are still on moonlight, and I counted like 6 bristleworms in my 80g. At what point are bristleworms a problem? One is pretty close to one of my torch coral, should I be worried? I plan on getting wrasse but my tank is fallow from ick for another 40 days.

 

[exnisstech]

I'm 9 years into the hobby and have never known them to be a problem. I currently have 4 tanks running and all of them have bristle worms.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

I just came in, lights are still on moonlight, and I counted like 6 bristleworms in my 80g. At what point are bristleworms a problem? One is pretty close to one of my torch coral, should I be worried? I plan on getting wrasse but my tank is fallow from ick for another 40 days.

If your pipes are full, they're a problem. lol

 

[Aaron Stone]

I just came in, lights are still on moonlight, and I counted like 6 bristleworms in my 80g. At what point are bristleworms a problem? One is pretty close to one of my torch coral, should I be worried? I plan on getting wrasse but my tank is fallow from ick for another 40 days.

Where there are 6, there are 60.

They are only a problem when you rearrange rockwork without gloves on.

 

[Brah02]

Where there are 6, there are 60.

They are only a problem when you rearrange rockwork without gloves on.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking, i've never seen them out before so they must be multiplying. Just wanted to make sure they won't become a nuisance

 

[Lavey29]

Banded shrimp will munch on them for you but they are beneficial in the tank too.

 

[Red_Beard]

I am not a fan of bristleworms. Not after getting fingers bristled up at least. They are pretty good detritevores though and as long as you dont have any huge ones bothering any of your livestock, or heaven forbid like dave has, they are plugging up your plumbing... they are not an issue. Banded coral shrimp are pretty neat to watch, if you decide you dont want them. or you can make a bristleworm trap with a bottle and some straws that works pretty good for manual removal.

 

[Brah02]

Banded shrimp will munch on them for you but they are beneficial in the tank too.

Eventually i'll be adding the yellow wrasse and a dottyback that are in QT which should in theory keep the population down. I am not opposed to having bristleworms, just don't want to get overrun lol

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

I am not a fan of bristleworms. Not after getting fingers bristled up at least. They are pretty good detritevores though and as long as you dont have any huge ones bothering any of your livestock, or heaven forbid like dave has, they are plugging up your plumbing... they are not an issue. Banded coral shrimp are pretty neat to watch, if you decide you dont want them. or you can make a bristleworm trap with a bottle and some straws that works pretty good for manual removal.

I should have added that the picture wasn't of my tank. I used to see them on the rocks from time to time but since adding a six line I haven't seen any during the day. I know there are others in there that I don't see.

Here's a video related to the picture I posted. :)

https://www.reddit.com/r/what the heck/comments/107vj6l/bristle_worm_infestation_in_an_aquarium/

 

[Red_Beard]

I should have added that the picture wasn't of my tank. I used to see them on the rocks from time to time but since adding a six line I haven't seen any during the day. I know there are others in there that I don't see.

Here's a video related to the picture I posted. :)

That is super gross lol.
I thought i had seen that pic before. Couldn't remember who's it was though.

 

[exnisstech]

Banded shrimp will munch on them for you but they are beneficial in the tank too.

I wasn't aware of this. It explains why I rarely see any worms in my SPS tank.

 

[Lavey29]

Eventually i'll be adding the yellow wrasse and a dottyback that are in QT which should in theory keep the population down. I am not opposed to having bristleworms, just don't want to get overrun lol

I have both of those but have never seen them eat bristleworms but the wrasse will eat flatworms.

 

[landlubber]

Since my first day here I can't say i've ever seen a thread where someone had to shut their tank down due to bristleworms.
They aren't the nicest looking occupants but they seemingly have a habit of self regulating their numbers. I couldn't tell you how the OP of that awful photo above even managed to get that many in their plumbing.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

@BristleWormHater will tell you why they don't like them

 

[gkprevite]

They’re really not too much of a problem. once you have them, you have them. You can manage their numbers by trapping them every so often.