Bristleworm damage

[Snoopdog]

Normally I just let things go and unless an invertebrate is knowingly causing issues, I just let them be before I sump them. My tank has been running around 2 years now and we feed fairly heavy, lots of white worms. We have had a rather big explosion of bristle worms and some of these guys are impressive in size. Recently my Splended Dottyback developed damage to the eye, I had no idea what caused it until I put two and two together. The damage looked like a pin cushion coming out of the eye, I thought maybe it could be some strange fungus, but no it was really large bristles coming out of the eye. It took a week to recover but he did make it and the eye is almost back to normal. This morning I noticed my cabbage coral had bristles coming out of the side of it, at first I thought it was the tendrils they create to adhere to rock, much like a toadstool does but no, it was bristles. After careful inspection I also noticed some of my paly's closed and yep, bristles stuck to the side, looks like a pin cushion. I had not seen any biting out of corals but the bristles are getting to be an issue. I recently purchased an arrow crab but even if he caught one and ate it, it is just a drop in the bucket compared to how many a tank has, and how slow an arrow crab eats. Other than reducing feeding and catching what I can, I seem to be good about lifting loose rock and getting them out. I managed to remove around 12 large guys this week, what other mechanisms are there for reducing population?

 

[*GAREEF*]

Trap after lights out is the easiest and quickest way to get them out in my experience.

 

[saltyfins]

if possible...this works fantastic...put some fresh small peices of seafood, in the end of a panyhose (one only, about 6-9 inches long) and tie it shut. when lights out, put it at the bottom of the tank, in the sand...and go to bed. Try to not gross out in the morning when you see how many you've caught. works like a dream! or...get an arrow crab. slow, but works.