Bristleworm question

[schlitz]

My reef tank has several large (about half the size of a pen) bristleworms. I caught one early yesterday morning and was just going to throw him out in the yard b/c I believe I am getting too many. I then changed my mind and put him in my 120 gallon tank. My lionfish was the only one awake and he attempted to eat it 3 different times before he gave up and the worm landed on a rock and then slithered into oblivion.

My thought process was that I didn't care if he became food or he could help keep the tank clean b/c my trigger doesn't allow for me to keep a clean up crew in the tank.

My tank has the aforementioned lionfish and trigger along with a lunar wrasse, three damsels and two Clarki clowns.

My question is if this was a good idea. Will the trigger or the other fish eventually eat the worm? Will the worm (or worms) do a good job at keeping the tank clean? Or did I just open up a can of worms (couldn't resist the pun) by introducing the worm to my tank?

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I don't think it is a bad idea to introduce it to the tank. I think it will eventually become food.

 

[kireek]

It should eat some waste products and any leftover foods it finds.I have not seen a fish eat them before.However I have no experience with the feeding habits of lions and triggers.I have seen arrow crabs and coral banded shrimp slowly pick away at them,bristleworms must be a natural part of their diet.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I used to have a ton of bristle worms that I would see all the time. After adding my mystery wrasse, I do not see any bristle worms.

 

[TinpanVA]

I haven't seen the first one after adding my CBS

 

[NanaReefer]

Wrasses will definitely eat Bristle Worms.

 

[GreatWhiteTang]

Wrasses, coral banded, arrow crabs, some file fish all will eat Bristle worms

 

[schlitz]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I might try to drop a couple more in there. If the Lunar Wrasse eats them then he can be fat and happy.

 

[GreatWhiteTang]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I might try to drop a couple more in there. If the Lunar Wrasse eats them then he can be fat and happy.

If you are trying to keep a small population add them to Rockwork at night when wrasse is buried and sleeping!