Huge bristle worm in nano reef. GOOD or BAD?

[Zoa.Mania]

Hi everyone

So I have a couple of huge bristle worms in my nano tank (25g)

I would like to hear your opinion on whether a huge bristle worm is a good thing for a nano reef or maybe not so much
When I say “huge” I refer to very big and probably disproportional for the tank size, as I’ve never seen their full body size but I guess they could be 30 cm long, give or take.

On one hand, they don’t seem to pick on any other inhabits as far as I can see, including corals. Plus they take a huge role in the CUC for sure.

On the other hand, I thought they might be feasting on other small beneficial inhabits such as small bristle stars, pods, etc and pretty much prevent these beneficial populations from really kicking in

So.. what are your opinions about it?

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Hi everyone

So I have a couple of huge bristle worms in my nano tank (25g)

I would like to hear your opinion on whether a huge bristle worm is a good thing for a nano reef or maybe not so much
When I say “huge” I refer to very big and probably disproportional for the tank size, as I’ve never seen their full body size but I guess they could be 30 cm long, give or take.

On one hand, they don’t seem to pick on any other inhabits as far as I can see, including corals. Plus they take a huge role in the CUC for sure.

On the other hand, I thought they might be feasting on other small beneficial inhabits such as small bristle stars, pods, etc and pretty much prevent these beneficial populations from really kicking in

So.. what are your opinions about it?

In my opinion, bristle worms can be considered part of cleanup crew, but we remove large ones when found in our 180 gallon. Figure where there are large, there are small, and I'd like to keep them under control... unlike this video:

 

[wonroc]

I have a 10g. And i have seen 3 huge ones in my tank. Below is one going into a trap a few days ago. These worms are way big for small tanks. Yes they may eat the crud in the tank but at 10 inches long in a 10g tank they crawl over everything, annoying thr hell out of the corals.
Burn them before you regret it

 

[Just John]

I would say remove them. I only have corals in my 13 gal. right now and I think they got used to eating the coral food. When I stopped feeding them for a few days, two bristle worms ate two of my expensive mushrooms.

Caught in the act of attacking one!

 

[Zoa.Mania]

In my opinion, bristle worms can be considered part of cleanup crew, but we remove large ones when found in our 180 gallon. Figure where there are large, there are small, and I'd like to keep them under control... unlike this video:

Thanks for your opinion
when they literally clog the drainpipe the only thing I have to say is...

I have a 10g. And i have seen 3 huge ones in my tank. Below is one going into a trap a few days ago. These worms are way big for small tanks. Yes they may eat the crud in the tank but at 10 inches long in a 10g tank they crawl over everything, annoying thr hell out of the corals.
Burn them before you regret it

that's was kind of what I thought. I have one big brittle star which seems to be suffering from them crawling over it, stealing food and taking over its place under the rocks

I would say remove them. I only have corals in my 13 gal. right now and I think they got used to eating the coral food. When I stopped feeding them for a few days, two bristle worms ate two of my expensive mushrooms.

Caught in the act of attacking one!

sorry to hear that. I didn't know it could come up to this. I like my mushrooms better than these creepy crawlers

 

[Zoa.Mania]

Do you think it would be ok to catch them with tweezers during feeding time and drag them out?

 

[Goaway]

Tweezers will work. Just don't touch them if you can prevent that.

 

[Zoa.Mania]

Tweezers will work. Just don't touch them if you can prevent that.

of course
thanks!

 

[Just John]

of course
thanks!

Mibu is right! If you touch them those bristles will stick into your skin and are terrible. I was never fast enough to catch them with tweezers. A diy bottle trap worked though.

 

[polyppal]

Destroy It

 

[wonroc]

Amazon.com: unlumm Feeding Tongs 15" 2 Pcs Super Thick Stainless Steel Forceps Curved and Straight Snakes, Reptile, Lizards, Gecko, Spider Long Tweezer : Pet Supplies

Amazon.com: unlumm Feeding Tongs 15" 2 Pcs Super Thick Stainless Steel Forceps Curved and Straight Snakes, Reptile, Lizards, Gecko, Spider Long Tweezer : Pet Supplies

www.amazon.com

I bought this. Great for worm removal

 

[Duncan62]

Hi everyone

So I have a couple of huge bristle worms in my nano tank (25g)

I would like to hear your opinion on whether a huge bristle worm is a good thing for a nano reef or maybe not so much
When I say “huge” I refer to very big and probably disproportional for the tank size, as I’ve never seen their full body size but I guess they could be 30 cm long, give or take.

On one hand, they don’t seem to pick on any other inhabits as far as I can see, including corals. Plus they take a huge role in the CUC for sure.

On the other hand, I thought they might be feasting on other small beneficial inhabits such as small bristle stars, pods, etc and pretty much prevent these beneficial populations from really kicking in

So.. what are your opinions about it?

That guy will get food and other things. Learn to love him. He's a good guy.

 

[dmw913]

In my opinion, bristle worms can be considered part of cleanup crew, but we remove large ones when found in our 180 gallon. Figure where there are large, there are small, and I'd like to keep them under control... unlike this video:

Nope, nope, nope!!!! Nuke that tube-o-worms from space!!!! I might have nightmares now.

 

[Zoa.Mania]

Quick update
I managed to pull out two