I don’t have Bristle Worms, I have Bristle SNAKES

[Brit’s Fish]

I’m not sure how I should go about handling these giant guys. I have Bristle SNAKES... I can’t even call these 6-7”+ guys worms. My tank is a 7 month old 13.5 gallon Fluval Evo. These guys only live in one of the 3 rocks (that I know of) because one is a CaribSea LifeRock arch that doesn’t have the kind of holes they like, the other is creating a sort of bridge & is way off the substrate. The substrate is crushed coral, so I’m sure they’re loving that.

They just live in this one large piece of purple live rock. The only corals actually attached to the rock are some GSP and Xenias, so I would not be sad about parting with them. The rock is full, I mean FULL, of anthropods and probably plenty of other types of pods that I see on my glass all the time. I’d miss them but they’ll regenerate from what’s left.

I’m sure you can guess where this is going... do I just throw this rock out? These guys are HUGE. I have seen as many as 4 of them, all about the same size out after the lights go out. I can’t catch them with tweezers because they’re surprisingly strong and fast. I have never seen a single baby bristle worm like I have in another tank. I think these guys are out-competing any competition they might have. One of them is cohabitating with my High Fin Goby and pistol shrimp. They don’t seem to bother each other except that my goby got “bristled” the other day and had a few of them in his face and on top of his head. They’re gone now & he’s fine.

What would you do if you were me?

 

[Brit’s Fish]

For size reference, I was super excited when I caught this one out of that tank, thinking I’d caught the big guy. Oh, how wrong I was.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Google diy bristle worm trap. Pill bottle, some straws and a small piece of food. Works every time.

Edit: large pill bottle like a vitamin bottle.

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Google diy bristle worm trap. Pill bottle, some straws and a small piece of food. Works every time.

Thank you! I’m going to try this tonight. They’re so gross... I know they’re good CUC but I’d rather stick to the little ones.

 

[tbrown]

Those look like potential bearded fireworms. I'd be careful. Maybe try a bristleworm trap?

DIY Bristle Worm Trap - How To

This article is sponsored by Chances are, if you are reading this article, you already know what a Bristle Worm is and why you may need to "trap" it. But in case you are not quite sure .... Bristle worms are free-living segmented worms with...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Thank you! I’m going to try this tonight. They’re so gross... I know they’re good CUC but I’d rather stick to the little ones.

That size tank with sand dwellers is not a good combo with ones that size. Trap as many as you can and then limit the amount of food they have available.

I don’t mean to not feed your fish, just make sure not that much is left over. They regulate population based on food supply.

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Those look like potential bearded fireworms. I'd be careful. Maybe try a bristleworm trap?

DIY Bristle Worm Trap - How To

This article is sponsored by Chances are, if you are reading this article, you already know what a Bristle Worm is and why you may need to "trap" it. But in case you are not quite sure .... Bristle worms are free-living segmented worms with...

www.reef2reef.com

I just looked these up and they do look similar. I also just read that they eat anemones which would explain where the small RBTA I had went. I have not seen it in weeks. My number one priority is to catch these guys now.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

And if all else fails, get an arrow crab. They will wipe them out. It would need to be removed though, as they can be reef safe, but are opportunistic. In a small tank that is not so great.

 

[Brit’s Fish]

That size tank with sand dwellers is not a good combo with ones that size. Trap as many as you can and then limit the amount of food they have available.

I don’t mean to not feed your fish, just make sure not that much is left over. They regulate population based on food supply.

Their size and my other tank inhabitants is exactly my concern. Thank you for the great advice!

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Update: I already caught one! Thanks again for the advice.

 

[mjleffler]

I feel you here! I had a few “bristle pythons” in my tank that have either died off or are much less active now that I’ve backed off on my feeding. I never had any issues with the big guys... only had one bristle worm that I think was a fire worm munch on some zoas. I actually liked the little monsters...

 

[Daniel@R2R]

For size reference, I was super excited when I caught this one out of that tank, thinking I’d caught the big guy. Oh, how wrong I was.

Wow!

 

[Crashnt24]

That is massive! I have never seen any worms that big. Kinda cool

 

[Crashnt24]

Oops, double post. Mods, please delete this

 

[DaddyFish]

Kinda cool??? You people are SICK!!! (j/k)
I like to embrace nature but holy cow Batman! That's a big worm!


I'd be cleaning my sand with a pressure washer! Yyyyuckkk!!!

 

[zalick]

Update: I already caught one! Thanks again for the advice.

Go get em!

I know it's a controversial subject, but worms that size are not welcome in my DT. For no other reason than I simply don't want em!

 

[D6025K]

Something simple and cheap I have tried in the past is using something like a small pipe with a piece of pantyhose attached to the other end with some food in it. When the worms go in they get stuck. I have never tried it on ones that size though.

 

[Tofu Brady]

I’m not sure how I should go about handling these giant guys. I have Bristle SNAKES... I can’t even call these 6-7”+ guys worms. My tank is a 7 month old 13.5 gallon Fluval Evo. These guys only live in one of the 3 rocks (that I know of) because one is a CaribSea LifeRock arch that doesn’t have the kind of holes they like, the other is creating a sort of bridge & is way off the substrate. The substrate is crushed coral, so I’m sure they’re loving that.

They just live in this one large piece of purple live rock. The only corals actually attached to the rock are some GSP and Xenias, so I would not be sad about parting with them. The rock is full, I mean FULL, of anthropods and probably plenty of other types of pods that I see on my glass all the time. I’d miss them but they’ll regenerate from what’s left.

I’m sure you can guess where this is going... do I just throw this rock out? These guys are HUGE. I have seen as many as 4 of them, all about the same size out after the lights go out. I can’t catch them with tweezers because they’re surprisingly strong and fast. I have never seen a single baby bristle worm like I have in another tank. I think these guys are out-competing any competition they might have. One of them is cohabitating with my High Fin Goby and pistol shrimp. They don’t seem to bother each other except that my goby got “bristled” the other day and had a few of them in his face and on top of his head. They’re gone now & he’s fine.

What would you do if you were me?

I think you should definitely remove them im new but ive heard that they can be a anoying thing and posibly hurt coral/fish there also not pretty

 

[Tofu Brady]

Thank you! I’m going to try this tonight. They’re so gross... I know they’re good CUC but I’d rather stick to the little ones.

Yup ive heard their good when little but ugly and bad when big

 

[tricky_tran]

i actually got a small one in a ball of Chaeto from my LFS. Plucked it out and threw it in my DT. Havent seen it since. haha