Thin the bristle worms

[reef2sanity]

Hi everyone, just looking for advice on what’s better, I have a 90 gallon reef tank with a ahem healthy bristle worm population. At night when lookin not uncommon to see 10-15 lg 6inches or larger bristle worms lying on rocks. Not trying to eradicate them just knock numbers down a bit so should I try coral banded shrimp? or a pair of Coral banded shrimp? Also have heard good things about arrow crab any thoughts appreciated. Will try 6 line wrasse down road but for now tank fallow as addressing ick outbreak.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Not much to add on the effectiveness of either solution but I once watched in horror from across the room as my arrow crab cornered a damsel and viciously ripped the little guy in half.

 

[New&no clue]

I have an arrow crab. I was really on the fence about adding him, but I had my leak alarm go off at like 2:00am on night one in the tank. When I came to check, the arrow was sitting on the sand bed, eating a pretty good size worm. Since then, I've seen him catch a couple here and there... but I wouldn't say he is eradicating them or even controlling the population. I've heard cut feeding, but that doesn't work for me. Putting traps in has been good. I can usually get 10-20 in a trap. I'm in a similar boat. I don't necessarily want them all gone. I just want less.

 

[reef2sanity]

Not much to add on the effectiveness of either solution but I once watched in horror from across the room as my arrow crab cornered a damsel and viciously ripped the little guy in half.

Sounds like a horror movie lol, I’ve heard similar why was looking for other opinions

 

[Mical]

Six line wrasse will have a party feast on them (as long as you can keep it from jumping out of your tank or bullying other fish)

 

[reef2sanity]

I have an arrow crab. I was really on the fence about adding him, but I had my leak alarm go off at like 2:00am on night one in the tank. When I came to check, the arrow was sitting on the sand bed, eating a pretty good size worm. Since then, I've seen him catch a couple here and there... but I wouldn't say he is eradicating them or even controlling the population. I've heard cut feeding, but that doesn't work for me. Putting traps in has been good. I can usually get 10-20 in a trap. I'm in a similar boat. I don't necessarily want them all gone. I just want less.

Might make a trap this weekend just not sure they will fit in straws some have gotten fairly large, saw some good articles though, one suggested using cut sardines for bait in trap

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Sounds like a horror movie lol, I’ve heard similar why was looking for other opinions

I was sitting across the room doing my testing late at night and watched it go down. No way I could react fast enough to it. Also arrow crabs are creepy

 

[New&no clue]

Might make a trap this weekend just not sure they will fit in straws some have gotten fairly large, saw some good articles though, one suggested using cut sardines for bait in trap

I use table shrimp, although I always worry they will get a taste and like it and then go after my shrimp in the tank. Sometime you can lull them into a false sense of security. This cocky guys was just cruising along the sand one night, not anywhere by a rock so I grabbed him quick.

 

[reef2sanity]

Six line wrasse will have a party feast on them (as long as you can keep it from jumping out of your tank or bullying other fish

Six line wrasse will have a party feast on them (as long as you can keep it from jumping out of your tank or bullying other fish)

Yup definitely wrasse joining my reef community in future just hope he gets along

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

mp, although I always worry they will get a taste and like it and then go after my shrimp in the tank. Sometime you can lull them into a false sense of security. This cocky guys was just cruising along the sand one night, not anywhere by a rock so I grabbed him quick.

Bristles freak me out. Kill them all....

 

[reef2sanity]

I was sitting across the room doing my testing late at night and watched it go down. No way I could react fast enough to it. Also arrow crabs are creepy

Hmmmm Wonder how the misses will like the new creepy arrow crab I might’ve just been sold on the crab

 

[Mical]

Might make a trap this weekend just not sure they will fit in straws some have gotten fairly large, saw some good articles though, one suggested using cut sardines for bait in trap

Bristle worms are scavengers - you could bait them with raw hamburger & YES it does work

 

[Bigdaddy05]

My 6 line wrasse does nothing with bristle worms but I have seen my large brittle starfish(not sure the exact kind) grab and eat a good size bristle worm

 

[TheDragonsReef]

Arrow crabs and banded coral shrimp are the best at eating them but they can both get pretty aggressive. I've had better luck with the shrimp. I had an arrow crab start eating all sorts of stuff in my tank.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Arrow crabs and banded coral shrimp are the best at eating them but they can both get pretty aggressive. I've had better luck with the shrimp. I had an arrow crab start eating all sorts of stuff in my tank.

+1, the shimp is the safer bet!

 

[reef2sanity]

Thank You everyone, shrimp and traps it is with a wrasse down the road. I’m tempted for the arrow but don’t want to trade one problem for another