bristle worm

[SUSHIBOY]

has anyone had a problem with big bristle worms on your tanks? I have an SPS tank and last night i saw one of the biggest/longest bristle worm in my life, i'd say it is about 14-15 inches long. I have not had a significant problem- so do i take this guy out, any suggestion how?

 

[wrightme43]

Maybe drop in some sushi LOL after dark and wait till it comes for it and net him out, or put some in a collection cup and wait for it to start eating it and pick him out. As I am sure you know dont touch. LOL. Steve

 

[jks1]

generally I leave these guys alone, but once over 5" or so I remove them. Like Steve said be careful getting him out

 

[NaH2O]

I believe there are some worm traps available online. Also, I'm not sure if this would work, but you could make a trap by inverting the top half of a plastic soda bottle into itself with some bait in the bottle portion. Wait for the worm to crawl in then grab the trap out. In my mind bristleworms aren't a problem unless they are damaging your livestock, but eventually it might get to a point in size where feeding on left over food and detritus won't satisfy it. Here is a link to Steve Weast's Worm Incident.

 

[Wolfesbane]

There's also the pantyhose method.

~ Steve

 

[NaH2O]

Oh good one, Steve. Here are a couple of posts, where I have pics of both traps mentioned:

Pantyhose trap

Soda Bottle trap

Hope these help!

 

[MCSInc]

There has also been some discussion about pulling the rock out and pouring soda water into the cracks to make them bail out. I am getting ready to try this method on fireworms. I have removed 2 - 8 inch and a 7 inch fireworms by just catching them out and about. You run a risk of breaking them apart when you grab them with the tongs and will probably only be successful if they are fully out (which is never). I have been experimenting with the inverted bottle trap. They are always happy to explore but insist on keeping one end firmly planted in the rock - 8 inches can streach a long way. My next step would be to put some rock in the bottle to make them feel more secure. They sure are destructive on softies. They have almost completely wiped out a nice rock of ricordia.

Good luck

 

[Oscapus]

About 3 years ago I was in a LFS looking at their only reef tank, and a big boy like you described came out from under a rock and wolfed down 2 zoo polyps right in front of me. He was quick, just bam bam, and slipped back under the rock. His mouth, or jaw rather, had 3 parts, and I wouldn't want my fingers around him. The owner denied ever seeing him or having any problems, and tried to sell me the rock! I should have bought it and kept it alone sorta like a mantis shrimp.

 

[Illusion]

Is your Liverock Aquacultured from Florida as Its very possible that It could be the Carribean FireWorm... I have personally seen them on several occasions eating Acropora from the tip down... I remove any and all that I see that looks like them.. Here is a picture of one of them that I got...

If it looks like this you should remove it..

James

 

[NaH2O]

James, how big is that thing, and how did you catch it?

 

[Illusion]

That worm was about 16" when I finally caught him and he stretched out... I was rearranging some Liverock and he was under the Rock so I grabbed my net and scooped him up off the rock... When/If I see them I usually grab the first thing possibly and try to pull it out... I have used Scissors, Tweezers andthing that kinda squeezes... Last one That I had I let die a slow painful death on the back patio... The 16" one I was trying to catch for the longest time but because of the length I kept pulling pieces of him off So I guess all in all If he was whole He would have been about 20-25" total... I havent seen any since a few weeks ago when I think I caught the last one and let it "melt" down on the patio... Crossing fingers.. Nasty little suckers and they hurt like $#@# when you get pricked by them.. Cheaning sandbed incident a few times...

James