How big a bristle worm is too big?

[Romewhip]

I have a 20 gallon nano tank, mixed softies and some damsels. In the tank are also just about every variety of snail, amphipods and copepods, hermit crabs, a peppermint shrimp, and bristleworms. Three of them- Harry, Barry, and Bob, are huge. Bob doesn't look like Harry and Barry, the bristles are different and it doesn't have the dark middle that Harrry and Barry have. All three of them are easily 6" long when out and about, and Bob is thicker in diameter than the other two. Should they come out? Getting them out would be extremely difficult, but it's possible I could trap them. They aren't doing anything but grossing me out at this point (snake phobia) but should I be concerned?
Thanks!

 

[returnofsid]

I just pulled one out of Angie's Nano yesterday. If it had been in our 75, I'd have probably left it...lol. It was about 8" long and as big around as my pointer finger. I'm sure it wasn't causing any problems and was probably a great detrivore cleaner, but seeing a bristle worm that large, in a tank that small, was just a lil' creapy.

 

[Romewhip]

I'm so with you there- it's creepy to look in a tank that small and see something as long as the largest piece of rock. Someone told me I was keeping them as pets, especially when I gave a couple of big boys away in some caleurpa. I just don't know if I should be worried and if I should be keeping a close eye on Bob since that one is different- moer bristles on the sides and a different color red/orange with no dark middle. Is it a fireworm?

 

[returnofsid]

Without pics, it's hard to say.

 

[alki]

I too have them. Whats the best way to trap? I made a gatorade trap before, but all I got was my hermit crabs.

Ive tried grabiing them at night, but they always have their ass in a rock and they are tought little buggers.

 

[roscoe]

I too have them. Whats the best way to trap? I made a gatorade trap before, but all I got was my hermit crabs.

Ive tried grabiing them at night, but they always have their ass in a rock and they are tought little buggers.

What I have done in the pass. I used a large snail shell and put some food in there and plsace in the tank at night. In the morning i would just take the sanil shells out and there would be a dozen or so of them in there. I just repeated this for a few weeks or so and now I don't even remember what bristleworms looks like.

 

[alki]

Man I have one thats probably 10 inches long and the width of my pinkie. But I also have some small ones as it seems hes been having sex with himself!

Anyway thanks I will def try that. I guess they key is a small dark place with food that they will stay in.

 

[alki]

I just got the big one out. I grabbed him with tongs. Eww. I also finy a tiny one in my fuge. I got him as well.

 

[Romewhip]

Bob the fireworm showed up this morning, he's got to go. No more worm pets, he's just too big. I'll try a couple of the trapping suggestions, and see what works.
Everyone was very hungry after no food yesterday- we lost power for 6 hours in the hottest part of the day. Tank survived, everything looks ok for now.

 

[alki]

Get a long pair of tongs and grab him. It took me about 10 seconds. If you have access and hes out that is.

 

[acrews62]

We take the rock out and let it sit in the open air. They all eventually came out and we just use tweezers to pick them out. We put them in a jar of tap water and that kills them almost instantly.