Bristle worms, safe for my fish?

wozza · 10-22-2006, 11:59 AM

my dad got these ugly little things for fish bait, but i saw they are bristle worms are they safe or will they eat my other things?

**Ninong** · 10-22-2006, 02:33 PM

I would NOT put those in my tank if I were you. I'm not going to attempt to identify them without a detailed close-up of the head, but based on my tentative guess, I would NOT use them. Maybe greenbean will pop up and offer an I.D.

P.S. -- "Bristleworms" is a VERY general term that is used for polychaetes (poly = many, chaetes = bristles). There are more than 8,000 species of polychaetes. Most are harmless beneficial scavengers.

greenbean36191 · 10-22-2006, 08:15 PM

I don't think these guys will be a problem. It's hard to tell for sure since the picture was taken out of the water, but these look like the run of the mill, harmless fireworm. If you could take a picture of them in a shallow bowl of water that would help tell for sure.

wozza · 10-23-2006, 06:52 AM

Thanks greenbean, ive done a bit of research on them and the one's ive got live in a U shaped burow and eat sand from one end(well the crap in it) then poo it out leaving squigly mess of sand at the other end.
In the UK we call them lug worm and are used for fishing bait, about £2 for a hundred or so!!
cheaper than any detrivour kit you will find online!!

cheers james

wozza · 10-23-2006, 06:54 AM

Oh also when i put them in my tank all my fish tryed to eat them and my sixline wrass did kill and eat half of one.
Is this a good food for them?

PurePerfection · 11-01-2006, 02:38 PM

I would not feed that or put it in my tanks.

***Reefland*** · 11-01-2006, 03:17 PM

Why not?

**Minh Nguyen** · 11-01-2006, 08:50 PM

These guys are harmless in the tank. They will keep your tank clean and will convert these extra food and dead animal to eggs and larves -free live food. I got lots of these in my tank.

PurePerfection · 11-06-2006, 12:22 PM

when you find that thing in your clam you no why not..

***Reefland*** · 11-06-2006, 01:37 PM

They are scavengers and should only enter a clam if it is already dying. Unless of course you experienced a different type of worm.

10-22-2006, 11:59 AM	#1
wozza Mayor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: uk, devon Posts: 886	Bristle worms, safe for my fish? my dad got these ugly little things for fish bait, but i saw they are bristle worms are they safe or will they eat my other things? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Betta lifespace 16lts OH YEAH!!!! going live in sept

10-22-2006, 02:33 PM	#2
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 20,692	I would NOT put those in my tank if I were you. I'm not going to attempt to identify them without a detailed close-up of the head, but based on my tentative guess, I would NOT use them. Maybe greenbean will pop up and offer an I.D. P.S. -- "Bristleworms" is a VERY general term that is used for polychaetes (poly = many, chaetes = bristles). There are more than 8,000 species of polychaetes. Most are harmless beneficial scavengers. __________________ Ninong

10-22-2006, 08:15 PM	#3
greenbean36191 Citizen Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Auburn/Huntsville, AL Posts: 239	I don't think these guys will be a problem. It's hard to tell for sure since the picture was taken out of the water, but these look like the run of the mill, harmless fireworm. If you could take a picture of them in a shallow bowl of water that would help tell for sure. __________________ If you can't change the world, change history- TRT

10-23-2006, 06:52 AM	#4
wozza Mayor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: uk, devon Posts: 886	Thanks greenbean, ive done a bit of research on them and the one's ive got live in a U shaped burow and eat sand from one end(well the crap in it) then poo it out leaving squigly mess of sand at the other end. In the UK we call them lug worm and are used for fishing bait, about £2 for a hundred or so!! cheaper than any detrivour kit you will find online!! cheers james __________________ Betta lifespace 16lts OH YEAH!!!! going live in sept

10-23-2006, 06:54 AM	#5
wozza Mayor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: uk, devon Posts: 886	Oh also when i put them in my tank all my fish tryed to eat them and my sixline wrass did kill and eat half of one. Is this a good food for them? __________________ Betta lifespace 16lts OH YEAH!!!! going live in sept

11-01-2006, 02:38 PM	#6
PurePerfection Tenant Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Spring Lake .MI Posts: 68	I would not feed that or put it in my tanks.

11-01-2006, 03:17 PM	#7
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 13,166	Why not? __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

11-01-2006, 08:50 PM	#8
Minh Nguyen Contributing Member/Moderator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 675	These guys are harmless in the tank. They will keep your tank clean and will convert these extra food and dead animal to eggs and larves -free live food. I got lots of these in my tank. __________________ Minh Visit my tank at: http://berlinmethod.com/minhn/ http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...2/aquarium.htm

11-06-2006, 12:22 PM	#9
PurePerfection Tenant Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Spring Lake .MI Posts: 68	when you find that thing in your clam you no why not..

11-06-2006, 01:37 PM	#10
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 13,166	They are scavengers and should only enter a clam if it is already dying. Unless of course you experienced a different type of worm. __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

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