What eats bristleworms

snoopdog · 12-31-2001, 11:25 PM

I have noticed little or no bristleworms in my 75 gallon tank in the last year. I have no crabs at all just starfish and regular fish like tangs. My 20 gallon has a royal gramma and 2 firefish and is overflowing with bristleworms. It is almost scary to see the size and number of these guys coming out of the rock. I am wondering what has depleted the population. I have a mandarin but it is too small to eat one and do not think it would anyway. I have 3 red starfish and a linkia and a brittle star. Have starfish been known to munch on them ? I am currently transfering rock between the tank to get some of the little guys back in the 75 gallon. Tell you the truth I think the bristleworms are better detrivores than the starfish anyway since the can clean out the network of holes in the rock.

**Ninong** · 01-01-2002, 12:36 AM

"...and regular fish like tangs."

Tangs and what else? Any Pseudochromis spp. (Dottybacks)?

Ninong

Aragorn · 01-01-2002, 01:30 AM

I swear that Tangs'll eat anything. Mine do.

snoopdog · 01-01-2002, 04:04 AM

Two Yellow Tangs, Blue-Cheeked Goby, Yellow Watchman Goby, Red Hawk Fish, Small Mandarin Dragonet

GregD · 01-02-2002, 03:27 PM

Although they are not know to eat bristleworms it has been my experience that the Red Hawk (Flamehawk) will eat bristleworms.

This has been my direct experience with my tanks. I have one tank that is teeming with bristleworms. My tang and psychedilic mandarin goby won't touch the worms. When I kept a flamehawk in the same tank the worm population was kept at a minimum for over two years.

My vote would be the flamehawk...

HTH ,
Greg

**kevinpo** · 01-02-2002, 07:27 PM

My spotted hawk also eats bristtle worms as does my pink spotted goby.

Kevin

12-31-2001, 11:25 PM	#1
snoopdog Mayor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Mobile,AL Posts: 584	What eats bristleworms I have noticed little or no bristleworms in my 75 gallon tank in the last year. I have no crabs at all just starfish and regular fish like tangs. My 20 gallon has a royal gramma and 2 firefish and is overflowing with bristleworms. It is almost scary to see the size and number of these guys coming out of the rock. I am wondering what has depleted the population. I have a mandarin but it is too small to eat one and do not think it would anyway. I have 3 red starfish and a linkia and a brittle star. Have starfish been known to munch on them ? I am currently transfering rock between the tank to get some of the little guys back in the 75 gallon. Tell you the truth I think the bristleworms are better detrivores than the starfish anyway since the can clean out the network of holes in the rock. __________________ Come check out my web site. http://www.reefcrazed.com

01-01-2002, 01:30 AM	#3
Aragorn Governor Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pine Grove, CA USA Posts: 2,064	I swear that Tangs'll eat anything. Mine do. __________________ "It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds."

01-01-2002, 04:04 AM	#4
snoopdog Mayor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Mobile,AL Posts: 584	Two Yellow Tangs, Blue-Cheeked Goby, Yellow Watchman Goby, Red Hawk Fish, Small Mandarin Dragonet __________________ Come check out my web site. http://www.reefcrazed.com

01-02-2002, 07:27 PM	#6
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,452	My spotted hawk also eats bristtle worms as does my pink spotted goby. Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

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01-01-2002, 12:36 AM	#2
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 20,691	"...and regular fish like tangs." Tangs and what else? Any Pseudochromis spp. (Dottybacks)? Ninong

01-02-2002, 03:27 PM	#5
GregD Citizen Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Fairfax, VA...USA Posts: 134	Although they are not know to eat bristleworms it has been my experience that the Red Hawk (Flamehawk) will eat bristleworms. This has been my direct experience with my tanks. I have one tank that is teeming with bristleworms. My tang and psychedilic mandarin goby won't touch the worms. When I kept a flamehawk in the same tank the worm population was kept at a minimum for over two years. My vote would be the flamehawk... HTH , Greg

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