Bristle Worm Question

Big Ed · 05-24-2001, 10:56 AM

Hi there.

How big do you let bristle worms get before you remove them? I found a few crawling out of the LR I got yesterday, the biggest being 4-5" long that I've seen.

Thanks,
Ed

Rob · 05-24-2001, 11:10 AM

Awww, that's nothing Ed. Scott Passe told me that he removes them when they get to about pencil thickness. I have only one that's getting that big... since most of him is hidden at any one time, it's impossible to tell what length he is. (So it's not length that counts...)

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Cheers,
Rob
New York City

Mobious · 05-24-2001, 11:26 AM

I take mine out when they get about 12"s long

**SPasse** · 05-24-2001, 01:47 PM

Big Ed,

Actually I am not sure why I even take them out period.

I have yet to see a bristle worm munch on anything that was not dead or dying.

But if you do decide to remove them, do use a tongs etc. to take them out.

Those spines of the big ones sure can smart!

Regards,

Scott

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The definition of an expert is a washed-up drip under pressure.
You can see my reeftank at http://www.homestead.com/spasse/

DJ88 · 05-24-2001, 02:30 PM

The largest in my 90 gallon tank is 14" long. And It isnt' coming out. I have watched it cruise my tnak looking for food and such and it does a great job cleaing up where the others in my cleanup crew miss. I lost a snail and that night I watched the worm clean out the shell so I had no rotting carcass. That is my opinion I guess it is up to you in the end tho. Do you enjoy seeing some big creature wriggling through your sand or not. [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

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[This message has been edited by DJ88 (edited 05-24-2001).]

FISHme · 05-24-2001, 06:29 PM

Boy , if mine get that big I'm in trouble, my algae / L/R sump has thousands of small ones . I can see some about 3" but most are about an inch.
Do these things die on their own and does anything actually eat them ?

[\[\ark

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><> ><> FISHme <>< <><

Bughead · 05-24-2001, 06:44 PM

I have several huge bristle worms in both tanks. Once I lost a chocolate chip starfish. For several days I thought he was just hiding, but I checked the ammonia every day, just in case. After two weeks I finally decided to move all the rocks and search. "Cookie" had totally disappeared without a trace. Same thing happened with a sleeper goby several months later. I credit the great clean-up job to the big bristle worms. No, I'm sure the bristle worms didn't kill, only scavenged.

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If it's broke, don't fix it---hide it.

05-24-2001, 10:56 AM	#1
Big Ed Citizen Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Billings,MT Posts: 123	Bristle Worm Question Hi there. How big do you let bristle worms get before you remove them? I found a few crawling out of the LR I got yesterday, the biggest being 4-5" long that I've seen. Thanks, Ed

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05-24-2001, 11:10 AM	#2
Rob Governor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: New York City Posts: 1,445	Awww, that's nothing Ed. Scott Passe told me that he removes them when they get to about pencil thickness. I have only one that's getting that big... since most of him is hidden at any one time, it's impossible to tell what length he is. (So it's not length that counts...) ------------------ Cheers, Rob New York City

05-24-2001, 11:26 AM	#3
Mobious Council Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 282	I take mine out when they get about 12"s long

05-24-2001, 01:47 PM	#4
SPasse Moderator Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Forney Texas USA Posts: 2,277	Big Ed, Actually I am not sure why I even take them out period. I have yet to see a bristle worm munch on anything that was not dead or dying. But if you do decide to remove them, do use a tongs etc. to take them out. Those spines of the big ones sure can smart! Regards, Scott ------------------ The definition of an expert is a washed-up drip under pressure. You can see my reeftank at http://www.homestead.com/spasse/

05-24-2001, 02:30 PM	#5
DJ88 Tenant Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Canada Posts: 62	The largest in my 90 gallon tank is 14" long. And It isnt' coming out. I have watched it cruise my tnak looking for food and such and it does a great job cleaing up where the others in my cleanup crew miss. I lost a snail and that night I watched the worm clean out the shell so I had no rotting carcass. That is my opinion I guess it is up to you in the end tho. Do you enjoy seeing some big creature wriggling through your sand or not. [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img] ------------------ [This message has been edited by DJ88 (edited 05-24-2001).]

05-24-2001, 06:29 PM	#6
FISHme Council Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pompano Beach, Florida Posts: 495	Boy , if mine get that big I'm in trouble, my algae / L/R sump has thousands of small ones . I can see some about 3" but most are about an inch. Do these things die on their own and does anything actually eat them ? [\[\ark ------------------ ><> ><> FISHme <>< <><

05-24-2001, 06:44 PM	#7
Bughead Governor Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA Posts: 1,152	I have several huge bristle worms in both tanks. Once I lost a chocolate chip starfish. For several days I thought he was just hiding, but I checked the ammonia every day, just in case. After two weeks I finally decided to move all the rocks and search. "Cookie" had totally disappeared without a trace. Same thing happened with a sleeper goby several months later. I credit the great clean-up job to the big bristle worms. No, I'm sure the bristle worms didn't kill, only scavenged. ------------------ If it's broke, don't fix it---hide it.

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