bristleworms

[Pianotips@hotmail.com]

Ok... Now Im mad! I have lost 2 sea hares in 24 hours becuase the bristle worms ripped deep gashes in the top. I added some snail to the tank, now the birstle worm are on a rampage eating everything. Is it becuase there is a lack of food? (I added alot of snails.. like 100+) How do you get rid of bristle worms?

 

[A_Lee]

Are you positive they are common bristle worms? Myself personally, I haven't heard of bristle worms tearing through a live sea hare, or incapacitating and killing snails. Is it possible what you are dealing with is a fire worm?
Is there any chance the sea hares were deceased prior to the worms getting to them? Most times these scavenging worms are the first on the scene when an animals dies. Likewise, in the past I have taken out what I thought to my empty snail shells, only to find bristle worms in them.

 

[Pianotips@hotmail.com]

They were not dead prior.. I saw the last one moving then it got still and the worm goo (the stuff they use to catch things) was all over it. The top was ripped open. Perhaps they were fire worms?

 

[Pianotips@hotmail.com]

i just watched one of the worms with spikes.. eat a snail.. and noticed that there is a pile of dead snails around this one particular rock ><

 

[phishphood]

I sincerely doubt that it's a bristle worm. I gotta run right now, but when I get back I'll look for the link I have on worm ID's. Maybe check WWM off the top of my head for ID's. But that sounds like a big problem.

 

[Pianotips@hotmail.com]

Thank you! I would appreciate that.

 

[Pianotips@hotmail.com]

ugh .. i have a few fireworms..anyone know how to get rid of them? Someone suggested coral banded chrimp on one of the forums.. how would they do with peppermint shrimp? will gang wars ensue?

 

[A_Lee]

Ah, my mistake - I found out that fire worms are bristle worms, both falling under Class Polychaeta. Oh the troubles with common names
Depending on the size of the tank, the CBS may kill the peppermint. FWIW, I have seen a 55g tank with one CBS and multiple cleaner shrimp. The CBS would periodically try and catch a cleaner shrimp.

 

[Pianotips@hotmail.com]

yeah.. after going to wwm ID I found that they are fire worms.. infact there are a bunch of them in one rock.. >< its a 55 gallon tank with 3 peppermint shrimp. I am trying to decide on putting CBS in there.. but dont want them eating the peppermint shrimp.. lol.. Oh man.

 

[tuberider]

There are quite a few wrasses that will munch on them, you might want to star there, those CBS are real mean little buggers.

 

[Pianotips@hotmail.com]

Thank you. I am looking at the 6 line wrasse. They look pretty, are reef safe, and seem to do the job.

 

[A_Lee]

Sixlines are an awesome choice - one of my favorite fish

 

[70Cuda]

Six lines dont eat huge bristle worms, just the little baby ones. If you have some huge mommy massacuring snails might have to trap it. We got ours out by removing the rock it was in then placing food in bucket. When he came out to eat, removed rock. My brother in law hunts his out late at night with tweezers and a flashlight with green film on it apparently they are color blind. To each his own ~smile