ZOMG Bristle worms!

[Lurch]

So I was moving some rock around this weekend, found this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3491/3741654150_a33cd76782_b.jpg

I'd say its about 4-5". I pulled two of them out of my 20L.

I saw another one that was quite a bit wider, but was hiding in the sand. He snuck away though.

With the size of my tank, and some smaller inhabitants, are these safe to put back in, or should I flush them?

[eswebster]

I have never heard of them harming any fish or other critters. I actually dont mind them cleaning the sandbed, as long as they can keep their fiberglass spines out of my fingers.

[hypertech]

I'd pull it. It looks too big to stay around to me. Where there is one, there are many. His friends can continue to do their job without him.

[eswebster]

I do agree with that though, there does come a size that is just disturbing.

[Mantis]

small size is ok..
bigger ones like that needs to go.

[kensilvey]

Flush the big ones!

[Nanofins]

Big guys like that are not the same as the pink and blue scavenging bristleworms we keep around for cleanup duty. Those polychaete worms are probably of the genus Hermodice and are not reef safe. They can be coral predators and when large can do some real damage. I pulled one out of my reef a while back that was near 10". I'd seen him lurking for a few months and began to see damage to some of my zoas, so I grabbed in one night as he came out to feed. I still have him in a smaller container and feed him (or her, I suppose) bits of shrimp and pellet foods. Interesting and disturbing characters.

[Merkurfan]

5".. 10".. Thats nothing...


http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd250/merkurfan/img334.jpg

he went out by taking himself out of the gene pool and plugging my return line, clouding my water and driving my skimmer nuts for 3 days. He was 12+ inches long and roughly 1" wide.

I also just ordered a new impeller for my pump. it's missing a few small chunks.

[Lurch]

I have 3 that I know of around the same size of that pic in a 20L.

I think one of them I grabbed the other day died and made its way into my korila... there's chunks of something all over it :(

[Payne]

ive had my system up for over a year now and i have never seen one. thank god. I mean i am a pretty tough dude, but i think i would have my wife get that outta there for me. I dont like those pictures.:help::help::violin:

[Merkurfan]

ok... For a fee I'll run up to NR and remove them from your tank if you ever see one. I have really cool thick rubber gloves that go up to my shoulder. The lion can't zap me through them and I've handled bristle worms with them to ;)

[insacron]

ok... For a fee I'll run up to NR and remove them from your tank if you ever see one. I have really cool thick rubber gloves that go up to my shoulder. The lion can't zap me through them and I've handled bristle worms with them to ;)

I must have these! Where did you get them?

[Merkurfan]

Bought them with a system off ebay. but here they are.

http://www.marinedepot.com/maintenance_gloves-ap.html

[Lurch]

Caught another one!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2658/3787183748_f33b20413d.jpg

This one looks a tad different, has a bigger "head". Doesn't seem interested in hiding in the rocks.

[bkoppes]

Bought them with a system off ebay. but here they are.

http://www.marinedepot.com/maintenance_gloves-ap.html

I have those gloves also. They work great when I wear them lol

[Merkurfan]

I have those gloves also. They work great when I wear them lol

wear um brushing the horse right? to keep the fur off?

[Spinning Hat]

Jesus... Those are some nasty looking creatures...

[Lurch]

Spotted another one after the main lights went off....

Looked like he was pooping, but came to realize he was 1/2 of what he should be. Maybe crushed or eaten.

[Merkurfan]

doubt anything in the tank would have ate him.. probably got stuck in a rock.