Bristleworm reef-safe?

JMW · August 16, 2015

Hi guys, found this on my sandbed, about 1cm long. Nice red on the body & legs. This is a bristleworm correct? Are they known to eat coral polyps?

Also, how big do they grow to?

inwear · August 18, 2015

Advisable to remove it ; as it can bred like rabbits if there are plenty of leftover food. Its a pest and can be unsightly once it grow in numbers.

JMW · August 20, 2015

Advisable to remove it ; as it can bred like rabbits if there are plenty of leftover food. Its a pest and can be unsightly once it grow in numbers.

Thanks for helping, inwear! Alright, out it goes then

nemokit · August 25, 2015

Bristle worms are excellent scavengers, but indeed, too many of them is pretty unsighted. My previous tank do have those worms around but they ignored my corals. (Not sure about clams as some have opening at the bottom which may be prone to bristle worms)

Planted · August 26, 2015

lost 1 cluster of zoas to it. totally gone... initially suspect only, then when lights off saw a few moving around and zoas size reduced greatly in the morning with bite marks... :S then thought leave for 1 more day, and my zoas completely gone...... situation more stable (no more lost of zoas) after I clean them off which i discovered SO MANY of them hiding within a GSP rock.

then in another fowlr tank, these are nice to clear the food.. post no harm and not getting too big, so I leave them alone for my pistol shrimp to play with.
(could hear some clicking sound at night.. )

Edited August 26, 2015 by Planted

JMW · August 26, 2015

lost 1 cluster of zoas to it. totally gone... initially suspect only, then when lights off saw a few moving around and zoas size reduced greatly in the morning with bite marks... :S then thought leave for 1 more day, and my zoas completely gone...... situation more stable (no more lost of zoas) after I clean them off which i discovered SO MANY of them hiding within a GSP rock.

then in another fowlr tank, these are nice to clear the food.. post no harm and not getting too big, so I leave them alone for my pistol shrimp to play with.
(could hear some clicking sound at night.. )

OMG sorry to hear about your zoas cluster! Some hitchhikers are really annoying & can do major damage man. I'm not taking any chances, taking them out if I see more... :/