Fish to give away

[yazid]

I've got the following to giveaway for FREE:

1. Damsel

2. Lyretail Wrasse

3. Pistol Shrimp

4. 2x Bristleworms

[Anthony]

wow all aggressive n non reef safe fishes.

[Phang]

I would like the pistols........heheheh..

"Bang" "Bang" !!!!

[lona]

aren't bristleworms good for the tank?

why give away?

I'm missing something...

[spade]

Got this from Saltwater Aquarium

Bristleworms can become a common pest in marine aquariums. They are very prolific and can multiple quickly.

They are called Bristleworms because of the hair-like bristles that run along the length of each side of the body. These are hollow, barbed filaments that when touched can break off an imbed into the skin or structure of other marine animals, or the unwary aquarist. Most Bristleworms do not have venomous of toxic bristles. If you get stung it kind of reminds you of working with fiberglass. You know, that itchy, irritating feeling when the fiberglass particles get under your skin that's just plain annoying. But, with the toxic species such as the Fireworm (Hermodice carunculata), it can be a very painful and uncomfortable encounter. Because of their stinging capabilities and the fact that they can grow very large, up to about 12 inches, these should be removed from your tank.

On Tim Kern's Maui's Great Activities site, we found his Creatures That Bite, Cut or Sting information page very helpful. You'll find a first-aid method you can use if you get stung by a Bristleworm to help ease the discomfort.

Jeff Pfhol's Bristleworm Q & A is a good source to read more about the Fireworm species of Bristleworm. This page is various messages exchanged between other marine aquarists and is full of valuable information.

Bristleworms also have strong jaws for feeding and defending themselves. Whenever working with any type of Bristleworm it is wise to wear thick gloves to avoid any possible contact with them.

The question most frequently asked is, are they harmful to my tank? The smaller, less harmful species can be beneficial to your tank by feeding on uneaten foods and dead organisms in the aquarium. However, if allowed to multiply in large numbers they can be a nuisance and may become irritating to other marine inhabitants. In J. Charles Delbeek's September 1997 Aquarium Fish Magazine column, Steve Calvert asked if they will harm his clams. Charles states that, "It is possible that large numbers of these small worms can irritate the clams if they get between the valves and the mantle or between the substrate and the byssal opening of the clam". For the less intrusive types of Bristleworms it is wise to keep them in check and not let them overrun your aquarium.

There are many types of Bristleworms in various colors, with the Eurythoe genus being the most common. Trying to figure out which kind you have and if they are good or not can be difficult. Mike Noreen's Bristleworm FAQ's page from Jeff Pfhol's Marine & Aquaria Index will better help you learn more about the biology of these worms.

Where They Come From

They are brought in when live rock is introduced into a tank.

Preventative Measures When Adding Live Rock

The best prevention of these worms is to inspect and clean your live rock of these animals before placing it into your aquarium. Most live rock is shipped dry with damp newspaper. When you receive your live rock, if they are present you will see them sticking out of or crawling around on the rocks. Lay the rock out on newspaper and carefully pick them out with tweezers. Grab them as close to the base of the body as you an see sticking out and gently wiggle and pull them out. The bad thing about these worms is that if a part breaks off, it will regenerate into a new worm. Using care and patience when doing this is important.

Using Traps For Removal

Bristleworms don't always immediately take to traps. They may shy away from it for a few days, or even a week or so. Once again, patience will pay off. Give it time, they will figure it out.

There are many types of traps on the market that you can use specifically for this purpose. You'll have no trouble finding these as they are marketed just about everywhere.

You can also choose to make your own trap. Just take 1-1/2 to 2 inch diameter PVC and drill numerous quarter inch holes in it. The diameter of the holes you want may vary depending on the size of the Bristleworms you are dealing with. You can decide which size is best for you. Place some fresh bait (shrimp, scallop, fish, etc.) inside and cap the ends. These animals are nocturnal, so it is best to place the trap into the tank at night just before the lights go out. The next morning just remove the trap, take off an end cap and dispose of the worms. When removing the trap it is helpful to place a fine mesh net under it in case some of the worms come out of the holes. This prevents them from falling back into your tank.

The Nylon Net Method Of Removal

Now this one is simple. Just take a nylon stocking and put some fresh bait inside. When the worms come out to feed, their bristles get stuck on the nylon. Just take it out of the tank with the critters attached and dispose of it.

Severe Infestations Removal

If your tank is completely overrun by these beasts, especially if you have an undergravel filter where they can hide, you may have to take more extreme measures and clean your substrate. You will have to scoop out the substrate and sieve through it to pick the worms out by hand.

Using Natural Predators

Dottybacks, and many Wrasses in the Halichoeres family will eat these worms. The Bird Wrasse (Gomphosus varius), the Maori Wrasse (Cheilinus oxycephalus) and the Sunset Wrasse (Thalassoma lutescens) are also good natural predators.

For more detailed information about other Natural Predators read Scott Michael's Bristleworm Q & A from the Aquarium Fish Magazine Q & A Archive. It not only covers complete details on the various species of Bristeworms and how to remove them, but has a great section about what Natural Predators will eat these worms.

Robert Metelsky's Bristleworm Q & A's from his Simplified Reef Keeping site has some more good pointers for ridding your tank of these pests, including his input about the Arrow Crab (Stenorhynchus setrcornis) as a natural predator.

Now that you have all this information you know that some Bristleworms are good, some are bad, and you have plenty of ideas on how to remove them. Remember, prevention is the best remedy. Don't let them get out of hand and take hold or they can be a a real pest problem. If you have any comments, suggested remedies or questions about Bristleworms, feel free to visit the Forums and post a message.

Happy Fish & Reef Keeping,

Debbie & Stan Hauter

Your About Guides to Saltwater Aquariums

[lona]

wow thanks spade, that made for good reading..

I saw one about 2 and a half inch in my tank under the rock the other day..and didn't know it was a bristleworm. I thought bristleworms looked like furry caterpillars..I saw one in the sand the other day too..and that looked quite cute.

anyways, yazid, think I got my own big one more than enough already..*laugh*..no need more..

[yazid]

I would like the pistols........heheheh..

"Bang" "Bang" !!!!

Yeah... The pistol shrimps are really loud..... I actually pick the shrimp at Pasir Ris as it looks cute.

But all those "Bang! Bang!" keep me awake. Finally got hold of it during landscaping.