[dmachog]

Any fish, inverts, etc. that eat bristle worms? Not many, but want to get rid of what's left.

Arrow crab? Told they are aggressive to fish and other crabs, snails, etc.

Any advice will be most appreciated.

[DMNCLNR]

Coral banded shrimp! They are cool looking too!

there are also traps to catch them avaliable in most fish stores.

[dmachog]

Thanks. I tried the traps-ok, but a pain and didn't get rid of that many. Will get the coral banded shrimp today.

[wldtime]

my pet store also says the six line wrass will eat them too.

[DMNCLNR]

That will be my next fish!

[RCBruce]

6 line wrasse and coral banded shrimp cleared my tank of bristles!

[reefaddict]

I have a six line and I have very rarely seen a bristle worm. I love the looks and constant movement of my six line!!! He is one of my favorites. Of course I have twelve fish and twelve favorites.

[darren]

are bristle worms harmfull to the tank???

[jvharding]

Yes!! Yes!!! Yes!!! Not to mention ugly even!

[darren]

do thay do any damage.if so what???have a lot.6 line wrasse and coral banded shrimp are thay both reef save

[jade4286]

i have a coral banded and a 6 line and they dont seem to bother any of their tankmates or corals...

[benesh10]

what damage does a bristle worm do?

[SeaBoy]

they can kill anemones but invading its stomach and removing its food also will harass some corals or may even kill, but bristle worms do help by eating all left over food :P lol

[Krazy]

Bristle worms clean the tank of excess foods and waste, they are benefical to your tanks, I dunno why anyone wants to get rid of them ???

I have a pair of coral banded shrimps and I still see bristle worms in my tank at night, maybe they keep them in check but they sure dont eat em all..

[sarha]

i'm with krazy on this one

[mtfabel]

I third Krazyk statement.

[wetpet]

We have a horseshoe crab who eats our bristles...not only that but he is a total blast to watch when he is above the sand...they are total clowns with great personality

my horseshoe...i named him tank!

[Scott M]

I have a small pack of small skinny worms (less than a 1 mm), they are yellowish in color black rings about every 1/2 inch.

They shared the same dwelling as my clown goby and he became very discolored, today my coral banded shrimp was laying in the same area half dead. What kind of worms are they and what will eat them and not get sick?

Thanks
Scott

[mokeyz]

A. Bristle worms are very good for your tank

2. Arrow Crabs are voracious bristle worm eaters

[Okayamapiper]

Copper banded butterflies will eat all the worms, but they will eat all feather dusters and any shrimp that they can catch as well... As a bonus they will wipe out any aipstasia you have in the tank. Not generally considered reef safe but once in a while I've run a across one that would not touch the corals and was satisfied with frozen mysis and the occasional worm.

[Okayamapiper]

I noticed my Regal Angelfish eating a bristleworm today as well.

[Poeticlydead]

There are a number of different types of worms that we typically refer to as bristle worms (mostly because they are hard to tell apart). Some worms are benefical reef safe inverts that will clean up excess food and agitate diatrius on the LR. Other worms we refer to as bristle worms (more accurately called Fireworms) are extremely distructive feeding on LPS, Softies and at full maturity small passive fish. Fireworms have toxic bristles (very fine spines) that will deliver a strong sting for there size and strong jaws they use to tear into soft tissue. These worms can reach roughly 12 inches when fully grown.

Since it is hard to distinguish between the various types of worms it is typically recommened (espeically for new aquarist) to remove/eradicate them.

The removal of these tank pest may require a 3 prong attack:
1) manually remove any worms you see with a pair of tweezers, if they receed into a piece of live rock move it to a 5 gallon bucket and add some bait when the worm comes out remove the rock from the bucket
2) set a trap in the tank, keep it baited and check it often it is best to do this contually over a period of a week or more moving the trap from place to place in the tank every day or two
3) aquire a natural preditor (you need to see what is compatible with your existing tank inhabitants) some types of warsse, hawkfish, coral banded shrimp, some types of butterfly fish or arrow crab.

Note: on step 3 be very carefull some tank additions will not only kill the worms but many types of desirable inverts and crustaceans

RESEARCH:
Bad Type Bristleworms Control - Ways to Prevent and Remove Infestations

Bristle Worm Removal from Saltwater Aquariums | Reef Builders -The Reef Aquarium Blog

AquariumFish.com :: Aquarium Fish International :: The monthly magazine for both novice and expert aquarium hobbyists.

[Mr_X]

fireworms are not very common in our tanks though.

i'm suprised no one mentioned your feeding habits. if you have an abundance of bristleworms, it's because you are overfeeding.
cut back on your feeding and you'll see the bristleworm population decline.