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| Invertebrates Discussion Discussion for Invertebrates |
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| Yes!! Yes!!! Yes!!! Not to mention ugly even! |
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| 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 |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Bristle worm eaters - Reef Builders Forums | This thread | Refback | 10-03-2008 11:47 PM | |
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