[Dr. Bob]

I have discovered a 3cm long bristleworm in my reef aquarium. Research has produced two startlingly different descriptions, one being a harmless nuisance detritivore that is part of the reef ecosystem (some bloggers actually request that people ship them the worms!) while the other story is one of a worm that grows and reproduces rapidly, sometimes to two feet in length, with powerful jaws and a venomous bite that can hurt humans and kill corals, inverts and fish.. a veritable cobra of the reef.

What are the experiences, good or bad, that you have had with bristleworms? Gone to any emergency departments lately with bristleworm envenomation? Attacks on other creatures in the aquarium?

For those who have fashioned their own worm traps, would you share a diagram or a photo of exactly what has worked well for you? I have read that the commercially available tube-shaped traps are not that good and that a homemade trap from some kind of plastic container is the way to go. Unfortunately I cannot find pictures and the descriptions available are not graphic enough for me to understand them.

[henwayrob]

I agree seen both arguments, that and there seems to be several types of bristle worms, my policy has been to leave the little ones alone and remove the large ones, some i've removed have been 3" long. the commercial tube trap has worked fine for me just use frozen brine shrimp in it and place close to where worm lives, ussually catch it overnight.

[rlcline76]

I am having problems posting and am currently Pming my answer

[Kimjo1]

WOW, When my 75G fried last week ... TONS and TONS of bristle worms came from nowhere to feast on all the dead fish! I never saw any of them until then, it was SCARY!!

I had 6 in DSB and about 200 lbs of LR. So If you have 1 you probably have 100... Get rid of the big ones if you see them (trap them) I guess they propigate quickly!!

[SweeTang22]

form my understanding bristle worms suck. i have done some big time research on the subject and agree with everybody else though. since i posted the question, life on live rock, i have hit the net and the books hard!! its a good idea to try and keep them under wraps as much as possible because large amounts of bristle worms could start to starve your tank. arrow crabs are said to be a good natural alternative without harming coral. i have yet to see my arrow eat anything other then brine shrimp though.

[bleueau187]

its true they are good and bad. some will just eat detritius and will leave others alone. i would say remove the bigger ones relative to your tank size but not all bc they are part of your cc. the one that YOU MUST REMOVE IS THE EUNICID

[e_baer]

99% of worms in the ocean are harmless, it is just that 1% that you are never sure of.

[Kimjo1]

Here is some pics of the EUNICID, as opposed to the bristle worm =) NBotice the earthworm appearence and the mouth...

[NATIVEVAMAN]

While looking at sites with info about unicid worms I found this.NOAA Ocean Explorer: Living Ocean Gallery: Invertebrates

[NATIVEVAMAN]

And this. Eunicid Worm

[SweeTang22]

ok now kimjo, i think i have one of those worms. the one i see is under the sand and he sticks his head out. i always notice the sand move a bit and then he pops out? how should i go about getting rid of it. i was thinkin about using a cup of some sort upside down and push it all the way to the bottom and then maybe scoop it out some how. any suggestions??

[e_baer]

get a worm trap

[SaltyEndevors]

If I am not mistaken, there are sligs / nudibranc that are healthy and so a good job keeping them under control.

[kolokefalo]

Pseudochromis Fridmani is an excellent bristle worm killer and a gorgeous fish.

[e_baer]

how would you like to have my purple pseudo?!???!!