bristle worms (devils of the ocean)

[bigboy]

I just had an experience with some bristle worms,they ate all my tank inhabitants. I dont just mean the left overs,I mean fish,crabs,everything.The only thing they left was some snails. I knew they had been eating the hermit crabs,2days ago they ate a goby and a royal grama.When that happened I took the tank apart.It was only a 12 gallon nano cube,I didnt think that a 7" worm could live in a rock thats only about 4" round. And if thats not bad enough I found 2 in that rock and about 25 others about 3" in the other rocks.So if anybody says they wont hurt anything,dont listen! I learned the hard way!

 

[malawi4me2]

Bristleworms are usually scavengers... Are you sure that the fish and crabs didn't die, and then the worms start eating them? Bristleworms are one of those things that some people hate, and others don't mind so much. I have had a pretty large one (I'd estimate around 8" or so, but have never seen the entire worm) in my reef tank since I first added the liverock (about a year ago). So far, it hasn't caused any trouble at all (I have numerous soft corals, a couple LPS, astrea snails, Peppermint shrimp, and a Psychedellic Dragonette). I actually find it pretty interesting... I have heard of fireworms causing trouble, though... You sure it's a regular bristleworm?

 

[Ornatapinnis]

Bristle worms do not catch, kill and eat healthy fish and crabs, they are mostly scavengers. Althought I can not say what killed your tanks inhabitants, it was not bristle worms. They were feeding on them after they died.

If an aquarium has a large population of them, there are typically enviromental problems with the aquarium. (the aquarium is dirty) You can't have large populations of nuicenance organisims with out there being something for them to be feeding off of.

Joel