Ok I notice long before I ever bought my Clarkkii Clownfish that I had a pink fuzzy work inside on of my live rocks. I asked the local pet store owner about it and I called it a bristle worm because, thats what I seen other people call is. I'm sure it has more then a few names like must things do. Anyways is said it's not that it is a type of flat worm. I thought to myself that "a flat worm called a bristle worm," So he said it needed to be removed before I start to stock my tank. At this time all I had were 5 bule-legged hermit crabs. Well after a while I have not seen it until today. I could not get it because it's just to fast for me. Do I really need to worry about this little guy or not? If so how to I get it out of the tank. Also I need to clean the algae off the glass because I could not see inside the tank. I used the crush coral and rubbed it on the glass because Thats the only way I can get the stuff off. Was that an ok idea. I know ill lets nitrate and proteins in the water but im about to grow algae in a sump to clean thats things out soon as i get the supplies i need to build it.
I got worms!!!
- Thread starter dustylane1989@hotmail.com
- Start date
dustylane1989@hotmail.com;1671273; said:
Bristle worms - Good or Bad - depends on whom you talk to. Personally, I think they are good, never had a problem with them. As far as the algae on the front of your tank, never use coral or sand to clean it. There are magnets that you can but that will help, there are scrapers. It is recommended that you leave your lights on in your tank only for 8 hrs. If they are being left on longer, try turning them later or off soon to give you 8 hours.
The common polychaete bristle worm does come in a fair number of colour / length...However, they are mainly divided into two main area's...Bristleworm and fireworm...
Bristleworms themselves offer no danger inside the aquarium, they actually provide a good cleanup service by consuming mucus, macro algae, uneaten food. Perfectly safe to leave in the tank.
The other side is slightly different, the fireworm. These are actualy dangerous when housed in a reef, as their main diet is coral matter, and as such, should be crarefully removed from the tank (dont touch it with your bare skin, believe me, they pack a very potent punch)...
Visually, they are very similar with a body colvered in bristles, however, two visual appearance points should be noted...
Fireworms are red, and "mainly" have a full body of bristles..
Bristleworms "mainly" only have two runs of bristles, one down each side. Their colours are anything from grey, brown, pink, pink/brown....
So, a few differences can be seen, base your opinion on this as to whether your specific SP. of polychaete is safe to keep. Attached two images, one of each type of worm so you can see the visual differences...
Fireworm
Bristleworm
Bristleworms themselves offer no danger inside the aquarium, they actually provide a good cleanup service by consuming mucus, macro algae, uneaten food. Perfectly safe to leave in the tank.
The other side is slightly different, the fireworm. These are actualy dangerous when housed in a reef, as their main diet is coral matter, and as such, should be crarefully removed from the tank (dont touch it with your bare skin, believe me, they pack a very potent punch)...
Visually, they are very similar with a body colvered in bristles, however, two visual appearance points should be noted...
Fireworms are red, and "mainly" have a full body of bristles..
Bristleworms "mainly" only have two runs of bristles, one down each side. Their colours are anything from grey, brown, pink, pink/brown....
So, a few differences can be seen, base your opinion on this as to whether your specific SP. of polychaete is safe to keep. Attached two images, one of each type of worm so you can see the visual differences...
Fireworm
Bristleworm
WELL.... I broke up one of my live rocks in order get a few to show the local fish store what I had. From what I can tell there the bristle worms. only 3 are alive out of i think about 6. a skinny long gray one a short fat pink one and a REALLY fat and long pink one I guess ill let them back in to the tank. i know some crabs will eat these worms if even the chance but what type of crab should i get and is there another way to kill of any fire worms if I had them.
When it comes to fireworms, i'm afraid its down to tweezers to remove them when you see them...Bristleworms are not a problem unless they are in plague proportions...
well i let the one bristle worm back in the other i flushed. the one i added back in moved off some where and fast... i dont know if he'll live or not bc when i picked im out of the live rock a cute a lil bit of his back end off
dustylane1989@hotmail.com;1676599; said:
LOL....you will now have "two" bristleworms....the part that broke off stands a very good possibility of re-growing..