can i/should i get rid of these little guys?

lsvagabond · 05/27/2006, 06:58 PM

Hey all, i recently took over an established 20 gal long reefthat has a good chunk of rock/sand/mushrooms in it. Upon examination I have noticed that there are a bunch of these little worm guys in the rock that look almost like fuzzy brittle star arms. They are pretty skittish when other tank mates come around. I have not done the reef thing for several years but remember something about worms like this possible being a nusiance pest that gradually destroys the rock... sound correct? If that is the case, whats the best way to get rid of them (I have seen them on many rocks so i assume they are well established) I am planning on adding a sump/refugium as soon as i can and would like to wait until that has been up and running for awhile before adding fish (the tank has only a pJ cardinal right now along with a cleaner shrimp and crabs) any ideas?

I will post a pic of them soon
mike

lsvagabond · 05/27/2006, 07:08 PM

Here is a close up of one. They are really skinny but kind of long. The fist 1/4 of them has a red body but it changes to black after that. I have never seen them come all the way out the rock.

Jordan55 · 05/27/2006, 07:40 PM

They are called bristleworms. Keep them.

Great for food and waste clean up. Just another one of your clean up crews but you usually get the for free--with the live rock.

PS- Do not touch them, they can cause serious skin iritaion.

Sk8r · 05/27/2006, 08:03 PM

Bristleworms. Good for the tank, good for the corals. They reduce food to a size sps can eat.

05/27/2006, 06:58 PM	#1
lsvagabond Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 123	can i/should i get rid of these little guys? Hey all, i recently took over an established 20 gal long reefthat has a good chunk of rock/sand/mushrooms in it. Upon examination I have noticed that there are a bunch of these little worm guys in the rock that look almost like fuzzy brittle star arms. They are pretty skittish when other tank mates come around. I have not done the reef thing for several years but remember something about worms like this possible being a nusiance pest that gradually destroys the rock... sound correct? If that is the case, whats the best way to get rid of them (I have seen them on many rocks so i assume they are well established) I am planning on adding a sump/refugium as soon as i can and would like to wait until that has been up and running for awhile before adding fish (the tank has only a pJ cardinal right now along with a cleaner shrimp and crabs) any ideas? I will post a pic of them soon mike __________________ I'm not giving you ****, I am giving you understanding

05/27/2006, 07:08 PM	#2
lsvagabond Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 123	Here is a close up of one. They are really skinny but kind of long. The fist 1/4 of them has a red body but it changes to black after that. I have never seen them come all the way out the rock. __________________ I'm not giving you ****, I am giving you understanding

05/27/2006, 07:40 PM	#3
Jordan55 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 2,208	They are called bristleworms. Keep them. Great for food and waste clean up. Just another one of your clean up crews but you usually get the for free--with the live rock. PS- Do not touch them, they can cause serious skin iritaion. __________________ I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Current Tank Info: None

05/27/2006, 08:03 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Bristleworms. Good for the tank, good for the corals. They reduce food to a size sps can eat. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.