Bristle Worm COBRA

Pier Pressure · #1 05-29-2007, 04:36 PM

Hi, all.

The creature I found last night and was unable to remove from my tank is a fleshy pink bristle worm that is about the size of a cigarette - same thickness and maybe a bit longer than a king size. The bristles on the sides of the worm are white and are visible in "fan-like" protusions all down both sides of its body. It is flat like a centipede.

So anyway I want him gone. What is the fastest and most effective way to get rid of these unwanted hitchhikers? There are many babies in there as well.

Thank you for any replies!

Phanman · #2 05-29-2007, 04:55 PM

small plastic bottle with food in it will work.

Pier Pressure · #3 05-29-2007, 06:44 PM

I think I will pick up a bristle worm trap at the petstore. I have heard about the bottle trick but am paranoid some glue or something from removal of a label might contaminate the tank. Thank you! I figured it would be something like that. I just thought maybe there was a way to lure them out of hiding or something.

Okguy · #4 05-29-2007, 07:07 PM

The bristle worm you've described sounds like the harmless ones. I actually think they are useful scavangers. Here's a good read that will give you more information and it includes other ways how to catch them that doesn't require purchasing equipment.....

http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSh...ristleworm.htm

justinl · #5 05-29-2007, 07:13 PM

if you see it munching on coral, then yeah remove it. it is a true Carribean fireworm (type of bristleworm). it you dont have any coral mortalities, then why bother removing it? I would actually like having a giant centipede in my tank as part of my CUC. most bristleworms are just detritivores... just have to be careful about the rare coral lawnmower. and dont handle it barehande obviously.

i doubt yours is a carribean fireworm as i believe i read that these only occur as completely bright orange... and even some of the orange bristleworms are harmless. so innocent until proven guilty i say

untamed · #6 05-29-2007, 07:58 PM

If it is the coral eating type, you'll know because in order to eat coral they have to latch on and rasp the coral away. They remain there for hours, if not days. Once you see this behaviour, you can simply remove it with tweezers.

If you don't see this, it is probably safe to assume that you have the harmless detrivore type. In this case, I would leave it in the tank.