Bristleworms.....? - Why would i want them as a reefer?

F

feasible

[Ok,
barring the dreader Fire Bristle Worm, would I want them in my tank that has finally ended it's cycle? Some people like them some people consder them pests. I understand that they are scavengers but is there any other benifit to them? Hermit crabs, snails and shrimps are scavengers, do the bristle worms fill in a niche the others do not?

Thanks!
Mike]
 
[Yes, the are excellent detrivores. They will get into the nooks and crannys in, under and between the rock that nothing else can reach.]
 
[I'm a huge diversity fan and these are just another excellent part of any cleanup crew in my opinion. Everything works a little differently and these guys are the best of the best for cleaning substrates in my opinion!]
 
[They are excellent scavengers...when I shine the flashlight at my tank at night, they look like a bunch of ants crawling all over for food. While I have heard of some getting quite big, I like em!]
 
[I hate them! They are everything they say! However, they get big and destructive! When they can steal food from a 4 foot zebras eels mouth the are a nusiance. There are other carion that get the job done just as well if not better.

You should do everything in your power to kill them short of chemicals. Because no matter how hard you try they will still be there!]
 
[They are very beneficial to a reef tank. One of the best overall cleaner you can have. Not all of them get big, from what I have read there are a ton of different species of bristle worms. The ones I have are little redish orange ones that in years have never gotten any bigger than a couple of inches, most are about an inch.]
 
[I have never had a bristleworm I've regretted owning. I even gave one away accidentally that was huge, but it left in a ball of cheatomorpha and lives in a new tank now.

There are some that can get huge, but most do not. In 7 years, the largest I've owned was 1/4" wide and about 15" long.]
 
[:shocked:

the one that stole that krill was probably just a little bigger. You can bet the will eat living things if the can eat it!]
 
[If your bristleworm is large enough to take food from an eel (hard to imagine!), it is time to catch that worm and remove it. At that size, it shouldn't be too hard to grab it.

But to hate all of them is a little extreme.]
 
[I was the recipient of a bristleworm from Marc in some Cheato :). He still lives today in my sump Marc if it makes you feel better!. Infact I saw him yesterday in my cheato cruising..... Ive not had a problem with them yet.]
 
[Andy, I almost stated that you had him, but kept your privacy. ;) I'm glad it is still doing well. Keep up the good work. :D]
 
[Brian if you have a huge one trap it and move on. Why would you hate these great detrivores just because you have one big one?

I have one in my 20G that is pretty large. At least 6" I'm going to trap him and take him out because I don't want the clown to get curious and try to bite him and end up wih a whisker sandwich!

I really do not understand the loathing you have for them and the statement "You should do everything in your power to kill them short of chemicals. Because no matter how hard you try they will still be there!" in my opinion is flat out bad advise! Your taking an extreme experience you had and generalizing it to all bristleworms!]
 
[Zebra eels are blind as a bat. My Zebra eel went to grab the dead krill lieing on the sand hit it twice but didn't grab it. While searching for it with his nose/mouth he brushed toward the rock while chasing it a large bristle worm pulled it under the rock work...

I assure you I went after him... but, I am not tearing up my display to get one!

I think aquariamnist should consider them great denitrovers however, if they get large they are nuisances. Do everything in your power to have predators that eat them. To keep them small.

I would not go out of my way to add these little pests. You will get them anyway from the live rock.]
 
[I consider them a blessing in all reality. They do the job that nothing else seems to or wants to do. I agree w/ Marc and KWL1763 , If that bad boys troubling you get him out. Id be HAPPY to take him off your hands in place him in my fuge. I have a lot of detritus in there that he can pig out on since it seems to settle in my sand in the fuge. Infact He will have company of another large one thats in there now. Thanks to Marcs cheato ball he gave me a while back :) Relocate......dont exterminate.]
 
[I'm sorry there are too many predators of bristle worms for them not to be considered natural pest in the wild!

It's the equilivent in food chain to a mouse. These things can survive off almost nothing and multiple like there is no tomorrow!

One way or another any reef keeper will get them. All I am saying is don't go out of your way to get them!]
 
[I would compare them to earthworms. We have tons in our garden, but don't see them often. We just peer in our tanks way more.]
 
@Marc wrote:
[I would compare them to earthworms. We have tons in our garden said:
[You must be joking right???

If these things can sting you they can sting coral or fish. I've heard reports of ones getting feet long and no one can honestly tell me they can't hurt anything?]
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