Will Anything Eat Nems?

S

SumpDiver

Has anyone had any experience with Bristle Worms, or any other tank critters consuming a dead or dying nem? The reason I ask is we have a HUGE Condi that is missing. This guy was big, bigger than a large dinner plate when fully extended. In fact he was getting too big for the tank and we were considering giving him away on the forum or taking him back to the LFS, but he has now disappeared. I think he's too big to just be hiding under the rocks. My best guess is he has died and been eaten by the tank crew, but I've never heard of this. In fact my experience is that if a nem that big dies there will be some cloudiness in the water, or even an ammonia spike. Our water tests perfect. Well, almost: 0-0-<5. Nothing in the tank but damsels, another small condi and a Sherman. The other two nems look great and are thriving. Perhaps he has just gone somewhere to split. If that is the case my next thread will be listed in the For Sale forum titled:

TWO CONDI NEMS, FOR FREE :roll:

Any feedback will be apreciated.

Thanks
 
:lol: Reading is fundamental huh...seriously, I haven't heard of a condi splitting before....but ya never know. Nem's can shrink down pretty small since they are mostly water, I would be tempted to go looking for it if no sign after couple day's. Be prepared for a larger waterchange also. :)

Cheers,
 
Thanks, Ron. That's pretty much what I figured. 4th day now with no sign of him. Tank Water still tests 0-0<5. But we have lots of carbon and water made ready for a 100% change if it comes to that.
 
check all of your power heads over flows ect
i would have a polyfilter in the tank now
good luck
 
if the nem is sick or dying then a bristle worm will probably go after it, i have never seem a bristlle worm go after a healthy nem. with that said when they do go after sick nems they will burrow into the "foot" of the nem.
 
It might be worth it to go on a hunt. Turn over some rocks, and see if you can find and siphon out the remains.

Nothing, and I mean nothing reeks worse than a dead anemone. When they crawl somewhere and die, it's absolutely rancid.
 
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