I caught a 8” bristle worm in my tank and removed him, was that a good idea?

[hewdawg904]

I caught a 8” bristle worm in my tank and removed him, was that a good idea?

 

[Tahoe61]

Personally I don't remove them, they eat any left over food or dead hermits, snails....
Where there is one there a likely more.

 

[ronsonb]

8inches… yeesh… gnarly

 

[shakacuz]

you now have 1 less bristle worm in your tank. whether it was a good or bad idea, is up to you. they do help clean the tank, but just are unsightly to some.

 

[exnisstech]

Its most likely not the only one. Some folks are afraid of them or are just creeped out by their appearance. They don't bother me and I like them as part of the cuc.

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

Its most likely not the only one. Some folks are afraid of them or are just creeped out by their appearance. They don't bother me and I like them as part of the cuc.

Useful critters but do freak me out

 

[Miami Reef]

Its most likely not the only one. Some folks are afraid of them or are just creeped out by their appearance. They don't bother me and I like them as part of the cuc.

Is that dead? That’s really gross and all, but aren’t you afraid of getting stung?

 

[Tamberav]

Don’t worry, you have many more.


Like mice, it’s never just one.

 

[shakacuz]

Is that dead? That’s really gross and all, but aren’t you afraid of getting stung?

i've been stung a few times by them. probably not as bad as a clownfish bite(never had any, or had any bite me). i do have a high pain tolerance.. can't speak for @exnisstech though, haha

 

[exnisstech]

Is that dead? That’s really gross and all, but aren’t you afraid of getting stung?

It's alive. I found it when I was moving stuff in the sump. I got a few bristles but my hands are pretty tough from wrenching for 30+ years so they really didn't bother me. The bristles kind of remind me of itch weed (stinging nettle) that I got into as a kid but the itch weed was worse.

 

[Dom]

I caught a 8” bristle worm in my tank and removed him, was that a good idea?

Bristle worms have a bad reputation, probably because they are sooooo ugly.

But I let them be; they are good at helping with cleanup, and they churn sand, which is beneficial.

 

[exnisstech]

Take a peak at the tank a few hours after lights out, it's when the cool critters come out. I have a red led flashlight for night viewing.

 

[ti_lavender]

I take out the large ones when I see them at night. In my mind its another form of nutrient export. With the big ones slowly removed, the little ones get to grow more.

 

[Willie Phillips]

I caught a 8” bristle worm in my tank and removed him, was that a good idea?

I like them they help keep my 75-gallon clean

 

[Fiddeli]

I think they look pretty cool

 

[Doctorgori]

I caught a 8” bristle worm in my tank and removed him, was that a good idea?

No picture? I feel cheated LOL

Added: when they get real big they turn this shiny steel blue color: TBH at that size they give me the "willies":