Bristleworm in zoas

Discussion in 'Soft Corals' started by tigermike74, Apr 5, 2010.

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  1. tigermike74

    tigermike74 Panda Puffer

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    So I went and got a handful of zoa frags this weekend from my new favorite LFS, they gave me a great deal! So anyhow, I noticed a couple (maybe 3) red/orange bristle worms wiggling around in between each polyp. When I target fed the frags with some cyclopeez, the worms came out fast to pick up the scraps the colonies didn't close on. After the cleaned up the leftovers, they retreated back into the rock that the frags are attached to.
    Question is, should I remove them or just leave them be? I know they are good CUC members if I don't let them get too big. I also have my green amenone in the tank too, I don't want the worms to attack the nem or the clowns in the tank. Currently they are 1/4"-1/2" long.
    What do ya think? I'l post pictures of the colonies soon. I'm waiting for some of them to open up, about 80% of them are open right now.
     
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  3. frkid247

    frkid247 Sea Dragon

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    a wrasse will take care of them or an arrow crab. IME i just leave them.
     
  4. captscott

    captscott Astrea Snail

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    Some people don't like them, I think primarily because they look "creepy," but they won't hurt anything(except maybe a misplaced hand or finger), and are considered a favorable member of your CUC.
     
  5. sharkyshark

    sharkyshark Spaghetti Worm

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    i'm pretty sure a read online that bristle worms looovvvvveeeee to eat anemones.. i had a bristle worm problem til i did a fw dip last night (muhhahahaha)
     
  6. tigermike74

    tigermike74 Panda Puffer

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    I already got stung by them when I was putting the frags on my frag tray. It didn't bother me too much, it just felt itchy to me. I'm not saying I enjoyed it though. lol :shocked2:
    I just want to make sure they leave my fish, anemone and zoas alone before I move the frags onto my rocks. :whip:
     
  7. whippy

    whippy Sailfin Tang

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    Bristle worms are good to have. I say just leave em :)
     
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  9. tigermike74

    tigermike74 Panda Puffer

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    I read that too. Then I noticed those bristleworms were brown in color and looked nubby. I wonder if they will only go after the anemones that are not healthy and are already dying, like most CUC animals do.
     
  10. tigermike74

    tigermike74 Panda Puffer

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    This is exactly the type of bristleworm I see in my zoa colonies. This picture was found on nano-reef.com
    These are typically reef safe from what I understand.
     

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  11. PierceEye

    PierceEye Aiptasia Anemone

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    they are fine......As Tomita said...they are part of the clean up crew and they keep your sand bed stirred up...I hate when they get on my pulsing xenia but it does not bother them
     
  12. tigermike74

    tigermike74 Panda Puffer

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    I'm going to take a good look at them tonight when I feed the zoas to make sure they are not fireworms. Something is telling me that may be the case, they were pretty bright red down the center of the body. :(
    I think I'll pull them out anyway and put them in a specimen container and take a picture to get a positive ID of them before letting them roam freely.