Ohio Reef

Reef Discussion => Pests, Nudsiance Algae and Prevention => Topic started by: MasonRob on July 19, 2011, 15:16:42

Title: Best home made kit method for 'catching' bristle worms
Post by: MasonRob on July 19, 2011, 15:16:42
We have a few and at least one of them looks fairly long (8"+).  In general I don't mind but it competes with other creatures when I feed them.
So looking for suggestions on how to catch them using items commonly found around the home.

Mason Rob
Title: Re: Best home made kit method for 'catching' bristle worms
Post by: Sunny on July 19, 2011, 15:24:57
When we transferred everything from one tank to the other, I wanted all my bristle worms and any other creature that was living in the sand.  We used a cat litter scooper.  Caught bristle worms and snails. 
Title: Best home made kit method for 'catching' bristle worms
Post by: rancoo on July 19, 2011, 16:37:24
Depends on if they are in a rock or the sand. But I have leaned a 16 ounce bottle against a rock where they hang put with some food on the bottle an they climb in and can't get back out
Title: Re: Best home made kit method for 'catching' bristle worms
Post by: Boonjob on July 19, 2011, 16:42:38
Take a common plastic beverage bottle(20 oz,1litre,2litre etc)

1.)Cut the top of it off right when it starts to form the neck of the bottle
2.) Reverse the piece you cut off so that the top of the bottle(part with the cap) is now facing into the beverage container
3.) glue the piece you cut off this way(superglue,hotglue, etc)
4.) place food into the trap(small pieces of shrimp,squid,fish etc work)
5.) place trap into tank over night(if left out over 24hrs you may get a fish stuck in it, so over night is recommended)

- if you find the container is holding air which is causing it to float just cut a small slit in the top to allow the air out, or weigh the bottle down with sand by pouring it into the bottle.

This is an effective trap and if done correctly will catch just about anything. Just keep in mind you may get more than the bristleworm ;) and though it doesn't take very many attempts to catch the intended target it could be a few nights before it yields.
Title: Re: Best home made kit method for 'catching' bristle worms
Post by: Boonjob on July 19, 2011, 16:52:12
What kind of bristle worm are they?(fireworms?). Have you noticed any ill effects on your corals etc? Most bristle worms can be beneficial as they do eat the detritus. IF they aren't hurting any corals or live stock(or you) I would leave em alone IMO. They really only ever come out after lights off so the ugly factor doesn't bother me.


If the above trap does not work for you(which I am sure it will) dottybacks make short work of them provided they aren't huge, mine ate all of them except for the 10incher I pulled out when changing up my tanks(I put a pic on an earlier thread)
Title: Re: Best home made kit method for 'catching' bristle worms
Post by: corrod on October 20, 2011, 14:02:08
I put in a 6 line and carpenter wrasse several months ago, I do not see any bristle worms anymore.
Title: Re: Best home made kit method for 'catching' bristle worms
Post by: Cole Harlow on October 20, 2011, 16:09:06
dont banded coral shimp eat bristle worms
Title: Re: Best home made kit method for 'catching' bristle worms
Post by: Boonjob on October 20, 2011, 16:10:31
yes
Title: Re: Best home made kit method for 'catching' bristle worms
Post by: Neogenesis on October 20, 2011, 16:47:38
If you have that many bristle worms, you may be overfeeding.  Their population will increase and decrease with the amount of extra food present in the tank.   
Title: Re: Best home made kit method for 'catching' bristle worms
Post by: Blown76mav on October 20, 2011, 20:03:31
take some pantyhose and put a piece of shrimp in it then ball it up and set it in the tank at night, the bristleworms will get caught in the pantyhose. 
Title: Re: Best home made kit method for 'catching' bristle worms
Post by: lazylivin on October 20, 2011, 23:27:52
It is likely a Euclid worm or fire worm. Bristle worms don't typically get that large.
Title: Re: Best home made kit method for 'catching' bristle worms
Post by: Blown76mav on October 21, 2011, 10:41:27
My last bristle worm I took out of the tank.......

(https://ohioreef.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi441.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq132%2FBlown76Mav%2F240%2520upgrade%2FDSCF5106.jpg&hash=adce8464db19b22ac236e2044690f2228406f35b)

6 inches long, almost 1" in diameter.
Title: Re: Best home made kit method for 'catching' bristle worms
Post by: lazylivin on October 21, 2011, 11:12:47
I remember that guy Lonnie. Gives me shivers. Neat idea about pantyhose
Title: Re: Best home made kit method for 'catching' bristle worms
Post by: HUNGER on October 21, 2011, 17:14:18
thats a good one
Title: Re: Best home made kit method for 'catching' bristle worms
Post by: dee99gt on October 21, 2011, 20:31:30
that thing is nasty!