Bristleworm in new tank - what to do?

em318

I would really like some advice on whether i should get rid of the bristleworm that came with live rock or leave him be!

I am very new at this hobby as my tank has been running for only 7 weeks.

I have a 300 litre (137 gallon) tank FOWLR, I have never owned fish before so when i dived into this hobby I realised there was so much to learn (which has been so interesting) with everything.

My tank cycled well as i did everything by the book!

The first lot of live rock was so fascinating, checking out all the nooks and crannys, seeing what emerged. A snail, a couple of tiny white worms, a purple urchin, then i discovered a mantis shrimp which i was told to catch as it would kill my fish when i put them in, so i managed to catch that after a couple of days.

After my second lot of rock there was alot of brown diatoms in my tank so i went and got four clean up snails, which seemed to help and after the six weeks of cycle and all my levels perfect I bought three blue green chromis. I have had them now for four days.

Anyway while i was checking out my tank at 3am this morning i noticed a sea
snake!!! I know now with a bit of investigating online that it is a bristleworm. It is about 15 cm long when stretch out. I have been reading about whether they are dangerous or ok but there seems to be a mixed reaction.

Sooo i would really appreciate some advice whether i should keep it or try and catch it.

Ps. On the weekend if all my levels are still perfect im going to get two clown fish

Thanks

Em

kangy

The bristleworms population will fluctuate based on available food for them. A reasonably sized population is good to have in the tank. 99% of the species are beneficial to have with the exception of the "fireworm" which is very very rare in the hobby anymore. If they start to excessively multiply there is an underlying issue you need to resolve such as cuttting back on feeding, changing flow, increase your husbandry, etc. If you notice a huge one I'd pull it out just to keep it from venturing from it's normal diet to your corals but for the most part I'd leave them alone.

Reefing Madness

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MetalArm3

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They can be terrifying the first time you see them. I myself wanted to get rid of mine (now have at least 3) but you get used to them, and there actually fun creatures to watch scavenge.

Reefing Madness

You want to see them, actually see them. Turn off the lights, grab a very light flash light, then ease the light into the tank. Boom! They come out in abundance at night, well at least if you have them they do.

em318

Thanks guys, well i definately have at least one. It is about 15cm long and only comes out at night. I have seen it three times this week ! So back to my question, will it be ok to the other species in my tank or should i try and catch it. ?

Reefing Madness

It will be fine. Unless it gets reather huge, leave it alone.

SEAWEED54

the small ones are ok in my opinion but 15 cm it will most likely become a nuisance in time I had a 20 cm one crawl across the floor scared the ---- out of my wife at first I thought it was a centerped till I got a better look at it . still got the willys just thinking about it . and yes they do bite

JimBinSC

Wait! You mean they crawl out of the tank?

em318

Thats creepy, i hope they dont crawl out of the tank !!!