How to get rid of Bristle Worms

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Bristle worms known as polychaetes are segmented worms with bristly turfs attaching each of their segments. They are related to earthworms & leeches.

Sometimes they are found in the water tank or saltwater aquarium. Those worms are nocturnal with a length of between 1-6 inches mostly. 

Are bristle worms bad? While some community members think bristle worms are a part of the health ecosystem, others believe these little buggers as a giant nuisance. These worms can deal severe damage to the reef aquarium. 

This article will describe all the necessary pieces of information about how to get rid of bristle worms. Let’s Check out!

What we know about “Bristle Worms”

In general, Bristle worms are saltwater worms with a segmented soft body. Their smooth body has enormous small hairlike bristles along the sides. More than 10,000 species of bristle worms are available & 98% of them live in the saltwater.
An interesting fact is bristle worms have a long body & even if their bodies get cut somehow, those body parts can grow & service on their own. They have a head with sensory palps, antennae, & eyes too. 

The most common bristle worms found in reef aquariums are pink in color & sizes around 0.2 – 2 inches long. 

Types of Bristle Worms

Among 10,000 species of bristle worms, there’s a lot of diversity & types of bristle worms, including –

  • Bloodworms
  • Freckled paddle worms
  • Common clamworms
  • Common bamboo worms
  • Trumpet worms
  • Red-lined worms

bristle worm vs fireworm

Before talking about bristle worm vs fireworm, Fireworms are one kind of bristle worm. Sometimes fireworms create confusion with bristle worms because both live in saltwater. Fireworms are quite distinctive around the bristles with bright orange rings. 

Fireworms stung is far worse than getting stung by bristle worms. Use precaution while removing fireworms from the Tank if found.  

Fireworms feed corals, clams, invertebrates & anemones too. It’s best to remove these worms from water tanks. 

how to get rid of bristle worms

If bristle worms keep reproducing in your saltwater tank, it’s better to try to get rid of them.

 We will discuss three different methods for getting rid of bristle worms from saltwater tanks and reef aquariums. 

Natural Predators against Bristle Worms (Method -1)

Introducing Natural predators of Bristle worms into the Tank will feed all those bristle worms. These animals will safely eliminate the bristle worms & increase the beauty of the aquariums. 

Saltwater animals that feed on bristle worms are – 

  • Coral Banded Shrimp
  • Arrow crabs
  • Bird Wrasse
  • Sunset Wrasse
  • Dottybacks
  • Maori Wrasse
  • Sixstripe Wrasse

Before introducing any of these natural predators into the tank water, research first. Check that specific predator will feed the fishes that are already in the Tank or not. Coral Banded Shrimps are not a threat to the fishes in most cases. 

Bristle Worm Traps (Method -2)

There are two types of Bristle worm traps available. One is Homemade traps, and another is readymade traps from the Pet Store. 

  • ReadyMade Traps

Two types of readymade traps from the pet store are most fittable for removing bristle worms. 

  • Small Opening Traps 

This trap has a small opening & made from acrylic materials & plastics. Bristle worms can come crawling into it but could not get out of it. 

Make sure to add some worm food inside the trap & wait for worms to come inside themselves. 

Large Door Opening Traps

Similar to small opening traps, the only difference is a large sliding door. When worms come inside this trap, the door will automatically slam shut & keeps the worms inside it. 

Those two types of traps are available in both local pet stores & online retailers. 

Homemade Traps

D.I.Y. homemade traps need a plastic container with a cover, some food, A knife.

  • Take a plastic container with a cover & make an X-shaped cut using a knife in the container’s lid. The X-shaped cut should be a bit smaller than the thickness of the worm in the aquarium. Too much wide cut will allow them to escape. Also, too much thin will prevent them from entering.
  • Leave the X-shaped cut at a 45 ° angle for worms to enter quickly. When the bristle worms try to escape, the plastic will bend back into place & stops the escaping route. 
  • Leave some bait inside after preparing the trap & it’s good to go. 

In case no bristle worms are caught in the trap within a few days, adjust the size of the X-shaped cut on the web. 

Dig around Tank with Tweezers and Nets (Method -3)

Another option is to remove bristle worms using a pair of tweezers or a net by hand. 

At first, wear gloves & try to grasp each worm individually at the center of the body with tweezers. 

This process is time-consuming & the chances of missing are high. If accidentally any worms break apart & remain in the live rock, it will regenerate again. 

If there are overwhelmed bristle worms residing in the Tank, this method will be tough to clean worms thoroughly. 

Those three methods are the best effective ones for getting rid of Bristle Worms.

F.A.Q.

  • What do bristle worms eat?

Ans – Bristle worms eat organic matter such as algae, dead organisms, planktons. Those worms have specialized appendages to help them gather food.

  • How do bristle worms get in your tank?

Ans – Live rocks usually contain Bristol Worms. Bristol worms are notoriously good at sticking at live rocks. When you purchase live rock or get live rock for aquarium tanks, Bristle worms’ come into your tank as a bonus. 

  • Which worm types are bad for your tank?

Ans – Fireworms from the Amphinomidae family of Bristol worms are bad for our tank. These creatures contain a toxin that burns when touched. Fireworms are carnivores & attack small fishes in the tank. 

Conclusions

Now, You have all the essential information about dealing with bristle worms in the tank. From identifying them to removing fireworms & making your own decision whether to keep regular bristle worms in the tank or not with those methods. 

To keep the aquariums fish healthy & safe, you are ready to take measures against all kinds of bristle worms. 

Still, if you have any questions about bristle worms, We are more than happy to help you if that didn’t cover here.