bristle worms

[Kman]

I added the last half of the live rock to puffy's tank and bunch of different bristle worms started emerging from their holes and spraying some type of white stuff. What is this they are spraying? Is it harmful to puffy?
Should I get the rock back out of the tank? I'm going to do a water change.
I'm just worried that its something that could hurt puffy. The bristle worms has clouded up the tank because they have sprayed so much of this stuff. As of now he isn't acting like its bothering him. Does some body know what this is and if its harmful to puffy? Thanks.

Kman

[Jager]

sounds like spawning season... really nothing to be worried about. bristles eat detritus and help keep the tank cleaner, so by all means keep them around.

just run the skimmer on high and a w/c as you are doing and youll be fine.

[lisalisa]

I've never seen that before myself. Bristle worms are generally a helpful dentrivores, but do keep an eye out for huge ones (1'+)

[Pufferpunk]

A foot long bristle worm--ouch!

[lisalisa]

Yeah no kidding PP! Pulled it out of my live rock about a year ago...very scary. Eww.

[The Fisherman]

Wow! a 1' long bristle worm! was it in a really big live rock, or was it just kind of curled inside a smaller one.

I actually just got my first saltwater tank running yesterday!
I wasnt planning on getting too much liverock, as my budget is Very tight, but i have read that a tank can be infested with bristle worms, and you wont even know it, because they all hide in the LR until nighttime.


-John

[Jager]

not a bristle worm but a fire worm. both are related and the fires eat corals. there are several photos of an 8' one in the 850 gallon tank on AQ or WW. either way, they get big and can eat dang near anythign. the difference is that true or common bristle worms are very flat. fire worms are rounder and fatter.

[lisalisa]

Bristle or fire, ,it was massive, and was predatory, so I'm assuming you're right Jager. Either way, keep your eyes peeled just in case. :~