Did you know that Polychaete, also known as Bristleworms, have lived through five mass extinctions? If you have a saltwater reef aquarium and you have noticed little worms crawling around, they are probably Bristleworms.
While Bristleworms may seem cute to some people, they can be a dangerous addition to your tank. What are Bristleworms, why are they dangerous, and how should you get rid of them? Keep reading to find out.
What Are Bristleworms?
Bristleworms have many different names and species. You may also see them referred to as Polychaetes or Fireworms. They come in different shapes and sizes, but Bristleworms are small worms that live on saltwater rocks and coral.
Their bodies are long, skinny, and spikey, like a caterpillar, and their face resembles a spider. Bristleworms are interesting creatures because they can be cut into many pieces and still survive.
If you recently got new rocks or reefs for your tank, you could have Bristleworms. Because they are nocturnal, they are difficult to spot during the day. To spot them, look for pink and brown worms coming out of the reefs.
Why Should You Remove Them?
Most people fear having Bristleworms, but they aren’t too big of a problem as long as there aren’t too many of them and they aren’t too big. When they get too big, they can harm the other fish living in your tank.
Another concern with Bristleworms is that they can eat your fish’s food. If your fish eat slow, the Bristleworms may eat all the food, leaving your fish hungry.
Bristleworms are sharp, so they can cut you or your fish. If they cut your fish, they could get an infection and need treatment.
Methods to Remove Bristleworms
Because Bristleworms cause problems, most people choose to remove them from the tank. There are a couple of different ways you can go about this. Here are the most common ways to remove Bristleworms:
Buy Predators
One of the easiest ways to get rid of Bristleworms is to add predators to the tank. There are several different types of fish, crabs, and shrimp that eat Polychaete.
If your Bristleworms are too big, predators may not be able to eat them. In this case, you will need to try other methods.
Add Traps
Another great way to get rid of Bristleworms is by using 3D printed traps. Bristle worms traps work by alluring Bristleworms using bait. Once the Bristleworms are inside the trap, they are unable to get out.
This is the best way to get rid of large Bristleworms that predators cannot eat. This also is the best method if you don’t want to add any more marine life into your tank.
Are You Ready to Remove Polychaete From Your Tank?
Bristleworms are tiny worms that live in saltwater reefs. If you have Bristleworms in your tank, it is a good idea to remove them. To remove Bristleworms, you can buy predators or use Bristleworm traps.
Are you ready to remove Polychaete from your tank? If you want to learn more about maintaining a fish tank, check out the pets and animals section next.