What’s the most effective bristle worm eating fish that is reef safe and won’t attack my other fish?

[Koby]

I was cleaning my tank and I moved my favia away from my anemone and my instincts said too look under because I thought I saw something, it was what I believe too be a bristle worm. Looked about 5 inches long. Looked like a centipede. I want it out but I don’t want too mess with it nor do I want too kill. What’s the most effective fish that will do my dirty work for me but won’t hurt my coral or other fish? Thanks for the knowledge. I’ve researched and I like the flame hawkfish, but I was curious if there was any other options that way I pick the best one

 

[BristleWormHater]

Even I'll admit bristleworms are a valuable part of the tank eco system, you'll hardly ever see them and they clean up uneaten food better than any clean up crew. Just keep the worms around.

 

[Koby]

Even I'll admit bristleworms are a valuable part of the tank eco system, you'll hardly ever see them and they clean up uneaten food better than any clean up crew. Just keep the worms around.

I’m on the fence, I like my stuff too be as natural as possible but dang them things freak me out haha. God says not too fear but my instincts say too burn the thing. It’s 50/50 as long as I don’t see them I will be okay

 

[Koby]

I’m on the fence, I like my stuff too be as natural as possible but dang them things freak me out haha. God says not too fear but my instincts say too burn the thing. It’s 50/50 as long as I don’t see them I will be okay

Did all this research too put things in my tank that will not hurt me and the bristle worm is like hold my beer

 

[Koby]

That's why I have these two just incase I see a big one

Looks just like my kitty

 

[Miami Reef]

I believe the Arrow Crab is your best bet. You can find videos of them eating Bristle Worms on YouTube.

You can also use baits, but they require you to get up close with the worm when discarding. The really large ones sometimes require you to break them (the worm) apart because they get lodged in. I highly recommend you NOT to use the traps.

 

[fishguy242]

5" is pretty big, bait him out at night manually remove with metal tongs, not to worry if breaks in half ,do it again the next day, but at 5" or better I would remove.

 

[Koby]

5" is pretty big, bait him out at night manually remove with metal tongs, not to worry if breaks in half ,do it again the next day, but at 5" or better I would remove.

I didn’t get too close, just kind of eyeballed it and put my coral down, I had gloves on but I bet he could poke right through those I set that favia down really quick, he was wrapped up in a circle so it was hard too tell, 4-5 inches is my guess

 

[JoJosReef]

I didn’t get too close, just kind of eyeballed it and put my coral down, I had gloves on but I bet he could poke right through those I set that favia down really quick, he was wrapped up in a circle so it was hard too tell, 4-5 inches is my guess

You can also try piece of cocktail shrimp ties inside panty hose. Their bristles get caught in it and you just lift out the hose with tongs in the AM. Might catch a few more!

 

[JoJosReef]

Yes

True, better safe than sorry

 

[Tamberav]

I would rather have a bristle worm than an arrow crab in my tank. The worm in helpful and arrow crabs sometimes eat things you don't want them to.

Keep in mind hawkfish can sometimes be bullies.

 

[ieatbugman]

What will arrow crabs eat, invert wise. I have never been able to pin it down

 

[JoJosReef]

What will arrow crabs eat, invert wise. I have never been able to pin it down

They will eat bristleworms with gusto, but there are also accounts of them attacking smaller fish. No personal experience with them ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[alfieohalfie]

I love my bristle worms. But my coral banded shrimp eats them.
If you don’t want the worms I’ll take them

 

[BristleWormHater]

I didn’t get too close, just kind of eyeballed it and put my coral down, I had gloves on but I bet he could poke right through those I set that favia down really quick, he was wrapped up in a circle so it was hard too tell, 4-5 inches is my guess

Thats a blastomussa merletti not a favia, just letting you know!

 

[Koby]

Thats a blastomussa merletti not a favia, just letting you know!

I appreciate it, I’m still learning everything and the guy at the lfs said it was a favia. I love the colors on it

 

[BristleWormHater]

I didn’t get too close, just kind of eyeballed it and put my coral down, I had gloves on but I bet he could poke right through those I set that favia down really quick, he was wrapped up in a circle so it was hard too tell, 4-5 inches is my guess

I'm assuming they only look like that because the snail is on top of them? Typically they should look like this. If they always look sort of closed like they are in your pic, try moving them to lower light and flow, then give them a few days to adjust. I like to give my blastos just as much light as my rhodactis mushrooms (so not much), and that is where they seem happiest.
Hope this helps!

 

[Wasabiroot]

Flame hawkfish are small invertebrate assassins, fwiw. If you have small shrimp or snails with a hungry hawkfish they will be hunted down

 

[Slocke]

You need the devil

 

[AetherealKnight]

Even I'll admit bristleworms are a valuable part of the tank eco system, you'll hardly ever see them and they clean up uneaten food better than any clean up crew. Just keep the worms around.

BristleWormHater, why have you joined the dark side.