just looked in my tank and a few bristle worms are eating my red flame scallop. i didnt even know this was possible but they totally ripped him out his shell and are eating away at what is left of him. how do i kill these damn worms ?
Bristle Worms Ate My Scallop
- Thread starter tat2life
- Start date
/sigh
Bristleworms are NOT predators, they are scavengers. They will eat anything dead or near dead, but they will not eat a live scallop. A live healthy scallop would have snapped its shell shut IF a bristleworm attacked it. When scallops (or any other clam) die, they loose the ability to keep their shell closed, and scavengers (like bristleworms) will eat the body.
Flam scallops are EXCEPTIONALLY difficult to keep alive in home aquaria, especially in tanks under say 150 gallons in volume. They require feedings of phytoplankton and very stable water chemistry to even hope of keeping them alive. Alas, chances are not that it's the bristleworm's fault.
Lynden
a "fish hater"
I agree. They are probably not even strong enough to rip a live scallop (or in this case, file shell) from it's shell, and either way, lacking jaws, they wouldn't be able to get a good grip.
they 100% ate it i saw them doing it with my own eyes. the scallop was in perfect health it was moving its tenticle things and still showing electric, i think the problem was it was wedged on some live rock so it couldnt close its shell. but it wasnt dead or dying it looked perfectly normal and ate twice a week, water conditions are all spot on. i didnt even think bristleworms would eat a dead scallop.
@ombomb
Fish Gatherer
a LOT of scallops die through malnutrition in captivity, they look fine, are behaving "as normal" one day and are dead the next.
if the scallop wedged itself into the tight crevice, it's more than likely it was trying to escape something and stressed as well as slowly starving to death.
not an easy animal to keep with almost 0% survival rate long term.
if the scallop wedged itself into the tight crevice, it's more than likely it was trying to escape something and stressed as well as slowly starving to death.
not an easy animal to keep with almost 0% survival rate long term.
How do you remove a bristle worm? i have got some new live rock with atleast one living in it, at first i though it was only small but it could be 7-8" long!
I have a torch coral and a couple of mushrooms and have read that the worm will start eating the corals, is this true? Also is there anything that will eat the worm such as a valantini puffer or large crab?
I have a torch coral and a couple of mushrooms and have read that the worm will start eating the corals, is this true? Also is there anything that will eat the worm such as a valantini puffer or large crab?
Hi I am new to all this saltwater stuff of worms, lps, sps etc, however, I have just setup my 250gal tank and have just got some cleanup crew after 3 weeks of curing rock etc etc. I too have some of these wroms and have been told 2 things...... firstly they are scavengers and are good cleaners if numbers are kept under control. I had cleaner shrimp die last night and found a large worm gorging on him. They can become a pest if not harvested to keep numbers down. I was told the best way to 'capture them is....... a small plastic bottle with a hole drilled in the lid and a small piece of mussle in it, worms sniffsit out goes for something to eat and is trapped. I was also informed to becareful and use tongs to remove them as you can? get a reaction from the tiny spines on them. To summarise I think yes they are good to help keep old food/dead bits at bay but can be a pest if left to produce loads.
mutantbigman2000
Fish Crazy
Lol. sorry, But just made me laugh.
@ombomb
Fish Gatherer
why's that?
mutantbigman2000
Fish Crazy
well because long term everything has a 0% survival rate.
@ombomb
Fish Gatherer
...you know what i mean 
100% agree wtih ski
JakeKM
Fish Fanatic
i have an actual book here that reads bristle worms may have killed the clam.
Quote.
"Predatory bristleworms can be a problem as they can crawl into the syphons and devour the clam from inside. Therefore, all tanks containing clams should be cleared of these worms at regular intervals."
Personaly i have never had any problems with bristle worms, but the book has never done me wrong either.
My mistake scallops and clams two different things, i read the title wrong i appologise.
Quote.
"Predatory bristleworms can be a problem as they can crawl into the syphons and devour the clam from inside. Therefore, all tanks containing clams should be cleared of these worms at regular intervals."
Personaly i have never had any problems with bristle worms, but the book has never done me wrong either.
My mistake scallops and clams two different things, i read the title wrong i appologise.
xxBarneyxx
Fish Aficionado
How up to date is the book? I have one that says bristleworms will attack and kill healthy fish which is complete rubbish.
As has already been said its very unlikely that a bristleworm will try and eat anything that isn't dead or very close to it. Yes there are some species that will eat corals but I dont think I have every come across anyone that has actually had these in there tank. I have got loads of bristleworms in my tank and they haven't done any harm to anything so far.
As has already been said its very unlikely that a bristleworm will try and eat anything that isn't dead or very close to it. Yes there are some species that will eat corals but I dont think I have every come across anyone that has actually had these in there tank. I have got loads of bristleworms in my tank and they haven't done any harm to anything so far.
chrissaysyes
Nereus
If you see a dead deer on the side of the road and vultures are eating it, does this mean that vultures killed the deer?
Bristleworms are scavengers.
That's really all that needs to be said. If they werent gorging on your dead shrimp and your dead scallop then the corpses would rot in the bottom of your tank and throw your parameters all off very quickly. Remember that whenever you are considering removing them. Seriously people, learn to love your bristleworms...just dont touch them.
Bristleworms are scavengers.
That's really all that needs to be said. If they werent gorging on your dead shrimp and your dead scallop then the corpses would rot in the bottom of your tank and throw your parameters all off very quickly. Remember that whenever you are considering removing them. Seriously people, learn to love your bristleworms...just dont touch them.
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