Bristleworm Problem

[natwood]

I've had my tank for just over a year now and I've had an increasing number of bristleworms since then. Now it's got to the point where when I feed my fish, bristleworms pop out from literally everywhere. It's not even at night, and sometimes it's not even when I put food in..they just come out. I also think they were responsible for eating my 2 red-leg hermit crabs as both the shells are empty and right next to where there is usually a large congregation of worms!

I've probably got about 50+ in there, no exaggeration, and one of them is almost a foot long..possibly longer..I've never seen the end of it! I've got white ones, grey ones, pink ones, small ones, fat ones. I even have a 2-headed one! Is this a problem? I'd really like to get rid of the bigger ones as they're absolute monsters and I'm sure they're just going to get bigger and more aggressive.

If so..how can I catch them?! I've tried pulling them out with tongs but they retract back into the rock before I even get near them.

 

[sorgan]

Get a bottle and poke a hole in the lid, bait and put in the tank.

Tadaaaa bristleworm trap

 

[ozzie2011]

Get a bottle and poke a hole in the lid, bait and put in the tank.

Tadaaaa bristleworm trap

Great tip

 

[kj23502]

could also be a sign that there is an abundance of nutrients in the tank.

 

[cooper1973]

hey nat just for your info i captured one of my larger worms this evening all i done dont laugh lol but used a sample bottle the ones ya get from the docs for urine lol and just cut a small slit in the top then put sand in it to weigh it down with a small piece of frozen food inside and it has worked so far

 

[dayzofspeed]

you gonna chop up the captives and feed em to your fish?

 

[dayzofspeed]

just seen this on ebay wondered if it might help ...... http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/bristle-worm-trap-marine-fish-reef-tank-/320647122522?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item4aa80ece5a

 

[natwood]

Thanks everyone. I've gradually been getting rid of them by dropping food in..and then when they poke out from the rock I'm pressing them down into the sand with a long plastic rod that I have..and for some reason the worm comes fully out of the rock..then I scoop it up in a net and remove it! Currently caught about 20 so far. I've tried putting food in a bottle a few times but they don't seem to fall for it for some reason. Determined to catch the massive one that I've got that's probably about a foot long. Think it's going to put up a pretty big fight though!