Best Bait for Bristle Worm Trap???

Kas · 07-29-2008, 04:44 PM

After reading lots of horror stories and seeing pictures of giant bristle worms, today I made a BRISTLE WORM TRAP from PVC. My questions are: 1) What would be the best bait to use in the trap? 2) The holes in the trap are about 1/4"....is that too big? 3) Will the bait foul the tank if left in all night? Oh, forgot to mention.....it's a 75g tank. Thanks everyone!

missionsix66 · 07-29-2008, 04:54 PM

Have you checked out your tank with a flashlight at night? And you have a monster B-worm? Or, you've seen a couple and you are worried?

Kas · 07-29-2008, 05:01 PM

Well, I haven't actually seen any in my 75g but then I haven't looked. I just want to drop the trap and see what I pull up. Is that a bad idea?

Kas

missionsix66 · 07-29-2008, 05:03 PM

Theyr'e actually good detrivores. I'd check out the tank at night with a flashlight and see what you are rocking with. Unless, you just feel like going fishing. There is such thing as too many/too big though. Not to sure on the best bait for bristles. "food"?

Kas · 07-29-2008, 05:08 PM

Well yeah, I guess I was just curious about what would show up in my trap. I was hoping it would give me a clue if my tank is swarming with worms. I'll first look around the rocks after dark with a flashlight. But.........just in case I decide to go "fishing", what would I use for bait?

Otty · 07-29-2008, 05:25 PM

Get a Banded Coral Shrimp as he is a nature predator of the bristol worm.

Kas · 07-29-2008, 05:29 PM

Hey Scott! I already have one of those shrimp in there. Maybe that's why I haven't seen any worms in the tank. When I lived in MI and the tank was about 3 years old, it had quite a few worms but since moving it here and starting over, haven't seen any worms. I thought every tank has them and wanted to set a trap to see how many are in the rocks now. Sooooooooo......about that bait question: any ideas?

Otty · 07-29-2008, 05:55 PM

No I just use a natural predator to keep the population under control. It is ok to have some, they are just scavengers.

Kas · 07-29-2008, 06:24 PM

Oh, OK. Kas

rayjay · 07-30-2008, 12:38 PM

I've had my tanks now for almost 15 yrs and never removed even the very large bristle worms.
I think they get a bad rap because they do their job so well. As soon as any decaying matter presents itself, they are there to do their thing.
If a coral gets decay due to damage or die off, the worms can immediately be seen to begin their next meal, but in so doing, a lot of hobbyists have believed the worms were the cause of the demise, rather than just caretakers of decay.