----- Original Message -----

From: RC

Just a quick question about Bristleworms: I have read a lot of postings about them since joining the forum and the general consensus seems to be that they are not good. Just out of curiosity, can someone please explain why they are so bad? I don't have any myself, just trying to broaden my knowledge.

From: LC

Most articles I have read say that they are beneficial for a deep sand bed because they will help stir the sand and allow oxygen to feed the bacteria. Personally, I purchased about a dozen from an Internet supplier. They told me that there are several different kinds of worms - some will scavenge in the rocks and sand eating waste and others are carnivorous (the ones I purchased were light tan/pink in color). As long as they are not harming your live stock I think they are good for the system. A friend of mine has one that is about 12 inches long and about as big around as a pencil and he has no problems with it.

From: HL

I'm NOT part of that "general consensus" Check out the following links:

http://www.reefs.org/library/talklog/r_shimek_090698.html

http://www.aquarium.net/0998/0998_1.shtml

http://www.aquarium.net/0198/0198_2.shtml

http://www.aquarium.net/0897/0897_5.shtml

http://www.aquarium.net/0697/0697_2.shtml

http://www.aquarium.net/1096/1096_3.shtml

Hope this helps to save a few worms....

From: RC

I woke up this morning to find that the shell of my flame scallop was empty, I have a yellow Tang, a Bi-colour Blennie, a Tomato Clown and a Blue damsel, none of which I believe would eat the scallop.

I also have a large bristle worm, Could he have eaten the scallop

From: HL

Well, I'm sure the Bristleworms could have eaten the scallop - in fact, I'm almost certain he (she?) did eat the Scallop!
The question is: Who killed the Scallop? I don't think your average Bristleworm could kill a healthy Scallop. Chanced are that the Scallop died from some other cause, and that your Bristleworm was only doing what he was supposed to do as a scavenger - eating a dead animal before it could pollute your tank!!

As for the culprit: who knows. I've personally observed my female Clarkii Clown attack and kill a cleaner shrimp, and a very large Trochus snail. I've also had a type of predatory snail (a Dogwhelk, I think) who attacked my other snails, and a small crab who really enjoyed to snack on my soft corals. On the other hand there are so many species of segmented worms, I'm sure some of them must be predatory. Maybe I'm just fortunate - I have hundreds (if not thousands) of segmented worms living in the substrate, and I have only had one occasion where I suspected that they've caused harm, and even that was never confirmed. Of course, it's just my humble opinion - I could be wrong...