Wormology 101
 

:lol: Hi All
I often see in the forums, comments about bristleworms and flatworms.Can anyone tell me what is a bristleworm, and if these are good for the tank. Also, what are flatworms, and if they are bad, is there a way to eyeball these things at the LFS before making a purchase. Anyone know any links so I can read up? Thanks for you help.
Toni

Bristleworms good, flatworms bad.

If you do a search on either, here or at any of the boards you should find plenty of info and pictures. Sorry I don't have any links myself offhand but there should be tonnes of info out there. Happy hunting! :)

Here's a good site for identifying LR hitchhikers:

http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/

Lots of info.

Noel

Toni, just a note on flatworms. I saw some in a local LFS tank yesterday, so if you're buying anything new, always assume the worst. Wendell recommends a epsom salt dip, at the same temp and SG as your tank.
And although flatworms aren't bad (as in the do anything wrong), they are "pesky".

I read somewhere recently that bristle worms kill and eat snails, I've got a bunch of both in my tank and I haven't noticed any major problem with snails missing so....

As far as brittle stars... I understand the black ones are good, the green ones are BAD ... personal experience, the green ones can catch and eat a clown fish faster than you can pull the brittle out and stamp on it and curse its suddenly shortened life.

Thanks for the thoughts and link gang.
P.S. Brad thanks for the tip, I would love to add more to my tank, but being a 20 gal, with the large frogspawn and an even larger anenome,my space is severely limited. I may have to bribe one of my local reefers with the offer of a free frogspawn frag is they come and do the job. :lol: