I got "bristle wormed"

[Madreefer]

Most people say that they are a benefit for your tank. I had some zoas that were slowly disappearing. I seen a huge bristle worm about a foot long and it's girth was the size as a pencil on top of the zoas. I got one of these bristle worm traps http://www.aquacave.com/bristleworm-...alife-932.html. Looks like a cheezie gimmick but works great. I watched the worm try and get in and could'nt fit but it also got stuck and I was able to get the worm out. When I put the trap in the sink to remove it from the trap it shrank itself to about an inch long and really fat. Since than my zoas are no longer disappearing. They may be good for our tanks but my zoas are too expensive to be feeding to these ugly worms.

[intarsiabox]

I've been lucky so far Wayne as I don't use gloves either. Good to see the replies from other maybe not so safe reefers for when the inevitable happens!

[marie]

It seems like every time I put my hands in the water I end up grabbing a bristle worm, I've even had one jammed under my finger nail when I was trying to scrape algae off a rock

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by marie

It seems like every time I put my hands in the water I end up grabbing a bristle worm, I've even had one jammed under my finger nail when I was trying to scrape algae off a rock

I've got phantom pains just imagining that! I always turkey baste the snot out of the algae-infested zones before I head in with my green thumb. Well ok it's not green until AFTER I'm done but...

[JonT]

My tank is 18" front to back. He isn't fully expanded in that picture. Yes, he is gone. However, I know there is a second one in there. Zoo's don't stand a chance in my tank.

[Wayne]

Yeah now I am on a quest to get rid of bristleworms. I snuck up on my tank at midnight and with my flashlight found a huge sucker and pulled him out with tweesers

I can only seem to get them one at a time this way so I think I will try the nylon approach and see how many that warrents.

P.S. Yeah I know they are good for the tank, but now my finger has lumps under the skin so I don't want a repeat.

[SeaSerpant]

Taking it out would probably be smart I actually just pierced myself with my little buddy maurice (foot long or longer bristleworm) in my sump. All i new was i grabbed something squishy so i jerked my hand out of there.
Lucky i knew i had gotten jabbed by a bristleworm otherwise i would've thought i had gotten hit by an underwater cacti !
Just soak it in vinegar thats what i did and they went away in a few minutes... Little did i know that i had left the vinegar in a clear cup on the table and i tried drinking it later... not a great experience!

Hope everything gets better in your scavenge for under water "cacti worms"
SeaSerpant

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by intarsiabox

I've been lucky so far Wayne as I don't use gloves either. Good to see the replies from other maybe not so safe reefers for when the inevitable happens!

LOL Jeff thats for sure. I am glad I am not the only one!

On another note anyone ever had bumps under the skin that were itchy? Any recommendations for a solution...