How to Get Rid of Bristle Worms in a Salt Water Tank
Bristle worms are fast-growing worms that commonly infest a salt water tank or aquarium, causing damage to other aquatic life in the tank. Bristle worms can also grow as long as 24 inches. The worm survives in the tank by feeding on small crustaceans and leftover food. One problem with catching the worms is that you might not even know that they are in your tank. The worms are extremely fast and can typically only be seen in complete darkness, under a red light. It's important though at the sign of any damage in your tank to locate where the worms are hiding and to quickly eradicate them. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Determine if bristle worms are inside your salt water tank by observing your tank at night. Look around rocks and crevices in your tank when there is complete darkness, or by shining a red light around the area. You can purchase a red bulb to put in a flashlight from your local hardware store.
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Obtain a small plastic storage container with a tight-fastening lid. Make sure that the container is opaque and not transparent so the food in the container is not visible to the bristle worm until it is inside.
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Insert a small amount of cooked shrimp meat, scallop meat, raw fish roe, raw mussel meat, raw clam meat or pieces of raw edible fish into the container. You can put one type of food or a mixture of some of the food mentioned. Only place a small amount of food in the container, such as two pea-size pieces.
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Pierce an x-shape across the top of the lid of the container using a sharp razor blade. Make sure the holes are only large enough for the bristle worm to squeeze through. Remove any plastic you cut out.
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Lower the container into your salt water tank and let it become full of water. Make sure that the container is fully sealed with a lid and that you drop into the location where you found the bristle worms.
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Check the container the next day by removing it from the water. If the bristle worms went into the container to eat the food then they should be trapped inside as the edges of the holes on the inside of the container will be sharp, preventing the worms from leaving.
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Dispose of the worms by letting them die first in the container or dropping them into a pond or lake.
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Repeat the process if you don't catch the worms after two days. Try adding a different kind of food. Also, make holes of the x-shape slightly smaller if you believe the worm was able to enter and exit the container before.
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