There are many aquatic worms and some of these creatures can even make their way into your reef tank or saltwater aquarium. It is not uncommon for bristle worms to inhabit your saltwater aquarium at some point in time.
One look at these worms, and you might find them odd-looking and be forgiven for wanting to get rid of them as quickly as you can. And the lousy reputation surrounding these worms does not do them any favors either.
What is a bristle worm? And what makes them different from other worms?
From their benefits to some fun facts, we will uncover everything you need to know about Bristleworms in this blog.
What are Bristle Worms?
Bristle worms are aquatic worms that have ‘bristles’ and tentacles through which they find their food underwater.
These are famously known as polychaete worms and have hair-like appendages (chaetae) on their heads which they use to sense their surroundings primarily for predators.
As well as those functions, the bristles on their bodies help these worms to release oxygen and even keep predators away.
You can mostly find these worms in either freshwater or saltwater, where they live in leaf litter or rotting wood, under the bark of dead trees, or amid epiphytes on damp rocks.
Bristle worms are segmented worms, and they can grow up to 24 inches long! However, generally, they can grow anywhere between one to six inches.
With that said, not all Bristle worms are the same (or good), so if you find these worms living under your aquarium rocks, you must ensure the specific type and species of Bristleworm.
This will help you decide whether to leave it or get rid of it.
Are Bristle Worms Beneficial?
Although bristle worms are not the most attractive things to look at, (depending on your tastes, of course!), they can be great for your tank or any water body for that matter.
Most bristle worms are scavengers. They prevent excessive production of ammonia that the decomposition of animals/plants causes in your tank.
Know-it-all aquarium hobbyists may argue that bristle worms feed on healthy aqua creatures like small fish. But that is not entirely true.
However, the “Fireworm” species of bristleworm ARE known to attack smaller, healthy fish. So you will want to steer clear of them and make plans for their removal as soon as possible if you discover them in your aquarium.
Make sure you control their growth as they can multiply quickly (usually due to overfeeding the tank as a whole) and even get rid of any fireworms species of Bristleworm, if you spot any.
Fun Facts About Bristle Worms (Polychaete)
Are bristle worms the same as any other worms? Think again! These tiny creatures have adapted to marine habitats and survive against various predators. Further, these worms come in different sizes, and some even have bright pop colors.
If you want to know some of the most bizarre facts about these bristle worms, then keep reading!
- There are about 10,000 species of polychaete worms, and most of these have a basic structure with a head, a tail, and a segmented body.
- Generally, these worms have each body segment with a pair of leg-like parapodia with bristles sticking out. It’s these bristles that give the worms their name: “polychaete” is Greek for “with much hair.”
- Many of these polychaetes don’t have parapodia.
- These worms have survived on the earth for over 500 million years, which means these worms have survived through all the five mass extinctions that took place.
- A deep-sea polychaete(Pompeii worm) is one of the world’s most heat-resistant animals. Research has shown that these can survive a temperature of up to 107 degrees.
- The biggest polychaete is around ten feet long. Eunice Aphroditeis lives mainly in the Atlantic ocean but can also be discovered in the Indo-Pacific.
- Typically, these worms have various bristles, but Tomopterid polychaetes have two bristles nearly as long as the worm’s body and are covered by a thin gelatinous tissue.
- Methane hydrates, a type of polychaete worm, can survive without any water for about 96 hours.
When it’s all said and done, you could guess these tiny bristle worms have unique features.
Besides, they also help maintain the ecosystem, and with some precaution, you can avoid any risks from these.
You can find these worms anywhere from your tank, saltwater lakes to the deep oceans.
Can You Touch a Bristle Worm?
Bristle worms are not predators and will not bite you in any way if you touch them, but, you might want not to pick these worms with your bare hands, as they may have a defensive response.
The bristles of these worms can penetrate human skin and release a molecule known as prostaglandin E-like compounds (PGE).
This causes inflammation in the area of contact, leading to a rash or hives.
If you really manage to annoy one, these worms can even sting. Although it will not be fatal, it will hurt VERY badly.
Handling these worms and getting stung by their bristles is not fun; the worms release a neurotoxin that will cause a lot of pain.
So, our advice is to avoid any direct touching of these bristle worms, especially fireworms.
Instead, take proper precautions, handle them with thick, impenetrable gloves or using traps to safely remove them if you want to get rid of them.
Summary
All in all, the bristle worm, scientifically known as polychaete, is a common creature that you may find in your tank or any saltwater.
These worms can help keep the ecosystem clean and balanced by feeding on the carcass of any other creatures.
So they may be good for your aquarium if population is controlled. Still, you must always check on the type and species of bristle worm if you find one under the rocks.
It is suggested to get rid of bristle worms like fireworms, as they can cause significant damage to your marine life.
As long as you follow the proper instructions in handling these worms, you’ll be okay. Just ensure that your method of removal doesn’t affect the health of your water (and your hands!)
Apart from this, we hope you enjoyed getting to know some fascinating facts about Bristleworms and the whole polychaete species, from its baffling variety of species, to the survival instinct of these interesting worms.
I hope you had a great time finding out about these bristle worms.
