2 small clams eaten, 1 large one fine

[mscarpena]

I bought a small calm a few months back and he was doing great until he got eaten. So I banished my hermit crabs and waited until my 2 porcelain crabs died( I had them 3 years so I knew it was ciming soon). Then last weekend I bought another smaller clam 2" and this morning there was not much of him left. Again he was doing great. I watched every night for pyramid snails none. He looked great and the LFS had him for about 2-3 months. Also my larger 4-5" Maxima has had a few bites out of him. Since the porcelian crabs died he has only had one bite. I am wondering what it could be. I have some Ocellaris clowns, a yellow watch man goby, a yash hasa goby, and clown goby. For inverts I have snails-all reef safe and a tiger tailed cuke. There was a trail in the sand of the clams slime, but it could have been from the tiger tailed cleaning up he was right there. I have had this tank set up for 7 years and I am 99.99% sure there are no hitch hiking crabs. Last week I saw a weird yellow colored worm. I only saw a little bit of it, about and inch or so. Its butt end looked like an arrow shape and it kind of snaked into the rocks. I have never seen this thing before and it kind of looked ribbed with hairs. Deffinately did not look like a bristle worm. Its end kind of looked like a fan worm. Im thining maybe this did it. Any help would be great. Thanks

 

[mscarpena]

The worm I think is a large on of these. Phyllodocidae worm. If so how do I catch it. I did some reading and it says they will catch smaller meals mainly pods, but it says most stay small. I would not classify this guy as small.

 

[basser1]

You can go on-line and buy soemthing called a bristleworm trap. Some even come with bait.

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...sp=21&hl=en&rlz=1T4GGLL_en&sa=N&start=21&um=1

 

[mscarpena]

I think my worm is larger than the whole trap. I only saw the end, but based on the diameter I think it is bigger. You gave me an idea though and I can make one out of some PVC pipe. So thanks basser1. I will put some clam in it because whatever it is really, really seems to like clams.

 

[Tylt33]

Ummm...... this sounds like a eunicid worm, especially with the way you describe the end of it... I'm scared

 

[mscarpena]

I think I found what it is

I think I found what it is

http://research.calacademy.org/research/izg/SFBay2K/nereidworm2.htm

This is the closest I can find to whst it looks like. I think it is one of these. I will do some research and try to find more info out about it. Any help would be great. Thanks.