I just saw this in my tank, and pretty sure it's a bobbit worm. Looks like it's not something I want to have in my tank if it is, but it is super fast and doesn't look like the kind of thing easily trapped. Anyone have any luck catching one short of dismantling your whole tank?
bobbit worm?
- Thread starter Artopia
- Start date
Additional info
Additional info
Picture hard to tell, but it's at least as big as my pinkie finger - probably a lot longer. I only saw the front end. It was shoving the sand but would dart back under the rock at the slightest movement I made. It's sort of a coppery iridescent color - rather pretty, thought I confess it startled and scared me. It looks like these guys will eat fish and corals - if I can't get it out is there any way of protecting my other tank inhabitants? (mixed reef is my intention but right now only one clown fish, one RBTA and a few different corals. And a blue tuxedo urchin.
Additional info
Picture hard to tell, but it's at least as big as my pinkie finger - probably a lot longer. I only saw the front end. It was shoving the sand but would dart back under the rock at the slightest movement I made. It's sort of a coppery iridescent color - rather pretty, thought I confess it startled and scared me. It looks like these guys will eat fish and corals - if I can't get it out is there any way of protecting my other tank inhabitants? (mixed reef is my intention but right now only one clown fish, one RBTA and a few different corals. And a blue tuxedo urchin.
hotelbravo
Active member
it definitely is not a bristle worm i think you are correct in your ID. i think you could catch it using the pvc method. take a 1foot(ish) pvc pipe and put pvc caps on each end but dont glue them in place. drill holes in one side of the pvc all over turning the holes face up put some chunky smelly meaty food in the pvc by taking the cap off tossing it in then putting the cap back on. put the pvc next to its hole as the lights go off in the tank and take it out in the morning and see what you caught.
bobbychullo
Super Abound
its hard to tell but I think you may be right. If not bobbit, a similar worm. I can almost make out its front antennae/feelers
theres a way to build a cheap trap. look up Eunicid PVC trap. it involves nylon stockings a section of pipe and some fishing line. the worm crawls into the pipe gets caught up in the stocking then you gently pull a noose around the worm with the filament line to prevent it from escaping. You can remove the worm with the trap at that point. I'll post a link if i can find it
theres a way to build a cheap trap. look up Eunicid PVC trap. it involves nylon stockings a section of pipe and some fishing line. the worm crawls into the pipe gets caught up in the stocking then you gently pull a noose around the worm with the filament line to prevent it from escaping. You can remove the worm with the trap at that point. I'll post a link if i can find it
Thank you Hodge and Rob! From the instructions link it looks like these guys will eat clams too, so I"m very happy I did not invest in the maxima I had my eye on. Is this a case of 'if there's one, there's more'?
Not that I'm super creeped out or anything but I don't suppose there's a worm removal service I could hire? :bigeyes:
Not that I'm super creeped out or anything but I don't suppose there's a worm removal service I could hire? :bigeyes:
I found this in another thread, and I'd bet money it's the same as the one in my tank:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=17288267&postcount=49
'Creeped out' has evolved into 'screaming heebie jeebies'.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=17288267&postcount=49
'Creeped out' has evolved into 'screaming heebie jeebies'.
hotelbravo
Active member
not always. one could have hitched a ride into your aquarium on its own.
It could have just been a snail spawning.
Lord, I hope so. I just read a long thread on Michigan Reefers and it's just a nightmare of epic proportion.
bobbychullo
Super Abound
try the traps first. from my readings on them i dont think you'll have morevthan one. most people i believe only find one maybe two when the have them. i would think two would need a good sized tank with a lot of food sources.
try the trap. get that one out of your tank and observe. no need to go crazy. if you havent had any deaths yet i think youre in good shape.
Thanks, Rob. I will try it but it's going to take something for me to build up my nerve - even with the trap you have to pull it out. To be perfectly frank I am terrified of the thing. If it wasn't such a long process I would be building a new tank to move my livestock into right now, that's how much I dread trying to remove this thing. I spent an hour puttering with my main freshwater tank today, just to feel safe. *sheepish grin* I tried to get my LFS guy to come and remove it for me but he said it wasn't feasible because you have to bait and watch and .... ugh. *shudder*
I managed to capture 2 short videos of it.
https://youtu.be/-8v2lUrokWw
https://youtu.be/6DGvEsbK2_E
https://youtu.be/-8v2lUrokWw
https://youtu.be/6DGvEsbK2_E
martinandsarah2
New member
Nasty things they are I know if it was me and was feasible I would pull the rocks and get it out as that is only going to get bigger !!
martinandsarah2
New member
How about a nice little meaty treat with like a size 24hook inside attached to fishing line I've managed to get a hitchiker crab out like that
martinandsarah2
New member
Best thing to do then is if you can get someone to pull rocks and get it out that's the best way as I see a vid of one taking a lion fish [emoji50]
