Emergency worm help please!

[colettem]

Just got a consignment of live rock delivered by courier. Rock in very good condition but there are several hitchikers that I am not sure what to do with. In the box the rock came in there is a long worm 15-20cm long - I think a bristle worm (see pic). Also there are two crabs in the box - one hairy, one not (all the crabs are about 1" long). Plus two pieces of rock with crabs I can see hiding in holes. The crabs/rock combo I've put in my sump/refuge. The crabs in the box I'm tempted to put in the sump too. What should I do with the worm - I know there is some debate about them - would it be safe in my refugium?

 

[mzeinstr]

it's a bristle worm, they are good detrium eaters. i have quite a few in my rock.

marti

 

[bertoni]

I can't identify the specific worm, but it's probably safe. You could ask in the invertebrate forum. A closeup of the head would likely help. I'd probably dump it in the refugium.

 

[colettem]

Thanks. You can't see it in the photo but I've noticed that it has a big wound in the middle - will this heal itself or will it cause it to die - it looks like it is almost severed in two. Do these worms survive if cut in two - if so I wonder if I should make it into a clean break.

 

[bertoni]

If cut in two, the head should regenerate a new tail. I'm not sure the tail can regenerate a new head. The invertebrate forum would be a good place to ask. I wouldn't do any surgery on the animal just yet.

 

[colettem]

I'll maybe put it in my refugium pending a definitive answer. I think I'll put all the crabs in there too and see what happens - a bit nervous about having them in the display in case they grow into huge predators. The guy that sold me the rock by mail order said that they remove all the nasties from live rock by shining powerful lights on them - obviously didn't work very well in this case!!

 

[bertoni]

Bright lights? I've never heard of that.

 

[colettem]

Probably haven't heard of it as it's obviously a rubbish method of ridding rock of unwanted hitchhikers, lol! I'm going to take some photos of the crabs in the box to E-mail the company. I don't really mind too much about them as they will be quite interesting to keep in the sump and my 6 year old will be dead excited when he gets in from school. But I dread to think how many more are lurking on the rock already in my display!