Eunice worm- Gads, what a monster

[Kahuna Tuna]

Just pulled one of these beasts out of my 180 gallon display and although I had never seen the whole critter before (just his head and about a foot of body) I was amazed to see how big it actually was, close to three feet long when all stretched out. I think I've positively ID'ed it as a Eunice aphroditois. I've always liked creepie crawlies ever since I was little but this thing absolutely gives me the creeps, just a nasty looking creature for sure. I will get a pic this week. Anyone else get one of these in their tanks?

Link, http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/worm/polychaeta/giant.htm

 

[zachfishman]

That's the "friendly" one haha. This is the real monster:

http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/bobbit-worm

More pics: http://seapics.com/feature-subject/marine-invertebrates/bobbitworm-pictures-001.html

...mandibles that lock shut - ouch!

EDIT: they had the right species name, but not the right pics.

 

[pimp4cheddar]

That's the "friendly" one haha. This is the real monster:

http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/bobbit-worm

More pics: http://seapics.com/feature-subject/marine-invertebrates/bobbitworm-pictures-001.html

...mandibles that lock shut - ouch!

EDIT: they had the right species name, but not the right pics.

That first link is too funny:

"A common myth about the Bobbit Worm is that they got their name from the fact that the female worms cuts off the penis of the male worm after mating, and then feeds it to her young. This is actually not true."

"First off, Polychaetes don't have penises or vaginas."



Yea...some nasty worms! I thank the higher gods that I haven't had one in my tank yet!

 

[zachfishman]

One of my close professors teaches field courses in both Belize and Australia. He loves to tell students about the bobbit worm right before the night snorkel. Nice guy.

 

[snorvich]

They get to be 10 feet long. Terrific.

 

[Runner]

Fun worms. I had a 2' long one that kept eating every soft coral I would put in the tank. He made the mistake one day of hanging out in a rock I pulled out (was mounting a frogspawn):

It was hauntingly beautiful with copper/rainbow sheen in the sunlight, though.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

So if Eunice aphroditois is the infamous bobbit worm (the ones with the wicked jaws), does anyone know what species I have, it looks exactly like the pics in the link I left in my post and the pics in Runners post. I cant say for sure if it was doing any damage but something was eating my soft corals and I never saw a fish nipping them so I am assuming I have the culprit.

It is a facinating animal, mine is in an acclimation box in my sump and I have seen several folks keep a small species tank for them.

 

[happyclam]

Oh that reminds me I have to figure out a way to get those out of my tank. I know I have at least 2 small (~6") ones, never got around to pulling them out. Not sure how I am going to do that. From now on though I will always start my tanks with dried bleached rock and sand, and then just add bacteria and invert cultures later. Would probably still got coral pests & diseases, but at least no bad crabs or huge worms.

 

[Runner]

I never did look close enough to see if mine was the version with the jaws, although I suspect he was. Here is another pic that shows the head a bit better:

I had no place to hold him even temporarily at the time (and was a bit irritated with him, anyway), so he got the sidewalk treatment. As for catching, they are extremely fast. You would have to set a trap for them. I lucked out because I accidentally picked the rock that mine called home.

 

[Anemone]

Yep, I had the same type (and size) as Runner as well. Took several years to get to that size though. When I started losing zoas all over the tank, I knew I had a problem. Found the rock he (or she) was in, removed it, and broke it open to get the worm out. Nice rainbow sheen, it's true, but the 5 antennae are just plain freaky (as well as a very good identification tool).

Kevin

 

[Runner]

And if you are an SG-1 fan, seeing the real inspiration for the Goa'uld is just plain creepy.

 

[BlennyBabe]

I pulled one about 3 feet long out of my tank years ago. I named him Herman and donated him the the LFS refugium.