The predator- Eunicid worm

[palyam]

For over 3 months Zoa's have been disappearing from my tank, or were left completely eaten. I couldn't find the reason why. Until last night...

Finally the killer was exposed: Large predatory Eunicid worm, 20 cm long, eating my new zoa's infront of my eyes like there's no tomorrow:

Suggestions on how to catch it without removing all the LR from the tank will be highly appreciated :fun2:

 

[derekdelisi]

dynamite.:blown:

Sorry. Umm, quick google search gave many mentions of pop bottle trap. Have a you tried that?

How big is your tank? Many fish in there? If you don't care about losing fish or, if you can temporarily keep fish in another tank, kindly introduce your trouble-maker to a Mantis :hammer:

Is it always in the same rock during the day?
Find out where he lives, creep into his home, snatchin' his people up.
:uzi:

 

[props4you]

Do they eat snails too ?

 

[Gangous]

Wow

 

[Nanook]

Now I am going to have nightmares:hammer:

 

[bobbychullo]

someone has made a good trap on here a while back using a pvc tube with nylon stockings i believe. the stockings would snag the worm as it went for food inside the trap. i've done a search and cant seem to find it. i think it was last summer. i will keep searching and see what i find.

the worms leave their tail inside the rock so they can always pull themselves back.

you may have more than one. most threads i have read on here, when people catch them they catch several over a period of nights...

@props4you: i'm not sure but i think either the Eunicid or the Oenone Fulgida worms will eat snails and clams, they leave the shell covered in mucus.

 

[bobbychullo]

found it:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1913372&highlight=fulgida+trap

just realized its for fulgida worms, hopefully this still helps...

 

[bobbychullo]

kindly introduce your trouble-maker to a Mantis :hammer:

if i ever have one of these worms, this is what i am doing lol

 

[props4you]

Thanks, I'll check those worms out.
Something is eating my snails at an alarming rate.

 

[props4you]

Yep, it's Fulgida worms. I'm pretty sure because when I have set traps I find the jelly -
mucus substance left behind and bait gone. I'm gonna try the trap in the link. I hope it works !!

 

[ceige]

wow it is very cool looking...but obviously needs to go

 

[ThaGrimy1]

Any updated on this?

 

[bobbychullo]

Yep, it's Fulgida worms. I'm pretty sure because when I have set traps I find the jelly -
mucus substance left behind and bait gone. I'm gonna try the trap in the link. I hope it works !!

good luck! let us know what happens...

follow his directions close, you can try PM'ing mscarpena, he is frequently in the invert forums and very knowledgable as well.

 

[KoralKeith]

My god that thing is crazy looking. I hope u get his butt.

 

[aysnow]

Nom nom nom. Goodluck catching it. Let us know if you are able to get him out and how please.

 

[scottjm]

Tongs and a net? Or does it move fast? I hope i never see one in my tank.

 

[bobbychullo]

they are fast

read the thread i linked to and he explains how he traps them...

 

[MLconstruction]

If that was in my tank, I would have to take it out just to step on it.

 

[palyam]

The tube trap is a great idea! I will defiantly try it soon

I have 2 worms in my tank, one is much smaller. This predator has such a strong jaws. Last night I saw it pulling a 3 inch rock with its mouth. scary:uzi:

 

[TellyFish]

The retraction of this work back into its burrow is very fast. It is highly unlikely you will be able to ever catch it with tongs/nets.

I had a big one and I tore the rock he was living in out one night.