worm-zilla-topia

[CeaHorseMaShell]

Many of you have heard about my last seahorse that died due to being bitten by a large fireworm this past November. For those that havn't, we have been after the worm for two years now. About every six months we catch one and think its him, but never failing we see him a few days later and he is massive. Last night I got some arcti-pods from Chris and shortly after putting them in the tank noticed the giant worm right in the front of the tank. I grabbed him with the tongs. He was about four inches. About 15 min later I went back to look at the tank feeling relieved that the monster was gone and there in the same place was another, even bigger worm. We took pictures this time, Which I'll try to post soon. He is almost the size of a sharpie marker. An hour later we pulled another smaller one out of the exact same place, about 3 in. After an exhausting eventing I have hopes they are all gone, but fear they are not. I'm going to try and e-mail someone a picture to post as I can never figure out how.

Here is an interesting link on the topic, if you havn't already seen it. http://www.oregonreef.com/sub_worm.htm

Michele

 

[reefdadx2]

Nasty! Michael R

 

[AIMFish]

Remember kids, remove big worms and Sharpies from your tank

 

[CeaHorseMaShell]

Thanks for posting that Chuck.

Michele

 

[manderx]

i was taking care of a friend's tank one time, and didn't make it over during the day so i went over at 2:00AM. found a worm about 2 feet long and bigger around than my thumb wrapped around her beach-ball sized elegance coral actively eating it (we had been wondering what was happening to it). so i grabbed a plastic bag to use as a glove and ripped it out....

 

[ade]

Are you sure this is what killed your SH? In general fireworms only eat dead or decaying matter or uneaten food. I think that what you got there is a bristle worm, they will grow big and eat anything. IMO

 

[gomd]

Well, we did a little research on them when we first discovered them. A fire worm is a type of bristle worm anyway. We based the diagnosis of the seahorse on the randomness and location of the wound. This was a seahorse we had for two years with no problems. We looked at a bunch of pictures of fire worms, and that is exactly what they look like. Anyway, a worm that big doesn't need to be in there, imo.

 

[ade]

Fire worm

Fire worm

True the Fire worm is a type of brittle worm. There are also about a 10,000 other worms in the same family POLYCHEATA.
What I was stating was that the pic that was posted dose not look like a Fire Worm (Eurythoe sp).

Aquarium Fireworm.

Exceptionally beneficial scavenger; harmless to heathly animals. Dangerous to touch; bristles are venom-tiped and can deliver a painful sting.
This scavenger consumes dead or dying animals, food remains and other waste matter.
A benificial scavenger such as this should not be removed from the aquarium.
Quote; Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D.

Yes being as he has a PH.D doesn't say that he is correct on all his findings but it gives you a good base line to work from.

I am very sorry that you lost your SH and like you I also look for answers. I think that is what keeps this hobby so interesting. I was not posting to say you are wrong or anything like that just trying to help you find an answer.
Ade