Large Bristleworm

R

Reg1987

Just saw a bristleworm that was at least 8 inches long and as big around as my finger. I never saw it's tail, so it could have been much longer. it was by far the largest I'v ever seen.

It came out from under the rock and grabbed a dead 3 inch diamond goby in it's mouth. Then it retracted back under the rock. By the time it got to the back of the tank, only the Goby's head was still showing, the rest had been swallowed.

The worm was a greenish grey with whitish bristles or legs. Most of the bristle worms I have seen have been a brown to a reddish brown. This one was definately green grey.
 
If it's a bristleworm, they are beneficial and harmless. Keep in mind that it didn't get that big overnight. [smilie=smile.gif]

Cheers,
 
I've never seen nor heard of any attcaking "Live" fish or inverts. They are benificial scavengers, most of us have them... whether we see them or not.. they're there.
 
If it is a bristle worm no they should not attack animals. But if it is like the ine frank posted get it out.


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Any advise on how to remove the large bristleworm?

The green "Trapem" tube trap which I have used years ago seems to been too small for this dude. The worm seems as big around as the trap, as I recall it's size.
 
The regular old bristleworm is harmless, but worms that eat fish or coral are not. Research Eunice worms or Bobbit worms. There are some pics that will literally make you cringe. About the only way to remove the bad worms seems to be by force, some have had to break rocks apart, I personally would start out by squirting it with Hydrogen peroxide or Kalk. Sometimes you can disorient the worm enough he will just come right out of the rock. Really depends on where he is and what kind of setup/tank size/other inhabitants. Can you remove the rock he is in?
 
If you take a 2 liter bottle put food in the back of the bottle stick it by his opening wait for him to go in. Also if he is all the way in and still in the rock. I have used a tool grabber. The things with 3 metal claw like fingers. Make sure you get one that is longer and that has a good grip. If he breaks off that is ok for now. At least you got a good chunk out. But he will regrow a head so ive heard. Just wait a month or so see if he is back.


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The worm in the video is a Eunicid worm, you can see the tentacles (not bristles) on its head.

Eunicid
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Large, harmless bristle worm that sounds like yours. Notice the lack of tentacles on it's head, just has bristles.
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That's a baby to the pics I have seen, very nice pics though. Is this yours, I would like to post some pics but don't know the rules around here all that well.
 
Thanks, all of those pics were from my old tank I had years ago. I also had a pink bristleworm the same size as that green one. I have both pink & green in my current tank, some running about 6".

The Eunicid I actually intentionally purchased, but I purchased a "medusa worm" which is actually a type of cucumber...that was what they sent me (yes, it was very small). So I put a predator in my tank not knowing it was a predator at the time! I didn't find it when I broke the tank down, nor did I have any mysterious livestock or coral deaths, so I suspect it didn't live (lucky!).
 
The greenish grey Euncid worm in your pictures looks like mine. Such lovable looking creatures. Now....how do I get him out of there?
 
What is in the tank that the worm is in? Is the worm in a specific rock. Gotta know the playing field before you start this battle.
 
90 Gal reef, Worm came out from undenieth the rocks. It looked like he might be from a large rock on the bottom near the back wall.
 
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