Worm Help

[ShakyJay]

So took a rock up to the local fish store and found something interesting in it. After fragging off a couple of corals I picked the rock up and out fell two six inch worms. I know pictures help but unfortunetly I did not get any. They look like the "***** eating worm" with the mean looking antenae on the head. They were dark red in color and about six inches long. Does anybody know what these are, or have they had any experience with them? Do they pose any threat to my corals? I have not seen them other than this time, but being as how there were two in one rock has me a little concerned.
http://www.cryptomundo.com/wp-content/uploads/worm2.jpg
It looked just like this but it wasn't 4' long. We put them in a tank to feed some puffers up there, and they wiggled like heck on the way down, did some fierce thrashing in the water, once they hit the sand, they burrowed down in it.

 

[softiegirl]

those are bobbit worms. dont think theyre harmful to corals, but they are notorious fish eaters! they will also kill shrimp, crabs... anything that grazes their tentacles. they grow huge, saw a thread recently where someone pulled a 6 footer out of a 46 bowfront.

 

[ShakyJay]

Anybody know of a way to get rid of them without killing any of the other "good" creatures? Don't want them to eat anything in my tank

 

[Salt Water Crazy]

those are bobbit worms. dont think theyre harmful to corals, but they are notorious fish eaters! they will also kill shrimp, crabs... anything that grazes their tentacles. they grow huge, saw a thread recently where someone pulled a 6 footer out of a 46 bowfront.

Yes they will eat corals..

 

[ShakyJay]

Yes they will eat corals..

HOLY CRAP...what can I do???????

 

[Salt Water Crazy]

HOLY CRAP...what can I do???????

Soft and fleshy corals are the only corals I have read that they will eat. They don't touch sps so much from my understanding. These worms come in on Fiji rock most of the time. I would try to find the rock it is in and pull the rock out of the tank.

 

[ShakyJay]

Soft and fleshy corals are the only corals I have read that they will eat. They don't touch sps so much from my understanding. These worms come in on Fiji rock most of the time. I would try to find the rock it is in and pull the rock out of the tank.

That sucks...all I have is LPS and zoo's...One of the rocks I pulled out had two in there...I have not seen them anywhere else in the tank but I don't know that they are all gone, just wanted to stop anything before it gets too late. Ya know.

 

[softiegirl]

and theyre like earthworms, if you pull on one and it breaks, it will regenerate into two.

 

[nayrgaijin]

After the fell to the bottom of the tank they just opened their mouths up and boy oh boy were they scary looking !

I never want to put my hand in your tank again Jason..... Never ! haha

 

[iceman0124]

and theyre like earthworms, if you pull on one and it breaks, it will regenerate into two.

Earthworm dont regenerate, both halves usually die, one always does, they just die slowly hence the misconeption

"That being said, there are a few myths that need to be cleared up. First, worms can not be cut in half, and grow into two new worms. If a worm is cut in half well below the citellum, it is possible for it to grow a new tail, but the tail section can not grow a new head. "


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The same applies to most if not all complex reef worms