Eunice Worm?
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Topic: Eunice Worm?
Posted By: jcom
Subject: Eunice Worm?
Date Posted: January 02 2010 at 12:36pm
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Another day, another "big" surprise from the tank. I think I'm getting a multitude of challenges thrown at me all at once to test my fortitude for this hobby (Bryopsis, trachyphillia was dying but has come back thanks to feedback from you guys, and now this). I was up pretty late last night and decided to do an inspection of the tank with an LED flashlight and what I saw made my stomach curl. There was a 10 - 12 inch, multi-legged worm (looked like a large centipede) crawling on the underside of one of the bigger rocks. It was moving very slowly at first, but it seemed like once it noticed the light, it started crawling faster. It was hard to tell where it was going, but I finally spotted it crawling into a very small hole. I didn't know what it was, but my initial instinct was not good, I had a very bad feeling. Of course I had to jump right on the computer and start researching my find. Sure enough, it appears as though it is a Eunice worm, and of course it's a known coral and fish eater. There are many accounts of these things eating SPS, Zooanthinds, Chalice, gobies, etc. etc. And, of course, they are a pain it the butt to catch....worm traps are supposedly useless and they are not easily enticed by pieces of raw fish or shrimp meat. Most of the successful catches I read about involved staying up until 2 or 3am with a red LED light and were usually the smaller ones (4 - 5 inches) luckily snagged with tweezers or tongs. The bigger ones seemed to require a complete strip of the tank and busting up of the live rock. There's a chance it's still in the big rock I saw it crawl into, but it may have move again during the night.
SIGH.......
Anyone had experience with these lovely creatures?
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Replies:
Posted By: jcom
Date Posted: January 02 2010 at 1:02pm
| Upon further reading and looking at pics, it may have been a bristle worm. Most Eunice or Eunicid worm pictures appear to be darker colored than what I saw. I sure hope that's what it is. I should have grabbed the video camera last night, but I was too busy trying to pick my jaw up off the ground. |
Posted By: bfessler
Date Posted: January 02 2010 at 1:27pm
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It was probably a bristle worm. They can get pretty big but most people think they are actually good for the tank as long as there aren't too many of them. I have watched some of these worms go in one small hole in my rock work and then out another and back in again almost like weaving itself through the rock.
I wouldn't worry about it unless your fish or coral start coming up missing. ------------- Burt An equal opportunity reefer, I support all hobbyists and organizations involved in Marine Aquarium Keeping. [email protected] |
Posted By: jcom
Date Posted: January 02 2010 at 1:52pm
| Thanks Burt, it helps put my mind at ease. I'll try to shoot some vid if I see it again. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: January 02 2010 at 9:14pm
 The only valid information you will find is right here on this MB.
I'm surprised that you have not seen Bristleworms before. Bristleworms are actually very easy to catch and quite fun too. Look on Burts Quick Reference thread for the link to the good thread about it. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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