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WHOA! Just spotted a huge freaky looking worm in my reef!!!

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Andy The Reef Guy, Sep 30, 2011.

  1. Andy The Reef Guy

    Andy The Reef Guy Inactive User

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    +0 / 0 / -0
    That son of a ***** was fast and strong too!!!!!! I'm freakin out a little bit. Gave me the hibie-jebies big time!
    So my RBTA's have their tentacles all elongated trying to grab food particles, so I figure, I'll feed them each a silverside so they don't bother the corals around them. In the frag tank, there is a couple, and I come back 30 minutes later, and there is a yellow looking worm about 4mm in diameter and I'm guessing 15cm long! Maybe longer! I whip out a pair of tweezers and grab him, put a hell of a pinch on him and he slides powerfully and easily out of my grip and zips halfway across the tank ~16" into a large rock. I get a second grip on him, but it's too late, most of his body is in the rock, I pull and try to wrap his body around the tweezers for extra leverage, and zip....he's gone. I have no idea what this thing is! Freaky as hell!
    I'll keep ya updated!
     
  2. phishcrazee Experienced Reefkeeper

    Riverside
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    +0 / 0 / -0
    Peanut worm?
    LINK
     
  3. PotRoast

    PotRoast Well-Known ReefKeeper

    999
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    +24 / 0 / -0
    I pulled out an 18" bristle worm from my overflow last week. I sucked it out with a shop vac and it clogged up the end of my nozzle! Scared the living **** out of me. It was also still alive an hour later in my sink filled with regular water....

     
  4. Maureen Experienced Reefkeeper

    Urbandale, IA
    Ratings:
    +329 / 0 / -0
    I am thinking one of those hand blenders could come in handy! : ) I am with you, I would be freaked out too!
     
  5. Andy The Reef Guy

    Andy The Reef Guy Inactive User

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    no...I don't think it was the peanut worm. It was yellow though. Looked more like this one:
    [​IMG]
    I can find this picture in google images but I can't find any dialog about them. Is this just some type of bristle worm?
    Jim you didn't take a picture of that thing!? Sounds crazy. Yeah I think we all get a little uncomfortable in our skin with these things!
     
  6. crabbyo

    crabbyo

    191
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    I'd be keeping a baseball bat alongside the bed at night!!
     
  7. mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchworms.html
     
  8. PotRoast

    PotRoast Well-Known ReefKeeper

    999
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    +24 / 0 / -0
    That is exactly the worm I had in my tank too!

    I was going to take a picture but I got too busy doing other tank chores and after awhile I got sick looking at it and chopped it in the garbage disposal.
     
  9. bobsfish

    bobsfish Experienced Reefkeeper

    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    I'm creeped out and it's not even in my tank !!  /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/crying.gif
     
  10. Jag3365

    Jag3365

    43
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    Thanks mthomp....now I can't sleep at night!!!
     
  11. clown man Well-Known ReefKeeper

    685
    Iowa city,iowa
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    +29 / 2 / -0
    I have 2 in my tank.. from my understanding they don't hurt anything.....You will see them most when you are feeding...6 Lines should keep them in control...
     
  12. Andy The Reef Guy

    Andy The Reef Guy Inactive User

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    There's no way a six line can eat this thing. I have a 5 yo sixline that is 3" and he's dwarfed by the size of this worm! lol
     
  13. Andy The Reef Guy

    Andy The Reef Guy Inactive User

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    That hitchhikers guide is really sweet! Now I just really want to catch the damn thing so I can ID it!
     
  14. ruggerkc Experienced Reefkeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    North Liberty , IA
    Ratings:
    +183 / 3 / -0
    I am going to strat wearring my gloves again.
     
  15. mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    it is probably just your common bristle worm Andy. I have seen them near 2ft before.[should be easy enough to trap.
     
  16. Shaun

    Shaun Inactive User

    711
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    If you wait till lights out and put a peice of silverside in a clip that may bring it out so you can get another shot at catching it. Shaun
     
  17. Andy The Reef Guy

    Andy The Reef Guy Inactive User

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    GOT HIM!!!!!! or maybe just one of them. This one doesn't look as big, maybe 5-6" max, or maybe my imagination was just running away with it. Maybe there are more in there ughhhhhhhhh!!! Here ya go:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Damn I love this lens! Let's take a crack and figuring out what the hell he is huh guys?
     
  18. Sponge Expert Reefkeeper Vendor

    Marshalltown, IA
    Ratings:
    +233 / 1 / -0
    Check this out Andy: http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchworms.html
     
  19. Sponge Expert Reefkeeper Vendor

    Marshalltown, IA
    Ratings:
    +233 / 1 / -0
    Hopefully it is "not" the hermodice carunulata!
     
  20. Andy The Reef Guy

    Andy The Reef Guy Inactive User

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    I just realized that the bastard stung me or something. I grabbed him with my fingers and the tips of my fingers are literally black and blue. I can actually see segment pattern in the bruise. You have no idea how hard it is to take a picture of your own index finger and thumb; The bruising looks much worse than shown;
    [​IMG]
     

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