Let’s talk trapping Eunice Worms

[PolypPocket]

I need help catching two eunice worms that I’ve been unsuccessfully trying to trap for over a week. At first I didn’t even know they were there, then I noticed them eating my macro algae of all things. Like I actually witnessed it after lights out. Every day I’d see more algae stuck in the holes where they live. Well now I’ve noticed some pieces of coral being stripped or chunks missing, the corals that are closest to the area they live in.



So far I tried a glass planaria trap with mysis for several days. The only thing I caught was a harmless tiny bristle worm. Plus I later learned they anchor in the holes and don’t completely leave so that wouldn’t have worked anyway.

So then I tried something AI suggested using pantyhose (so it would potentially get its fangs stuck and I could gently pull it out). Nothing. Last night I even tried macro algae in the nylons instead of just mysis or people shrimp, nope.

I’m at a loss, anyone have any tried and true methods for removal? They live in the biggest rock in the tank so taking it out really isn’t an option. All I’ve been able to do is move the macros and corals to the other side but that won’t last as a permanent solution.

 

[RobynR]

I had a massive one several years ago, and after that experience I vowed I’d never let one terrorize my tank again… this time I quarantined my rock and watched it like crazy, as soon as I knew each piece was crab/eunicid free, it went into a new bin.

When I finally saw one, I tried to coax it out, but in the end, I had to smash the rock to remove it, but I got it, and no sign of any since I set the display up.

I think there may be one in one of my newer pieces of rock still in quarantine, but I haven’t had time to really assess it.

 

[keagan]

Something used for a related species sold as fishing bait in my area is a PVC pipe (3" diameter) with stainless steel nails angled 45° towards a cap on the end with the bait in it. I tried to get chat GPT to make an image of the design but it didn't work very well. Basically you put some macro and a chunk of shrimp or fish inside the capped end and put the pvc over the hole when the worm tries backing out it gets impaled on the nails. You need really high quality stainless though or they'll rust quick. I've never tried it in an aquarium but it works well for "clam worms" a similar species that eats clams here.

 

[fish_collector]

You say taking out the rock isn't really an option. How big of a rock are we talking? The rock has to come out of the tank opening because you put it in there. Sometimes one is faced with choices that aren't convenient. If you are unsuccessful at trapping the worms, you can take out the rock and deal with it outside the tank, or live with the worms, those are your 2 options.

Maybe you could use an empty water bottle with a big piece of shrimp or something inside of it, placed far enough away that the worm would have to leave the hole to access the food, but you'd have to watch it and remove it once you have trapped it. I read that theyre not easily trapped.

 

[PolypPocket]

You say taking out the rock isn't really an option. How big of a rock are we talking? The rock has to come out of the tank opening because you put it in there. Sometimes one is faced with choices that aren't convenient. If you are unsuccessful at trapping the worms, you can take out the rock and deal with it outside the tank, or live with the worms, those are your 2 options.

Maybe you could use an empty water bottle with a big piece of shrimp or something inside of it, placed far enough away that the worm would have to leave the hole to access the food, but you'd have to watch it and remove it once you have trapped it. I read that theyre not easily trapped.

Yes physically I can remove the rock. What I mean is that it is a giant piece that is the main rock work in the aquarium with lots of life on it. I can’t just rip apart the whole scape and break it into pieces. That’s why I was hoping for other suggestions on trapping them.

 

[PolypPocket]

Something used for a related species sold as fishing bait in my area is a PVC pipe (3" diameter) with stainless steel nails angled 45° towards a cap on the end with the bait in it. I tried to get chat GPT to make an image of the design but it didn't work very well. Basically you put some macro and a chunk of shrimp or fish inside the capped end and put the pvc over the hole when the worm tries backing out it gets impaled on the nails. You need really high quality stainless though or they'll rust quick. I've never tried it in an aquarium but it works well for "clam worms" a similar species that eats clams here.

This sounds interesting, but I wonder if it only works on the giant adult ones? These are around 4-6” long and relatively thin. Still, I’m going to do some googling to see what I come up with. Thank you!

 

[keagan]

This sounds interesting, but I wonder if it only works on the giant adult ones? These are around 4-6” long and relatively thin. Still, I’m going to do some googling to see what I come up with. Thank you!

You can size it to the worms you have you basically want enough room that the worm can make it in not rubbing the nails when they go to back out they catch them. Good luck on your hunt!

 

[PolypPocket]

This sounds interesting, but I wonder if it only works on the giant adult ones? These are around 4-6” long and relatively thin. Still, I’m going to do some googling to see what I come up with. Thank you!

You can size it to the worms you have you basically want enough room that the worm can make it in not rubbing the nails when they go to back out they catch them. Good luck on your hunt!

Thanks so much!!

 

[RosieSkys]

Can you remove the rock and use a drill with a cutting bit to "core" the worm out. A more targeted approach? I've done this with other hard to reach pests before.

 

[fish_collector]

Yes physically I can remove the rock. What I mean is that it is a giant piece that is the main rock work in the aquarium with lots of life on it. I can’t just rip apart the whole scape and break it into pieces. That’s why I was hoping for other suggestions on trapping them.

I knew what you meant , everyone always says taking rocks out isn't an option but what they really mean is they just don't want to. All hobbyists have disassembled their rockwork against their will at one point in time. Is your rock from TBS? I hear it's common to get large worms from the gulf sometimes. Don't sweat it you'll get it figured out.

 

[fish_collector]

Can you remove the rock and use a drill with a cutting bit to "core" the worm out. A more targeted approach? I've done this with other hard to reach pests before.

Or stuff some marine epoxy into the hole and entomb it

 

[PolypPocket]

Can you remove the rock and use a drill with a cutting bit to "core" the worm out. A more targeted approach? I've done this with other hard to reach pests before.

I probably could do that, and it’s preferable to breaking it all apart. Good idea thank you!

I’ve been reading about trying seltzer water to flush them out and I wonder if that could be tried either before doing any drilling or in addition to doing it (like say if it goes deep into the rock). If I end up having to remove the rock I could set up a bucket so it doesn’t dry out completely and kill everything. Then try possibly drilling and/or using the seltzer water trick.

I will try this (below) in tank first and if it doesn’t work I think your plan may be the next step.

 

[PolypPocket]

Yes physically I can remove the rock. What I mean is that it is a giant piece that is the main rock work in the aquarium with lots of life on it. I can’t just rip apart the whole scape and break it into pieces. That’s why I was hoping for other suggestions on trapping them.

I knew what you meant , everyone always says taking rocks out isn't an option but what they really mean is they just don't want to. All hobbyists have disassembled their rockwork against their will at one point in time. Is your rock from TBS? I hear it's common to get large worms from the gulf sometimes. Don't sweat it you'll get it figured out.

Yeah it’s not really fun to take it out and completely redo everything, but more than anything I’d prefer not to break it apart. But then again if nothing else works I may have to, unless the worms are the only pets I want

And yeah from TBS…awesome rock with lots of cool hitchhikers. Just unfortunately a couple of undesirable ones too

 

[PolypPocket]

Can you remove the rock and use a drill with a cutting bit to "core" the worm out. A more targeted approach? I've done this with other hard to reach pests before.

Or stuff some marine epoxy into the hole and entomb it

You know if there weren’t 8 bazillion holes I’d sooooo do that lol, but I think if I were to try it would just find an escape route

 

[DmitryB]

I'm just spitballing, what about something like Joe's Juice? Would a worm object to that?

 

[KrisReef]

Put the rock in a bucket filled with club soda. After the worm exits you can add gin and celebrate your fishing success.

 

[burner7]

I had to sacrifice my rock. Luckily mine was just a small piece of TBS live rock. I kept seeing a big one pop out of it. It had the 5 antennas so I knew it had to go. Bait trap didn't work, too fast for my tweezers, and turkey baster did nothing. Once I knew I was just gonna pull the rock out I decided to dip it in Coral Rx just to see if I could get the worm to come out. Turns out there were five of them in that one rock.

 

[PolypPocket]

I'm just spitballing, what about something like Joe's Juice? Would a worm object to that?

I actually tried that today lol, I squirted it the hole I think it lives in but I didn’t see it come out anywhere else so idk, probably ate it like candy and laughed at my efforts

 

[PolypPocket]

Put the rock in a bucket filled with club soda. After the worm exits you can add gin and celebrate your fishing success.

I’m thinking that may be what I have to do

 

[PolypPocket]

I had to sacrifice my rock. Luckily mine was just a small piece of TBS live rock. I kept seeing a big one pop out of it. It had the 5 antennas so I knew it had to go. Bait trap didn't work, too fast for my tweezers, and turkey baster did nothing. Once I knew I was just gonna pull the rock out I decided to dip it in Coral Rx just to see if I could get the worm to come out. Turns out there were five of them in that one rock.

Looks like the kind I have only smaller