Please ID Large Worm

[TD1260]

Found a 3 to 4 inch worm, crawling on top of the sand in a tank that I am cycling used reef rock in. The worm seems to have been in a spot where a dead Bristel was and I no longer see the Bristel worm carcass… maybe it ate it? It does not look anything like the other Bristel worms I have seen in my tank. It has a little pony spines, running the length of its body that look almost like tiny little legs. It also has little whiskers near the front of the head.

 

[TD1260]

@BristleWormHater thought?

 

[fishywishy]

I dont know exactly what what type of worm it is but it looks bad.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Found a 3 to 4 inch worm, crawling on top of the sand in a tank that I am cycling used reef rock in. The worm seems to have been in a spot where a dead Bristel was and I no longer see the Bristel worm carcass… maybe it ate it? It does not look anything like the other Bristel worms I have seen in my tank. It has a little pony spines, running the length of its body that look almost like tiny little legs. It also has little whiskers near the front of the head.

The face suggests fireworm but too can be bristleworm. I dont desire either in my tanks but many regard them as cleaner crew as they eat uneaten food and detritus

 

[cdemoss01]

Almost looks like a bobbit worm... But usually bobbit worms stick out of the sand etc. Can you get us a picture of under?

 

[TD1260]

Almost looks like a bobbit worm... But usually bobbit worms stick out of the sand etc. Can you get us a picture of under?

Flip it?

 

[cdemoss01]

Flip it?

Yeah my bad.

 

[cdemoss01]

F

The face suggests fireworm but too can be bristleworm. I dont desire either in my tanks but many regard them as cleaner crew as they eat uneaten food and detritus

Fireworms would have fuzzy sides, like big poofy fire fuzz... kind of like this

 

[TD1260]

F

Fireworms would have fuzzy sides, like big poofy fire fuzz... kind of like this

100% no fuzz…the bristles I had were fuzzy. This is different

 

[vetteguy53081]

Almost looks like a bobbit worm... But usually bobbit worms stick out of the sand etc. Can you get us a picture of under?

Bobbits also dwell within rocks and shells, not just stick head out of sand. Juvenile fireworms dont have the frillies yet which steers me towards bristleworm

 

[TD1260]

Yeah my bad.

 

[cdemoss01]

100% no fuzz…the bristles I had were fuzzy. This is different

Bobbit worm possibly. But I'm no worm expert, trying to learn all the pests so I can become a professional Ider. Personally think there should be a badge called, Id master or something..

 

[TD1260]

Another pic

 

[cdemoss01]

Its not dead is it? Wouldn't wanna put it in more pain then what it might already be in... Why not put some macroalgae and some sand in a jar and make a ecosphere LOL!

 

[TD1260]

Its not dead is it? Wouldn't wanna put it in more pain then what it might already be in... Why not put some macroalgae and some sand in a jar and make a ecosphere LOL!

In water rn

 

[TD1260]

 

[cdemoss01]

Another pic

Definitely looks like a bobbit worm... THEY ARE NIGHTMARES they will pray on small fish and kill lots... But they are cool. If not a bobbit worm then a bristle worm.. if not the poisonous type I wouldn't worry if it was bristle. However seeing its size it looks like a bobbit.

 

[cdemoss01]

Awesome pictures. Based on the head those "whiskers" look like a bristleworm type of deal here.

 

[cdemoss01]

But also Bobbit worms have the same type of head. That's your answer bristle or bobbit. Does it have obvious bristles?

 

[TD1260]

But also Bobbit worms have the same type of head. That's your answer bristle or bobbit. Does it have obvious bristles?

The first four after the head seemed like little legs, but then they mostly go into pointed triangles down the rest of the body it seems like