Please ID Large Worm

[TD1260]

Id reccomend problably throwing it in the sump, making an ecosphere or kill it

Fiancé loaned her phone

 

[TD1260]

Do you want bristle worms or not? Your worm looks far more to me like a eunicid worm, which is very risky to leave in the tank. The only reason I can come up with keeping the worm you pulled is if you think it is a bristle worm and want bristle worms, or you want to put it in its own species tank to grow it out and see what it is.

I have no interest in keeping it, just knowing what I’m dealing with is my goal

 

[cdemoss01]

Do you want bristle worms or not? Your worm looks far more to me like a eunicid worm, which is very risky to leave in the tank. The only reason I can come up with keeping the worm you pulled is if you think it is a bristle worm and want bristle worms, or you want to put it in its own species tank to grow it out and see what it is.

Agreed. Species only tank like a small aqueon would be good, airstone and heater. Nothing too advanced and a couple dry rocks.

 

[cdemoss01]

Fiancé loaned her phone

Definintely looks like a eunice

 

[TD1260]

I have no interest in keeping it, just knowing what I’m dealing with is my goal

 

[cdemoss01]

Its big that's for sure.

 

[Soren]

I can't see the typical Bobbit worm jaws for sure in your pictures, but I'm pretty sure I've read that Bobbit worms are identifiable by 5 antennae on the head, which yours appears to have. Everything I see points to your ID of Eunicid/Bobbit worm.

If it is a Bobbit worm and you keep it in the tank, it will likely be very difficult to recapture once it starts eating fish, invertebrates, or even corals.

 

[cdemoss01]

I can't see the typical Bobbit worm jaws for sure in your pictures, but I'm pretty sure I've read that Bobbit worms are identifiable by 5 antennae on the head, which yours appears to have. Everything I see points to your ID of Eunicid/Bobbit worm.

If it is a Bobbit worm and you keep it in the tank, it will likely be very difficult to recapture once it starts eating fish, invertebrates, or even corals.

Agreed... id say a worm tank would be unique and pretty cool!

 

[TD1260]

Definintely looks like a eunice

So it could be a bobbit?

I can't see the typical Bobbit worm jaws for sure in your pictures, but I'm pretty sure I've read that Bobbit worms are identifiable by 5 antennae on the head, which yours appears to have. Everything I see points to your ID of Eunicid/Bobbit worm.

If it is a Bobbit worm and you keep it in the tank, it will likely be very difficult to recapture once it starts eating fish, invertebrates, or even corals.

what would your recommended treatment for the tank be in order to kill any others??

I have no fish, inverts or snails to worry about in the tank… I’m purely cycling. Live rock for a few months.

 

[Soren]

Its big that's for sure.

Yeah, but tiny now for how big Bobbit worms can grow! I've heard likely exaggerated reports of 15+ meters, but they certainly can grow meters long and maybe up to 2cm in diameter, which is big, to say the least.

 

[cdemoss01]

So it could be a bobbit?

what would your recommended treatment for the tank be in order to kill any others??

I have no fish, inverts or snails to worry about in the tank… I’m purely cycling. Live rock for a few months.

Well if its in there there could also be more pests... I'd love to keep it myself because I have an extra tank but I cant come get it so...

 

[TD1260]

Well if its in there there could also be more pests... I'd love to keep it myself because I have an extra tank but I cant come get it so...

There have definitely been more pest, but I’ve been having moderate luck at getting rid of or at least minimizing most of them. This was a new one for me tonight, so who knows what else could be there. But if there is a way to kill the Bobbit worms, I’m happy to go about that. Fenbendazole?

 

[cdemoss01]

Plus this tank is ten gallons, has a top and I have 10lbs of dry rock.

 

[Soren]

So it could be a bobbit?

what would your recommended treatment for the tank be in order to kill any others??

I have no fish, inverts or snails to worry about in the tank… I’m purely cycling. Live rock for a few months.

I don't know if there is a quick, complete eradication method that won't ruin your cycle, but observing your rocks over the next few months is one good method to watch for more. You may also try a low-salinity or freshwater dip, but make sure you know what you are doing before trying this so you don't kill your live rock.

 

[cdemoss01]

There have definitely been more pest, but I’ve been having moderate luck at getting rid of or at least minimizing most of them. This was a new one for me tonight, so who knows what else could be there. But if there is a way to kill the Bobbit worms, I’m happy to go about that. Fenbendazole?

Not sure... I will have to research treatments for worms too.

 

[cdemoss01]

I don't know if there is a quick, complete eradication method that won't ruin your cycle, but observing your rocks over the next few months is one good method to watch for more. You may also try a low-salinity or freshwater dip, but make sure you know what you are doing before trying this so you don't kill your live rock.

Agreed. You could also just bag it up and ship it off! LOL D

 

[Soren]

There have definitely been more pest, but I’ve been having moderate luck at getting rid of or at least minimizing most of them. This was a new one for me tonight, so who knows what else could be there. But if there is a way to kill the Bobbit worms, I’m happy to go about that. Fenbendazole?

Fenbendazole might work, but it is also likely harmful to other things that you may want from your live rock. It depends on what you want to risk or the benefits you want from your live rock.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I agree that this definitely looks more like a eunice worm ("Bobbit" is one type), and these are sometimes harmless (not Bobbit, which are bad!), but can also endanger fish, invertebrates, and coral.

If I were you, I would not risk it. Though bristleworms are typically harmless clean-up crew (unless you touch the bristles), there are easier ways to get them if you want them (almost guaranteed in the average reef tank) than to risk what looks more like a eunice worm.

Agree, while trying to I.d this critter, it should remain out of tank and when unknown Discard it in my case.

 

[cdemoss01]

For some reason I feel bad for the little thing... I honestly wanna just kept it myself at this point haha!

 

[cdemoss01]

Agree, while trying to I.d this critter, it should remain out of tank and when unknown Discard it in my case.

Agreed