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  #1  
Old 12/07/2007, 01:46 AM
mysterybox mysterybox is offline
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How do I remove a 4' Eunicid worm?

I have a 48 inch 55 gallon stony reef tank, and I've noticed that I had an Eunicid worm for sometime now. It's at least 4 feet long. I wasn't too worried at first, but lately my fish are all huddled up on the left front of my tank at night where only my clowns "slept". One of my chromis looks likes it's been in a fight. Tonight I noticed the worm (located deep inside a bottom rock on the right side) slithering all the way toward the left side (behind & underneath the rock of course!) where my fish are. I can't take the rocks apart due to a clam, & stony corals that are on the rocks above. Do you have any suggestions on how I can catch, kill, eliminate this creature?
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  #2  
Old 12/07/2007, 01:52 AM
burks burks is offline
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You could try baiting him into a bottle or something like that. Put some kind of food into the bottle (or whatever you want) and when the worm is mostly inside, just scoop him right out.

Or if you are brave enough scoop him with one hand and use the other hand to grab the rest of his body.

Not sure if it will work but it's all I could come up with.
  #3  
Old 12/07/2007, 08:38 AM
KErickson978 KErickson978 is offline
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cou could try one of those tongs for arranging plants and such. just grab t as close to the rock as possible when its extended as much as possible? you may have to modify the claw to grip the worm though. just an idea
  #4  
Old 12/07/2007, 08:44 AM
KErickson978 KErickson978 is offline
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you could try one of those tongs for arranging plants and such. just grab the worm as close to the rock as possible when its extended as much as possible? you may need to modify the claw to grip the worm though. (better... not all mistyped)
  #5  
Old 12/07/2007, 08:53 AM
luke33 luke33 is offline
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Definately take some sort of container, a long piece of pvc with an end cap on one end and put food in the very end, when he's all the way in it pull it out and take some pics for everyone ; )
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  #6  
Old 12/07/2007, 09:04 AM
dc dc is offline
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They are extremely fast. I've got 3 of the buggers in my tank. They've not killed fish, but are deadly for my snail population. I've tried several ways to catch one, but never have managed to. They never come all the way out of the rock and suck back in so fast. I've just accepted them as part of my tank, and buy more snails. Good luck.
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  #7  
Old 12/07/2007, 09:40 AM
bveselka bveselka is offline
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Read this...might help

I did not read the whole thread- the picture freaked me out though!!!! hopefully there is info here to help.


http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...en-US%26sa%3DN
  #8  
Old 12/07/2007, 05:09 PM
cardiffgiant cardiffgiant is offline
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That's the same thread I found. I used to have lots of small ones, but my 4 line wrasse took care of them. Now I just have 3-4 that are getting to the 5-8" size.

Not looking forward to 4 feet...
  #9  
Old 12/07/2007, 06:35 PM
Swanwillow Swanwillow is offline
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get a few buckets ready with tank water, and start ripping it apart. Sorry, but its gonna be the only way to do it. Take the stonies and clam out with their respective rocks, if need be have a friend help.
a 55 gallon tank isn't THAT big.
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my advice:walk away. do nothing.
til tomorrow.
if its still alive, it will hopefully be fine. If you do not see it, do not try to find it. it may be hiding. just LEAVE it alone
  #10  
Old 12/07/2007, 06:58 PM
fantastic4 fantastic4 is offline
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expect to catch the big one easy b taking down your tank, if you have small oness, they will hide in rock rock, if your very lucky, you will get em out by sifting the sand after all live rock out. Been there, done that!

Beware, if you have dsb, your anerobic zone will be zapped.
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  #11  
Old 12/07/2007, 11:14 PM
gastone gastone is offline
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If you get him out alive, I've been looking for a "sump monster" for my stock tank. Would you be willing to ship him to VA. I'd pay shipping of course?

GL

Garrett.
  #12  
Old 12/07/2007, 11:53 PM
mysterybox mysterybox is offline
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not sure...............can't promise...........It looks like he might be staying............hummm........I might try to grab him with long handled tongs, but then he might break off............?????
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  #13  
Old 12/08/2007, 12:52 AM
BodiBuilt BodiBuilt is offline
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I agree with the baited pvc pipe idea... you could make a pipe trap using several pieces inc. 45's &90's in order to achieve a suitable over all length and still fit it into your tank. A threaded cap @ the end to place the bait, and it's time for an "overnighter"
: )
  #14  
Old 12/08/2007, 02:20 AM
uscharalph uscharalph is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by gastone
If you get him out alive, I've been looking for a "sump monster" for my stock tank. Would you be willing to ship him to VA. I'd pay shipping of course?

GL

Garrett.
Sorry, that just made me laugh. LOL!!!
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  #15  
Old 12/08/2007, 02:44 AM
melev melev is offline
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I think you should hire Steve Weast to pull it out. After all, he pulled a monster out of his reef years ago, and documented it on his site:

www.oregonreef.com
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  #16  
Old 12/08/2007, 02:57 AM
pledosophy pledosophy is offline
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If he's hangs out in just one rock, as mine mainly did, pull the rock. (wear gloves that come up to the elbow, mine were to short, to many stings and a lot to explain to people)

Drop the rock in a bucket that contains a salinity of about 1.040. The worm will flee the rock, the bacteria will be in tact, the rock can be returned to the tank.

Once removed put the thing in a plastic bag and seal it up nice. They smell horrible after a couple of days. Really.
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  #17  
Old 12/08/2007, 09:10 AM
gastone gastone is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by uscharalph
Sorry, that just made me laugh. LOL!!!

I've always wanted a huge worm for my sump. I can't tell my girlfriend though... I think I'd be single in a hurry if she found out about anything so ugly.
 

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