WTH is this in my tank?? [Archive] - Reef Central Online Community Archives

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Idyfohu

09/08/2006, 08:05 PM

I got some live rock from a local enthusiast and last night after my timer turned my lights off, I decided to turn on my light for a few moments. Lo and behold I see some purple tentacle looking things poking out of a rock...slowly this creature continues to slide out and out and out and out and the result is/was a worm thing over 12" in length. What is this?? Is it bad? Worth much money? Any info is appreciated as it was and still is shocking/creepy!

It's completely purple despite the pictures...dark purple!

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/8465/img2256gc0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/4747/img2258fd2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/4426/img2260oa2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Kent E

09/08/2006, 08:25 PM

It may be a euclid worm but I'm not one of those crazy worm people. If that correct, its bad, very bad. You may want to check this out oregonreef.com . He had a slight worm problem.

graveyardworm

09/08/2006, 09:39 PM

http://reefcentral.com/images/welcome.gif

Kent, I believe you meant to say Eunice worm, I agree. You can find some info on them here (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rs/index.php)

Idyfohu

09/08/2006, 10:05 PM

Great!

It's nasty and huge...

Since I want to get it out of my tank...who would want something like this anyways...what is the best method of catching this thing? With a net? Help!!!

graveyardworm

09/08/2006, 10:08 PM

You could try a local university or college they may be interested if you cant find a home with another reefer.

spoonerville

09/09/2006, 12:58 AM

if you know which rock it's in, take the rock out and do a freshwater dip for a few mins..it would usually come out...then grab it..and do with it whatever you want :D

kmk2307

09/09/2006, 12:27 PM

An invertebrate zoology course (like mine!) would love to have that specimen. We preserve them in formalin and then store them in ethanol for students to use when studying that group. If you would be willing to donate it, please PM me.

LeslieH

09/09/2006, 01:17 PM

Kent, I believe you meant to say "one of those wonderful worm people"...... ;)

Just to confirm, it is a polychaete in the family Eunicidae probably in the genus Eunice, and at that size it's capable of doing a lot of damage to your critters.

09/09/2006, 05:46 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8110323#post8110323 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LeslieH
Kent, I believe you meant to say "one of those wonderful worm people"...... ;)

Just to confirm, it is a polychaete in the family Eunicidae probably in the genus Eunice, and at that size it's capable of doing a lot of damage to your critters.

:lol: Beauty is definately in the eye of the beholder.

I could probably have a tank of 'bugs' and be happy.

55semireef

09/10/2006, 04:13 PM

OMG that is freaky. What was your reaction when you saw it at first glance? BTW, GET IT OUT. :)

venwu225

09/10/2006, 05:35 PM

I will provide a great home for it and not just perserve it for studying!!

Please let me have it and keep it ALIVE!!

They are actually very delicate animals, so you would want to use a net to CAREFULLY and GENTLELY remove the worm. Or it may break into pieces.

Is it hinding in the rock work now? Or do you have it isolated?

I will pay shipping of course.

thanks

55semireef

09/10/2006, 05:37 PM

Idyfohu

09/10/2006, 08:01 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8117271#post8117271 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by venwu225
I will provide a great home for it and not just perserve it for studying!!

Please let me have it and keep it ALIVE!!

They are actually very delicate animals, so you would want to use a net to CAREFULLY and GENTLELY remove the worm. Or it may break into pieces.

Is it hinding in the rock work now? Or do you have it isolated?

I will pay shipping of course.

thanks

My initial reaction was *** is that thing? Yah...there is no doubt about it that the worm is creepy, especially when you know that you handled the rock with bare hands before hand with no idea that that creature was lurking inside of the rock.

I have no idea where it is now, I assume it's in a rock and I've been checking at night to see where it is at. I'll try to be careful, but I just want it out of my tank...if I break it, although some might be mad, I don't care too much as long as it's out.

Once/If I get the SOB out then I will definitely post updated pictures and the process.

venwu225

09/11/2006, 03:24 AM

they can't hurt you really. they have a pair of jaws and at worst will give you a tiny pinch.

55semireef

09/11/2006, 05:36 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8120171#post8120171 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by venwu225
they can't hurt you really. they have a pair of jaws and at worst will give you a tiny pinch.

yeah but that would still fream me out. I mean a cockroach can't hurt you but if one crawled on you, you would jump. :lol:

venwu225

09/12/2006, 12:08 AM

don't be a wuss. : P

boomsticks

09/12/2006, 11:42 AM

Cocka-Roaches in live rock!?! YAAAAAAAAAAHH!

mr. bojangsjang

09/12/2006, 04:39 PM

Odd question, but are those the things you find when you dig in the sand at the beach? When I was little I always went to hampton beach in new hampshire and dig really deep holes in the sand, and when you dug deep enough i would always find worm things that looked like that.

graveyardworm

09/12/2006, 04:56 PM

I love Hampton beach, I spend as much time on the coast as I can. I belive they are the same family, but obviously one is tropical and the other is temperate. They make good fish bait just watch out for the pincers.

55semireef

09/12/2006, 08:16 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8129150#post8129150 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boomsticks
Cocka-Roaches in live rock!?! YAAAAAAAAAAHH!

No not in the liverock. I was just talking about in general.

rekn

09/12/2006, 09:56 PM

do you have a pic of it? ive been tinkering with the idea of a eunicid tank and if it actually is a eunicid id take it off your hands

55semireef

09/13/2006, 05:24 PM

kmk2307

09/13/2006, 07:06 PM

If someone wants to keep it alive as a pet I'm all for it. I just didn't want to see it go to waste down the drain.

Kevin

rekn

09/13/2006, 07:08 PM

i had a science teacher who had a head of one in a jar, ever since then ive wanted one alive heh and yes it would be a pet in a species tank, probably next to my peacock mantis =)

55semireef

09/13/2006, 07:30 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8139841#post8139841 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kmk2307
If someone wants to keep it alive as a pet I'm all for it. I just didn't want to see it go to waste down the drain.

Kevin

I agree.

55semireef

09/13/2006, 07:31 PM

BTW, in the third picture, I see an orange bristleworm.

boomsticks

09/14/2006, 08:07 AM

The ones found at Rye/Hampton beach are called "clam worms" and they look very similar to the one in the picture except they are blueish green and have "paddles" instead of bristles. I had one in my Lobster tank for a while but either the flounder or the lobster ate him.

graveyardworm

09/14/2006, 01:06 PM

Another NH reefer. :) I usually just call them sand worms. I never noticed paddles on the ones I fish with, just soft hair-like appendages.

venwu225

09/15/2006, 02:12 AM

Any news on locating the worm? : D

TellyFish

09/15/2006, 02:33 AM

Anyone know if the Palolo-Eunice worms are ok to leave in the tank? I have one that is a cool purple and bright orange tentacles... but do they get as big and dangerous as the fat/black regular eunice worms?

Idyfohu

09/19/2006, 01:01 AM

No luck yet...

I have an inkling (sp?) that it's in my sump with my bioballs.

What's the bidding up to now? :)

venwu225

09/19/2006, 11:13 AM

what bidding?

I have first dibs right?