I don't have a pic of this because the damn thing moves so fast and it is tucked away in the center back of my tank. But I am POSITIVE it is a Bobbit Worm, and it is about 7 inches long (conservative estimate since it never comes entirely out of its burrow).
I have gotten mixed information on the nature of this beastie. Some sources say it is predatory and it will attack and kill fish up to 4 inches, others say it is harmless and a good scavenger of carrion.
FACT: About a month ago we introduced 6 cardinals to our newly established 75g. All water parameters were perfect but one by one the fish were found in the bottom of the tank dead, over the course of a week. We assumed something was wrong with the water so we brought the carcasses back to the store and had them test our water. The water checked out but no answer as to why the fish died. We just assumed they were bad stock or there was some unknown factor related to the water in the tank.
HOWEVER, the other inhabitants that we introduced at the same time were fine, and to date are still alive and thriving. Purple spiny lobster, boxer crab with anenomes, blood shrimp and cleaner shrimp. Plus we have a spontaneous explosion of mysis shrimp and scuds all over the tank. With no fish to prey on them it is like we are running a refugium. No corals yet either. We know that invertebrates tend to have a harder time acclimating to a tank, so this problem perplexed us. Why did the fish die but not the inverts?
Then about 2 weeks ago we saw this freak worm crawl out of a chunk of live rock. Ah ha. And it actually attacks some of these tiny mysis that swim by its gross jaws.
So here is my question: WHAT DO I DO?
Do we extract it? Leave it? And if we try to remove it how? The piece of live rock is huge and it currently houses a beautiful feather duster worm that hitchhiked in. It is also encrusted with the most gorgeous purple coraline algae, the largest colony in the tank. I don't want to kill off the good biology in the rock in order to get this thing...so what do I do?
Your suggestions/experience is greatly appreciated.:irked:
I have gotten mixed information on the nature of this beastie. Some sources say it is predatory and it will attack and kill fish up to 4 inches, others say it is harmless and a good scavenger of carrion.
FACT: About a month ago we introduced 6 cardinals to our newly established 75g. All water parameters were perfect but one by one the fish were found in the bottom of the tank dead, over the course of a week. We assumed something was wrong with the water so we brought the carcasses back to the store and had them test our water. The water checked out but no answer as to why the fish died. We just assumed they were bad stock or there was some unknown factor related to the water in the tank.
HOWEVER, the other inhabitants that we introduced at the same time were fine, and to date are still alive and thriving. Purple spiny lobster, boxer crab with anenomes, blood shrimp and cleaner shrimp. Plus we have a spontaneous explosion of mysis shrimp and scuds all over the tank. With no fish to prey on them it is like we are running a refugium. No corals yet either. We know that invertebrates tend to have a harder time acclimating to a tank, so this problem perplexed us. Why did the fish die but not the inverts?
Then about 2 weeks ago we saw this freak worm crawl out of a chunk of live rock. Ah ha. And it actually attacks some of these tiny mysis that swim by its gross jaws.
So here is my question: WHAT DO I DO?
Do we extract it? Leave it? And if we try to remove it how? The piece of live rock is huge and it currently houses a beautiful feather duster worm that hitchhiked in. It is also encrusted with the most gorgeous purple coraline algae, the largest colony in the tank. I don't want to kill off the good biology in the rock in order to get this thing...so what do I do?
Your suggestions/experience is greatly appreciated.:irked:
:shocked:
