Bobbit worm/Eunicidae ID and removal

[Noridin]

Hey everyone!

Pretty confident that this is a Bobbit worm/Eunicidae but I've only seen advice on how to get them out of rocks.

What would be the best way of getting out of of the sand bed? Hoping removing the sand isn't my only option.

No idea how long it is but it's about an 1/8 inch in diameter.

Thanks!

 

[James M]

Sorry for not helping but I want to wish you good luck...scary;Nailbiting

 

[KJ]

Polychaete Eunice.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rs/

 

[Noridin]

Polychaete Eunice.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rs/

Thanks, it was a good read but didn't have any capture advice. Any thoughts?

 

[KJ]

I am sorry I can`t give you any good advice how to capture the worm because I haven`t had any experience with that but you should be able to get lots of tips if you goggle how to capture a bobbit worm.

 

[egwich]

I just had this issue. Traps did not work because mine was almot 3 feet long. What I did is cut a piece of a shrimp cocktail in half, and put it underneath a small coffee mug inside the tank. Leave a tiny sliver open that only a worm that goes into the sand could grab. Turn off all the lights and by morning you'll see the sucker lurking out of his rock, and the other part of his body underneath the coffee mug eating. He won't see you because he's underneath the cup. You probably won't be able to grab the worm because it'll be too fast, but when you try to he'll hide back into his rock. Then you'll have to remove the rock. You can try a freshwater dip to have him run out but that didn't work for me. Had to break down the rock to make sure 100% I got him. Which I did.

 

[A Distinguished Axolotl]

That seems like quite the thing you've got in your tank!
To be honest, I've kind of wanted to set up a tank for a bobbit for sometime myself!
Both a cool animal, and plenty resilient to any of my bumbling errors.
Is it still in your tank?
If so, I wish you luck trying to get yours out though! I've heard they're quite the hardy things!

 

[reef lover]

A lot of these guys poping up lately...

 

[Dsnakes]

A lot of these guys poping up lately...

;Nailbiting I hate to ‘like’ this post, but I think you’re right. I hope I don’t get one!

 

[gar732]

Sorry no advice since I didn’t have sand in my tank but even if it’s behaving now it won’t for long. I lost a bounce shroom and multiple zoa frag/colonies to mine. Maybe it’d be a good excuse to upgrade? I caught a very small one that was munching on my frags, just in the right place at the right time. I never knew this one was in the tank. Found him after I took everything out of the tank and the water had cleared. It’s was over 1/2” in diameter.

 

[A Distinguished Axolotl]

Sorry no advice since I didn’t have sand in my tank but even if it’s behaving now it won’t for long. I lost a bounce shroom and multiple zoa frag/colonies to mine. Maybe it’d be a good excuse to upgrade? I caught a very small one that was munching on my frags, just in the right place at the right time. I never knew this one was in the tank. Found him after I took everything out of the tank and the water had cleared. It’s was over 1/2” in diameter.

That's quite a worm you've got there!

 

[Noridin]

Thanks for all the replies and advice. I've decided that I'm going to break down the tank and start it over. It was my first larger tank and I've learned quite a bit in the 2 years its been running so it's a good reason to change things up. I've been wanting an excuse to rescape anyway . I'll post some more pics if I can catch him intact and maybe I'll even set up a small tank for him for a little while.

 

[chris85]

Hang a Mouse trap attatched to a string so it cant pull it under the sand. Tie a piece of bait to the trigger. Good luck.

 

[Noridin]

Haven't done my breakdown yet but I got some additional footage of the bobbit.

 

[A Distinguished Axolotl]

Haven't done my breakdown yet but I got some additional footage of the bobbit.

Wow that's really cool
Catch it and put it in a tank if you can!

 

[Noridin]

Wow that's really cool
Catch it and put it in a tank if you can!

That's the plan, for a little while at least.

 

[Dancingmad]

Awesome - its tunneling right up against the glass? Shoot, that tank'd be my bobbit tank. A window into a bobbit lair! WooooooOOooOoo!

Thanks for sharing. If you want it gone, I hope it gets gone for ya.

 

[pbauec]

If you don't want to keep him please send him to me