Eunicid worm?

Kimberely · Oct 28, 2018

Something has been irritating my 2 biggest zoa colonies. Most of them are staying small and closed up when they used to be big and beautiful. They've been looking that way ever since I moved them into the new tank and I thought it was a lighting issue. So I decided to move them to a different location last night. When I lifted the colony rock I saw the tail end of a worm disappearing into the rock underneath them. I didn't have time to get a picture but it was small, grey, with a segmented body and lots of legs like a centipede. This picture was the closest I could find online but I'm unsure because I didn't see it's head. The tank was started with mostly dry rock but I seeded it with live rock from our LFS's sump. Am I correct in thinking eunicid? And how do I catch it?

HotRocks · Oct 28, 2018

@KJ what are your thoughts here?

KJ · Oct 28, 2018

Don't look like Polychaete Eunice from the pic.

Kimberely · Oct 28, 2018

KJ said:
Don't look like Polychaete Eunice from the pic.

Some type of bristle worm then? Any suggestions on how to catch it so I can get a positive id?

KJ · Oct 28, 2018

I like to see picture the worm from you aquarium it's is possible?

Kimberely · Oct 28, 2018

KJ said:
I like to see picture the worm from you aquarium it's is possible?

It was to fast to get a picture. I'll have to figure out some way to get it out of the rock first. I'll pull the rock it was on and submerge it in freshwater I guess. Maybe that will drive him out.

KJ · Oct 28, 2018

Kimberely said:
It was to fast to get a picture. I'll have to figure out some way to get it out of the rock first. I'll pull the rock it was on and submerge it in freshwater I guess. Maybe that will drive him out.

Google Syllid Worm.

Kimberely · Oct 28, 2018

KJ said:
Google Syllid Worm.

I googled it and it's similar but not quite right. Since the rock it was on is small, I just pulled it out and submerged it in scalding hot freshwater. I'm going to do my best to kill it regardless of what it is. Hoping it's still in the same rock. I didn't see all of the worm but it looked very small. I also found two asterina stars on it when I lifted it out. Maybe they're what is irritating my zoas.