Foot long bobbit worm

[joshbbert]

Title says it all, I recently lost a clown for no reason I dont know if he is the culprit but I have actually witnessed him pick up an entire frag and try to pull it into his rock. Hes about 8 inches when hes out of the rock but never comes all the way out so I know theres a few more inches hiding. Do I absolutely have to remove the whole rock or is there another way to get him? Hes been in the tank for 6 months or so and hasn't been agressive till now, I even have 5 thor shrimp he hasn't eaten yet (knock on wood). Thanks for any help in advance

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

Ohh noo! I'm so sorry to hear that! I hope the worm can calm down before it gets more aggressive!

 

[jwebber974]

You have to get it out they are bad new's. I had one that killed fish and loved coral. I just took the rock it lived in and did a fresh water dip the thing came right out.

 

[CausticGuy]

From what ive read, those things are pretty evil. I'd get it out.

 

[joshbbert]

Still havent pulled the rock out im def procastinating as as it has a bunch of corals glued to it

 

[Shep]

Try trapping him? Maybe put some kind of bait in a bottle or something.

 

[Blinkingsun]

We had a good four footer… Then he went through a vortech and became a three footer and caused an ammonia spike that killed 80% of my fish…. I had to remove all of my corals out of necessity when this happened so I took the opportunity to isolate him into a smaller tank. When I removed him, he broke in half. The two halves of what was left became two entirely separate worms as they both grew back the missing parts. The smaller of the two found another powerhead….. Today we have a single two foot bobbit. He stays in my quarantine system for fish because he never bothers them. He loved munching on axial polyps on SPS or monti caps so I did not want him in my coral quarantine tank. I don't believe he ever got a fish which wasn't already gone or going.

 

[3Twinklets]

I agree with the trap. Use it at night. There is a simple way to make a trap using a large plastic soda bottle. ( 1 or 2 liter)
Just cut the neck off about a third of the way down. Turn the neck part around and insert it into the other two third portion of the bottle. I use a little frag glue to make sure it stays and I place a small rock in the bottle to hold it down.
You can use a small piece of shrimp or squid. The worms enter but cant seem to find their way out.
It works great for trapping small fish also.

 

[MattL22]

How did u find it? At night

 

[SCMatt]

Just reaffirms why I use gloves while working in the tank. No matter how many times I youtube them I still get the creeps. Fascinating, but creepy.

 

[joshbbert]

How did u find it? At night

Was just viewing the tank under atnics after the day lights switched off saw a few antenna poking out of a small hole in my large peice of LR and he came out latched on to a small acan frag and attempted to pull it back into his hole with great force. Ive since seen him 2 more times once under a big zoa rock and another was a snail attack same results as with the acan frag

 

[joshbbert]

Im gonna give the trap a shot tonight I only have mysis and brine on hand atm hopefully that does the trick ive just never seen him leave that rock so fingers crossed. Heres a cell pic of the rock hes in

 

[Kyuss414]

Just reaffirms why I use gloves while working in the tank. No matter how many times I youtube them I still get the creeps. Fascinating, but creepy.

 

[joshbbert]

Haha pretty much! Has a face like the predator, one ugly ....u know

 

[dsmhero]

Good luck. I'll be waiting for pictures.

 

[joshbbert]

So with the bait since its frozen mysis not live bait is that going to mess with my water chemistry leaving it there overnight if nothing eats it?

 

[KorD]

 

[joshbbert]

The trap is set dont have a spare rock laying around so I used a pvc elbow and a water bottle a waiting game now I suppose

 

[joshbbert]

Welp after a few hours of observation with lights out the worm has out smarted me hes so dam* long he just we just went into the bottle leaving half his body out snatched up the shrimp and back to his hole. Round one. ...bobbit worm. Think I just have to suck it up and nuke the rock which really sucks cuz everything is so happy I hate to disturb my corals

 

[SAKTEK]

Welp after a few hours of observation with lights out the worm has out smarted me hes so dam* long he just we just went into the bottle leaving half his body out snatched up the shrimp and back to his hole. Round one. ...bobbit worm. Think I just have to suck it up and nuke the rock which really sucks cuz everything is so happy I hate to disturb my corals

What if you were to put the trap in a different part of the tank? Lets say far away from his home/rock... Would that get him into the trap completely? GL!!!