Found Bobbit Worm during frag search

[Tavero]

During the night two zoa frags went missing. I suspect the were ripped off by a hermit, frag or snail. During my search for then I found this fella.

I restarted my tank 6 months ago and redid my rock scape with additional live rock. So he was introduced there I think. When I pulled him out he broke into several pieces but together it's around 15cm long. Still small for a Bobbit Worm but I guess with that rate of growth he would have reached one feet in a few more months. Hopefully I got all parts out.

Btw I found one of the frags I was looking for in a cave unharmed. The second is probably gone though. Maybe buried already by some digging snails or stuck in a crevice.

 

[JoJosReef]

That might be a rather large Dorvillidae worm. Are there 4 or 5 antennae, and do they stick straight out from the head or are they curved backwards?

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Glad you found the one frag at least! I can't see the video but bobbit worms are what nightmares are made of...

 

[Goaway]

That might be a rather large Dorvillidae worm. Are there 4 or 5 antennae, and do they stick straight out from the head or are they curved backwards?

Nah,
But, could also be this monster

Oenone Fulgida - A predatory worm | Melev's Reef

melevsreef.com

 

[Tavero]

That might be a rather large Dorvillidae worm. Are there 4 or 5 antennae, and do they stick straight out from the head or are they curved backwards?

4 antenna. They stick out sideways and to the front.

 

[Goaway]

4 antenna. They stick out sideways and to the front.

Read my post above. Not knowing the true identity, i wouldn't touch. That's no dorvilleidae.

 

[Tavero]

Nah,
But, could also be this monster

Oenone Fulgida - A predatory worm | Melev's Reef

melevsreef.com

"This worm exudes a type of toxic paralyzing ooze both for attack and defense. "

The worm was extremely slimy when I pulled him out. The slime was so thick, smaller parts of the worm got stuck to the tweezers.
Now that I think about it, I lost a few Stomatella snails in the last month, but I thought they died of natural causes

 

[Tavero]

Read my post above. Not knowing the true identity, i wouldn't touch. That's no dorvilleidae.

Oh trust me, I would never touch it without tweezers. It also took the porcelain express already. I just hope that's the only one. It was a completely accidental find.

 

[JoJosReef]

Perhaps time to call in the big guns on this one. Better to know for sure. @ISpeakForTheSeas @EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal can you help with a positive ID on OP's worm?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Perhaps time to call in the big guns on this one. Better to know for sure. @ISpeakForTheSeas @EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal can you help with a positive ID on OP's worm?

In this case, I'm inclined to agree with Dorvilleid worm - it doesn't have the signature 5 tentacles or the right coloration for a bobbit or similar, and it has cephalic tentacles which eliminates Oenone fulgida or similar.

 

[Tavero]

In this case, I'm inclined to agree with Dorvilleid worm - it doesn't have the signature 5 tentacles or the right coloration for a bobbit or similar, and it has cephalic tentacles which eliminates Oenone fulgida or similar.

So...harmless in case there is another one i'm unable to find?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

So...harmless in case there is another one i'm unable to find?

Yeah, as a general rule, if it has four tentacles on its head, its harmless/beneficial.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Perhaps time to call in the big guns on this one. Better to know for sure. @ISpeakForTheSeas @EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal can you help with a positive ID on OP's worm?

While I greatly appreciate being put in the same category as @ISpeakForTheSeas , I'm more of a water pistol at best
Most of the things I correctly identify are critters that he ID'd at one point - I'm just repeating the info
(But feel free to tag me - if nothing else, I can give a somewhat educated guess )

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

While I greatly appreciate being put in the same category as @ISpeakForTheSeas , I'm more of a water pistol at best
Most of the things I correctly identify are critters that he ID'd at one point - I'm just repeating the info
(But feel free to tag me - if nothing else, I can give a somewhat educated guess )

Haha, you're better than you think you are, and I've found that I've still got a lot to learn!