ID Needed! Fast Moving Worm

N4sty T4te · Aug 23, 2017

Move very quickly, fastest I've seen. Looked around and don't see anything that looks just like it but maybe I'm a noob.

aKlevans · Aug 23, 2017

The head shape worries me. It looks a lot like a bobbit worm. Are those things on its body legs?

Oceanwave45 · Aug 23, 2017

Not sure maybe the #reefsquad might know!! They are th best people to ask!!! Love them!!

bif24701 · Aug 23, 2017

N4sty T4te said:
Move very quickly, fastest I've seen. Looked around and don't see anything that looks just like it but maybe I'm a noob.

That is a very concerning image, o would desperately try to get that thing out for closer inspection. Red light at night can help you find them.

N4sty T4te · Aug 23, 2017

OMG these things are so creepy and they are literally everywhere. I can see them swimming in the water column. Is it a bobbit worm. Here's a video.... HELP! Ahhh.

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aKlevans · Aug 23, 2017

N4sty T4te said:
OMG these things are so creepy and they are literally everywhere. I can see them swimming in the water column. Is it a bobbit worm. Here's a video.... HELP! Ahhh.

<div style="position:relative;height:0;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;left:0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

If in doubt, remove it. I suggest making a worm trap, there are a lot of suggestions online. I think most bristle worm traps will work the same.

Could you try to post a better pic of its head? That will really help with the ID.
Good luck man, those are really creepy

DSC reef · Aug 23, 2017

Could be a dorvillid worm

aKlevans · Aug 23, 2017

DSC reef said:
Could be a dorvillid worm

Good catch, I probably would of forgotten about them!

I knew there were a few similar looking worms, which is why I asked of a better pic of the head. The bobbit worm was just the first one that came to mind.

If you can see little black pincer looking things inside it's head, its a dorvillid worm.

N4sty T4te · Aug 23, 2017

I was actually just about to write that I though I figured it out. Found this video of one and pretty sure that's it. Thank god they are beneficial.

https://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhikers-guide/polychaete-dorvilleidae/

N4sty T4te · Aug 23, 2017

aKlevans said:
Good catch, I probably would of forgotten about them!

I knew there were a few similar looking worms, which is why I asked of a better pic of the head. The bobbit worm was just the first one that came to mind.

If you can see little black pincer looking things inside it's head, its a dorvillid worm.

Don't see a black thing on the heads but see white speck instead. I watch a video of them and it seems to be the same worm. Size matches up and they are putting a hurting on algae on the glass bottom of my QT. Their work ethic is serious. guess time will tell the largest one is around 1.5" super slender. But man they are fast, they look like regular bristle worms on crack.

aKlevans · Aug 23, 2017

N4sty T4te said:
I was actually just about to write that I though I figured it out. Found this video of one and pretty sure that's it. Thank god they are beneficial.

https://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhikers-guide/polychaete-dorvilleidae/

Nice! Sorry for the bobbit worm scare, it was the first thing that came to mind.

N4sty T4te · Aug 23, 2017

aKlevans said:
Nice! Sorry for the bobbit worm scare, it was the first thing that came to mind.

Yeah man, I had my wife freaking out. It was hysterical. She wouldn't even watch the video I posted. lol

Thanks everyone for your help!

bif24701 · Aug 24, 2017

N4sty T4te said:
Yeah man, I had my wife freaking out. It was hysterical. She wouldn't even watch the video I posted. lol

Thanks everyone for your help!

My wife won't even look at my beautiful bright red serpent star when it's out, she says it's creppy[emoji23].

Mikeinthekeys · Aug 25, 2017

That is a Dorvilleidea. They are omnivores but mostly stick to consuming algae found in substrate. I have a few in my tank but they are rarely seen as they stay in the sand, they peek out every now and then. Do you have substrate or do you have a bare bottom tank?