Live rock cleanse...

Titleist1964 · Apr 25, 2022

I have a couple small pieces of rock that house a nasty worm, one that needs to be removed, these things are very fast and when I poke my head around the side they slip back into the rock. I was told they need to go. So my question is. How can I rid the worm off the rock and not destroy any of the other "live rock life" left on it. TY.

blaxsun · Apr 25, 2022

Are they "in" as inside the rock, or just hiding under it? If you don't have any corals on it and the rocks are small enough sometimes brief exposure to air is enough to drive them out. Dipping is another option.

homer1475 · Apr 25, 2022

A high salinity dip will usually force anything living out of the rock, but not hurt the biological living on the rock.

Titleist1964 · Apr 25, 2022

They live inside the rock,

homer1475 · Apr 25, 2022

The spikey arms sticking out at the top are brittle stars and are great CUC members.

The bottom looks to be some form of worm, that one I might try and get out.

blaxsun · Apr 25, 2022

If the worm has more than 4 tendrils on the head it should go.

Titleist1964 · Apr 25, 2022

Yup, I have several of those Brittle Stars, and 2 of those nasty worms. I know exactly what 2 rocks they're in and I plan on removing the rock and getting them out, not to mention one more elusive gorilla crab. But so far he's so tiny.