Medusa worms

[Bparrott]

So... I have a hitch hiker that looks pretty cool. However scares the sh** out of me. How can I get rid of this little cucumber. Without it killing all of my fish.

I recently bought two small frags. Thought I could trust the guy but I have found four Medusa’s since the addition of the frags.

Any help please guys haven’t found anything on how to get them out

 

[Cherub]

you have a pic? I have spaghetti worms that are medusa like and aren't bad but cant be sure with out a pic

 

[Bparrott]

you have a pic? I have spaghetti worms that are medusa like and aren't bad but cant be sure with out a pic

 

[Bparrott]

I had to screenshot the video I took. Idk how to upload a video on the app

 

[Cherub]

hmm yeah thats not a spaghetti worm lol. You cant just pull them out? They seem big enough

 

[Bparrott]

hmm yeah thats not a spaghetti worm lol. You cant just pull them out? They seem big enough

This one is. The others look about the size of a 1/4 inch and if stressed they’re absolutely deadly to fish

 

[Cherub]

Well I couldn't find much on them outside of vendors selling them as filter feeders. https://www.thatpetplace.com/Euapta-medusa-worm-206654

 

[Bparrott]

Well I couldn't find much on them outside of vendors selling them as filter feeders. https://www.thatpetplace.com/Euapta-medusa-worm-206654

That’s all I could find. Guess I’m just going to try and bait them all out and start breeding them to sale. I’m just gonna be scared to death from now on that I’m going to come home to a nuked tank.

 

[Cherub]

maybe try a bristle worm trap? You basically take a liter or two liter bottle, two liter is better if you have the room. Cut off the top half and shove it into the hole upside down, like a funnel. Stick some food inside. The worm will go into the hole and not be able to get out. I used to do this with my last tank to get rid of bristle worms.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/...pdY56vTi3jGB-Kvs7Gne3diihhfEvoHgq1IGemMPN8Z0m

 

[Bparrott]

maybe try a bristle worm trap? You basically take a liter or two liter bottle, two liter is better if you have the room. Cut off the top half and shove it into the hole upside down, like a funnel. Stick some food inside. The worm will go into the hole and not be able to get out. I used to do this with my last tank to get rid of bristle worms.

That’s genius if it works. I’ll be setting that up in the morning

 

[Cherub]

works great for bristle worms. I edited that post and added a pic link

 

[Dancingmad]

Just passing by. Worm enthusiast here. Cool lookin'. I've heard some of these medusa worms are bad news, but I've got no experience.

I'm not being a picture snob, but some pics w/ daylights on (less blues, or w/ a filter) and better focus may help with a more solid ID (from someone more experienced than me!).

 

[Bparrott]

Just passing by. Worm enthusiast here. Cool lookin'. I've heard some of these medusa worms are bad news, but I've got no experience.

I'm not being a picture snob, but some pics w/ daylights on (less blues, or w/ a filter) and better focus may help with a more solid ID (from someone more experienced than me!).

Only shot I could get since my tank was only on for just another minute or two for bed time

 

[Maritimer]

Medusa worms aren't worms, they're echinoderms ... sea cucumbers.

I know that when stressed or attacked cukes can produce toxins - and from what I understand, the plankton-feeding "sea apples" are the worst about it. I don't know how big your tank is, but I seriously doubt that a 1/4" medusa will be able to crash it. (If cukes are just ... not feeling well, they don't seem to produce the toxins - it almost seems that something has to be attacking, whether that something is a puffer or a powerhead.)

~Bruce, with two of the larger varieties of cucumbers in his tank