Need help identifying worm

[Sink_or_Swim]

Just saw the newest pics - what a creepy creature! I'd definitely get that thing out sooner rather than later.

 

[Sink_or_Swim]

Thats why when I went from a 140 to a 300 a year ago this month, I did away with sand and went bare bottom except for far back corner has 15 pounds of sand for my two wrasses. Less sand, less hiding spaces for those worms and other critters. Plus when I get a frag , I qt it, dip it , remove it from the frag it came on and examine the frag w a lighted magnetify glass for any hitch hikers... Frags and the area where the glue is, is notorious for hiding places for problem critters to hide I have found...

I have a lot of sand (for the sand sleeping wrasse and also because I really enjoy sand sifters like my diamond goby, conch and nassarius snails, etc). Because of that, I'm thinking about researching things I could add that will eat fireworms. My melanurus hasn't and I don't blame him - the fireworm bristles are sharp!... I know arrow crabs supposedly will eat them, but I evicted all crabs from my tank not too long ago after a red mithrax killed my serpent star. If there is a non-crab critter, or preferably a fish, that will eat fireworms - I'm all ears!
I'm totally getting a lighted magnifying glass now to inspect frags, great idea! A few weeks ago I picked up a huge leather that was attached to a big rock at my lfs, and they just gave me the whole thing as it was really on there. I dipped it, scrubbed the heck out of the rock (until I was satisfied there were zero hitchhikers or pests). Aaaand that's how I got aiptasia in my tank. Ugh! This weekend I plan to take that rock out and see if I can chip enough away around the coral to remove it.

 

[JoJosReef]

That's a eunice, I'd put money on it. Amazing it's so bold to let you take photos in the open. They usually retract lightning fast into their holes.

How far is that sand spot from your rocks? It is likely anchored in a rock and will retract when you try to catch it. Chopping off the head doesn't help. They grow heads back and are anecdotally reported to break themselves into a couple of pieces when attacked, thereby leaving you with >1 eunice worm.

Mine seem to be mostly detritivores, but this one looks more ominous, especially since it's posing in an ambush-like position in the sand. Mine come out partway out of their holes picking at the live rock and then back into their lair.

Might try taking a piece of plastic and "walling off" its escape route while you try to net it out of the sand. Will be a mess, but better out than in!

If not..

 

[vetteguy53081]

Just caught another look. It was right under my goby!

Yep- needs to go. This trap is easy to make with 1 or 2 litre bottle and when baited with shrimp will work:

After you catch it, this is a perfect tank to put it in:

 

[Sink_or_Swim]

Just caught another look. It was right under my goby!

 

[1ocean]

yep sure looks like bobbit worm...Yes fire kills it...Better get it before it get big enough to each fish etc.

 

[Dehab]

Finally caught this disgusting creature!

It took dismantling my entire tank but I needed to rescape anyways lol

Thanks for the help everyone!