Please help ID worm

[jmwils1]

worried this may be a bobbit worm..

 

[king aiptasia]

can you get a shot in white light? Does he have exactly 5 antenna? He does appear like a Eunicidae.

If he is indeed a large Eunicidae worm and you don't want him, would you be opposed to mailing him?

 

[jmwils1]

Definitely don’t want him. Not sure how to get him out yet though

 

[king aiptasia]

Definitely don’t want him. Not sure how to get him out yet though

i mean someone is ging to disagree with me but if you have a gentle grip I'd treat it like you are going hunting for nightcrawlers and wear a glove to avoid being nipped. if you have never caught nightcrawlers don't try it or you'll hurt the worm and possibly not remove it all.

next best thing is setting up a bottle trap and bait it with something meaty

 

[jmwils1]

Trying to get a better photo. Haven’t seen it eat anything and doesn’t seem to be bothering the coral. Also doesn’t mind coming out during the day.

 

[king aiptasia]

Trying to get a better photo. Haven’t seen it eat anything and doesn’t seem to be bothering the coral. Also doesn’t mind coming out during the day.

many tanks have hidden eunicid worms, very few bother corals personally i don't know the names of any species that eat corals but it's been reported. He probably eats meaty food scraps, Do you have any fish?

 

[jmwils1]

Yes. Five fish. Was six but the baby biota mandarin goby disappeared in that area and is the reason for concern.

 

[king aiptasia]

Yes. Five fish. Was six but the baby biota mandarin goby disappeared in that area and is the reason for concern.

yeah that can be concerning, I say keep at it till you catch him, and if you want I compensate for the postage for the worm, big worms are always welcome with me

 

[vetteguy53081]

Pics too blue to tell
As king aptasia indicated, the whiskers if you call it that are likely Unicode in which there are several types.
Identifying it clearly is essential.
Could also be be spinoid or dorvillidae

 

[hikermike]

Use the bottle trap as suggested...surprising how fast at night they'll head for the bait....and how fast they'll ingest it.

 

[king aiptasia]

Pics too blue to tell
As king aptasia indicated, the whiskers if you call it that are likely Unicode in which there are several types.
Identifying it clearly is essential.
Could also be be spinoid or dorvillidae

the jaws and antenna are the main ways professionals id the Eunicidae worms from other families

 

[vetteguy53081]

the jaws and antenna are the main ways professionals id the Eunicidae worms from other families

I realize that but pics make it hard to verify such

 

[king aiptasia]

I realize that but pics make it hard to verify such

I agree, anyone other than op claiming a solid identification of the animal with the data provided would be a liar, a sharp image in white light would help get a verdict. under the assumption it is a predatory Eunicid worm I recommend either sumping the creature and feeding him supplemental food in the sump, or selling it, since there is a pretty big demand of big worms such as that

 

[jmwils1]

I took out the rock and dipped it in coral rx for 10 minutes. I saw a bristleworm but not this thing. Tonight I’m setting a trap. Will report back...

 

[jmwils1]

Worm 1, trap 0
Still alive this morning. Tried to get a video without blue but it’s hard to see and it’s being more cautious
Here’s a video with the blues on the photos are from:
Worm - blue light

Here’s a video from this morning
Worm -white but harder to see

 

[CK00020]

I have the same situation going on, mine doesn’t seem to fall for the trap either

 

[CK00020]

Does it have a white band around the body?

 

[jmwils1]

Yes it has a white band

 

[king aiptasia]

Worm 1, trap 0
Still alive this morning. Tried to get a video without blue but it’s hard to see and it’s being more cautious
Here’s a video with the blues on the photos are from:
Worm - blue light

Here’s a video from this morning
Worm -white but harder to see

does he even come out when the trap is set?

also yah he is 100% a eunicidae of some species

 

[jmwils1]

Haven’t seen it in a few days but I’ve left food out that seems to go into one of the holes. Squirting soda water did not convince it out. I haven’t seen it come out for a trap