I wasn't ready for this

[Almondsaz]

So I did my ususal morning check of the tank and saw that Gus (serpent star) was not in his usual cave...in fact he was on the backside of the rock where is cave is out in the main stream of things. So I got out the ol flashlight (which is always next to the tank) and looked inside.

Wooooo. I thought that I have seen some bristle worms, but this guy is a bit on the tooo large side for me. I have lots of little ones - the one inch size that are red/brown. But it is much larger than that, not sure how long he is becuase I only ever get a glimpse of several segments, just like this shot. The opening of the cave is approx 2 1/2 inches from rock to rock.

So, I thought I would just share this photo.

[strangerdejavu]

Woo! Gunna leave him in there or guy buy a trap?

[Almondsaz]

For the moment I am going to leave in there. He hasn't done any harm and with all the holes in the rock he is in, I am sure that his crawling around keeps it much cleaner. Though I am checking into traps, just in case.

[Grins]

That looks like the type that crawls out of the tank at night and preys on unsuspecting fishkeepers. :lipssealedsmilie:

[Ace25]

LOL Grins.. way to scare them. ;) I say don't worry about it.. I have had this guy in my tank for many years and it is one of my best cleaners! I thought of trapping him early on but took the wait and see attitude making sure it never touched any of my corals. Nope, just cleans all throughout the rocks.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2286/2308746197_0894082897.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/2292057827_3f6a4780a1.jpg

[Almondsaz]

The literature online is really mixed. Most of the time the first thing that is said...GET RID OF THEM, they are a pest. I am going to wait it out and see if there is any impact. I have to say that my fuge seems to be a nursery for BWs. I can easily count 15 on the edge between the glass and the sand. So no telling how many are in the rubble or the sandbed itself.

BUt ACE25, I am going to leave him for now. Wish he was more visible.

[Ace25]

Well, if you have too many like it sounds like, then I would definately trap some of them. I did that in my neighbors tank who had around 50 of them in his 75G. We trapped around 40 over the course of a few days and left the rest. You do have to keep the population in check or they will take over.

Mine wasn't really visable until it reached a certain size. When it did get to be HUGE it started to come out, walk around the sand like it owns it, etc. No one dares to touch/bite it now and the worm seems to know it.

[Grins]

Almond knows I was kidding....but as creeped out as I was by those things at first I've just moved any that I've been unsure about down to the sump.

[Ace25]

Funny story, I grew up along the beaches of California my whole life.. Air Force brat. One day my dad decides he wants to setup a coldwater hermit crab tank and collect crabs from the tidepools around us.. well, the tank gets setup in my room and within 2 days of the tank being setup, I woke up one night in bed with a hermit crab crawling on my face!!! I was about 6 years old at the time, talk about scaring a kid. The rest of the crabs were all over the floor, none were left in the tank. Bad memories. :silly: ;)

[Grins]

Eeeek! :thud: Reason #4587 for me not to keep the things

[AnnetteG]

omg :22_yikes:

Things like this are why my tank, while I love it, I am also constantly creeped out by it.

I have really got to buy some gloves.

[Almondsaz]

ACE how did you trap the worms in your neighbors tank? I have been taking some long forceps and getting the visible ones, but would be nice to have a trap also.

[Ace25]

They make a trap just for bristle worms. Here is a link (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~SearchStr~~action~view~idProduct~ES095 50~idCategory~FIMIBN~category~Coralife_Trap%60Em__ _Bristle_Worm_Trap_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Mis cellaneous_Breeding_Nets__Traps___Nursery&vendor%3D.html) to one. They sell them at most LFS also, and they do work great.

http://www.f3images.com/IMD/600/ES09550/ES09550_99.jpg

[Almondsaz]

Thanks ACE...I tried to make one out of the tube that comes with the reef putty until my LFS gets them in.

[leocom2000]

Oh man!!! Those things remind me of Scolopendra. I would never put my hand in there. Brrrrrrrrr..

[Mr.Firemouth]

That worm is nothing. Look at this one...
Rod Beuhler of Rod's Reef Food called it Nessy...
http://www.uberfrags.net/forums/showthread.php?t=346

[RLGirlPolo]

Funny story, I grew up along the beaches of California my whole life.. Air Force brat. One day my dad decides he wants to setup a coldwater hermit crab tank and collect crabs from the tidepools around us.. well, the tank gets setup in my room and within 2 days of the tank being setup, I woke up one night in bed with a hermit crab crawling on my face!!! I was about 6 years old at the time, talk about scaring a kid. The rest of the crabs were all over the floor, none were left in the tank. Bad memories. :silly: ;)

HAHA...same kinda story happened to my brother...except it was 2 rats crawling on him...pepsi and sprite were babies and we didn't know that they could squish themselves and crawl through the rungs on their cage!! Needless to say thats one of the reasons why we now have fish...lol

[Almondsaz]

That worm is nothing. Look at this one...
Rod Beuhler of Rod's Reef Food called it Nessy...
http://www.uberfrags.net/forums/showthread.php?t=346

I can't believe I am going to say this, but that worm looks really cool, the markings are very unique when you see the upclose pics. That thing is a monster, no wonder it's called Nessy.

[missc4]

I have one in my tank that is about 8 inches long and as much as it creeps me out I to think it is way cool,their markings are beautiful and they crawl around so careful and with purpose.I am not going to remove mine,he has been in the tank a year and has bothered nothing so as long as he stays nice he will have a home.