Reef Central Online Community

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community > Invert and Plant Forums > Other Invertebrates
Blogs FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read

Notices

User Tag List

Reply
Thread Tools
Unread 10/14/2009, 07:09 AM   #1
nivram
Registered Member
 
nivram's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: S. FL
Posts: 6,194
How to catch a Bobbit Worm?

After browsing a reef blog I finally was able to figure out what this crazy looking worm was I saw one night in my tank. Its a bobbit worm, scariest looking thing i've seen. I was feeding my acans and saw it snatch a piece of shrimp from it.

Anyone have experience catching them? Removing rock is not an option at this point.


nivram is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10/14/2009, 09:45 AM   #2
aninjaatemyshoe
Registered Member
 
aninjaatemyshoe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 2,333
Any pics?

If it really is a bobbit worm, I'll buy it from you if you're willing to ship it.

I would guess the best bet would be to bait it into a jar at night. Put a piece of shrimp or something in a tall jar in your tank next to where it hides. You could use a red light to observe the bobbit worm without disturbing it. Wait until it goes into the jar and then cap the jar when it goes in.


__________________
You are not brought upon this world to "get it"
aninjaatemyshoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10/14/2009, 10:40 AM   #3
TheH
Registered Member
 
TheH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Bellevue, WA
Posts: 1,278
I believe that if it is truly a bobbit worm it would be hesitant about completely leaving its "hole"?


TheH is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10/14/2009, 10:57 PM   #4
nivram
Registered Member
 
nivram's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: S. FL
Posts: 6,194
Yup, it never left the hole completely. I've only seen it twice and never had a camera handy. First time saw it and thought my what a thick and quick bristle worm as it snatched a piece of shrimp from a acan. The 2nd time I pulled some dead frag plugs that were moved to cover its hole. That's when I saw the head and thought I had the worm from Tremors in my tank. It freaked me out. I was amazed to see this worm try to grab a frag plug with its head and pull it back.

Unfortunately it looks like I might have to pull the rock out. Not looking forward to this.


nivram is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10/15/2009, 08:07 AM   #5
ROB2005
Reefing Is My Passion!
 
ROB2005's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 719
Keep us updated on your endeavor to get him out.


__________________
If at first you don't succeed at reefing, break it down and set back up😁

Current Tank Info: 75 gallon corner overflow, 4-54W T-5 , dozen blue hermits, tiger pistol/yellow watchman goby, royal gramma, banghai and pajama cardinals
ROB2005 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10/15/2009, 09:18 PM   #6
Sc Seahawk
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 18
Bobbit worm...Hmmm Call Lorena
J/k I couldnt Resist


Sc Seahawk is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10/18/2009, 11:10 AM   #7
AJSTITAN14
Registered Member
 
AJSTITAN14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 305
If it has a burrow it's a scavenger and nothing to be concerned about. That it lives in a rock and grabs dead shrimp bits suggests that it is such. Ours is about 1/4 inch in diameter and happens to be my girlfriends favorite tank resident. We have seen a few juveniles poke their heads out so hopefully I will have some for sale eventually. My species is an attractive green and definitely a Eunicid with the 5 anterior tentacles and the really neat eversible pharynx.

Here is the article:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rs/index.php


AJSTITAN14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10/18/2009, 03:21 PM   #8
nivram
Registered Member
 
nivram's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: S. FL
Posts: 6,194
Quote:
Originally Posted by AJSTITAN14 View Post
If it has a burrow it's a scavenger and nothing to be concerned about. That it lives in a rock and grabs dead shrimp bits suggests that it is such. Ours is about 1/4 inch in diameter and happens to be my girlfriends favorite tank resident. We have seen a few juveniles poke their heads out so hopefully I will have some for sale eventually. My species is an attractive green and definitely a Eunicid with the 5 anterior tentacles and the really neat eversible pharynx.

Here is the article:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rs/index.php
This one was black and white stripped. Do you have any pics of yours? I think mine has made a new burrow as the old one seems closed up or collapsed.


nivram is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/31/2009, 10:45 AM   #9
nivram
Registered Member
 
nivram's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: S. FL
Posts: 6,194
Finally got images of this sucker.




nivram is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/31/2009, 01:04 PM   #10
olemiss reb
Molon Labe
 
olemiss reb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 1,550
What makes it shoot back in its hole at the end? sucker is quick!


__________________
secesh
olemiss reb is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/31/2009, 02:56 PM   #11
nivram
Registered Member
 
nivram's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: S. FL
Posts: 6,194
My 6 line wrasse.


nivram is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/31/2009, 03:34 PM   #12
Elysia
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Central PA
Posts: 1,718
Did your Nassarius snail survive the attack?


Elysia is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/31/2009, 09:19 PM   #13
nivram
Registered Member
 
nivram's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: S. FL
Posts: 6,194
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elysia View Post
Did your Nassarius snail survive the attack?
Yes it closed up. But if I didn't pluck it away. I know it would have been a gonner like the others.


nivram is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/01/2010, 08:35 PM   #14
GoingPostal
Registered Member
 
GoingPostal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,517
I could never get mine to leave the rock completely, tried a "bristleworm" trap and he just grabbed it and moved it over to his burrow, tank was too small to move it out of his reach. This rock had some soft corals on it but nothing too important so I took it out and shot freshwater through his burrows until he came out. Killed him in the removal unfortunately, very cool worm, scary looking jaws.


__________________
Most people don't realize that large pieces of coral, which have been painted brown and attached to the skull by common wood screws, can make a child look like a deer.
*Jack Handey
GoingPostal is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/23/2010, 08:09 AM   #15
nivram
Registered Member
 
nivram's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: S. FL
Posts: 6,194
I was finally able to get the worm out! Took removing the entire rock out.




nivram is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/23/2010, 12:33 PM   #16
AJSTITAN14
Registered Member
 
AJSTITAN14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 305
Freakin cool.

Should be able to sell it to the right buyer.


AJSTITAN14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/21/2015, 08:55 PM   #17
EunicidaeHunter
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 8
Do you still have this Bobbit worm/Eunicidae in your possession? I would be willing to purchase it from you if so!


EunicidaeHunter is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/22/2015, 06:55 AM   #18
nivram
Registered Member
 
nivram's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: S. FL
Posts: 6,194
Quote:
Originally Posted by EunicidaeHunter View Post
Do you still have this Bobbit worm/Eunicidae in your possession? I would be willing to purchase it from you if so!

Sorry I don't. My wife wouldn't let me keep it in the house. Lol


nivram is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/22/2015, 11:35 PM   #19
EunicidaeHunter
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 8
Quote:
Originally Posted by nivram View Post
Sorry I don't. My wife wouldn't let me keep it in the house. Lol
what became of it exactly? Im really trying to track one down!

Also, where exactly do you think it came from??!?!

thank you so much for your help!


EunicidaeHunter is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/23/2015, 07:28 AM   #20
nivram
Registered Member
 
nivram's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: S. FL
Posts: 6,194
It became fertilizer. When removing it, it separated into two. I had it in a container outside and it eventually died after a day or two.

I must have come in in my live Rock. It was big enough that it would grab my snails and other small inverts. I'm sure many people have them in their tanks but don't know because they aren't big enough to realize it. Mine would also "steal" small frags.


nivram is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/23/2015, 07:35 AM   #21
pinnatus
RIP Ludinano
 
pinnatus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 1,572
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sc Seahawk View Post
Bobbit worm...Hmmm Call Lorena
J/k I couldnt Resist
My thoughts exactly!




__________________
- Ken

Current Tank Info: 240 gal Fish-Only, 13-gal w/ clowns
pinnatus is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04/23/2015, 10:56 AM   #22
EunicidaeHunter
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 8
where did you buy this live rock from?


EunicidaeHunter is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 11/03/2017, 10:47 AM   #23
Scubahawk
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 3
I think I have one.
But why would anyone want to buy one? My aqua shop asked the same thing when they saw my video. “Well buy it off you!”


Scubahawk is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03/11/2018, 08:28 PM   #24
Ihaveabobbitwor
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 1
OMG I truly have a bobbit worm

We will watch for him and take a photo but hes got to go


Ihaveabobbitwor is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:07 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef CentralTM Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2022
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.