The stuff of nightmares

[BuGG]

My wife saw a worm munching on one of our trumpets. I didn't believe her until she caught this guy!

Not sure if it's a bristleworm or fireworm. Ths thing stretches out to about 4 inches!! Yikes!!

 

[Juano908]

I've seen those guys on my tank too but way smaller.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S5

 

[mrehfeld]

Wow a 4 inch coral eating machine. It sounds like its time for a late night lights out stake out of your tank.

 

[BuGG]

Yeah I find these on my chaeto all the time, but never this big. This one was on the display tank. I heard some people trap these regularly like every 3 months or so to keep from getting big. I may start doing that.

 

[MatteZ]

you can put a table shrimp and a rock in a stocking to hold it on the sand. it will catch them

 

[jgraz]

Nightmares or not I'm one of the guys that have them and love them. Great scavengers and it's likely the coral head they were eating was probably going downhill. I've never seen them eating healthy coral or fish.

 

[downbeach]

I don't think you have anything to worry about. Although there are a couple species that are problematic, they are rarely found in our aquariums.

Here's a little reading that may be helpful:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-03/rs/index.php
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rs/index.php

 

[BuGG]

Nightmares or not I'm one of the guys that have them and love them. Great scavengers and it's likely the coral head they were eating was probably going downhill. I've never seen them eating healthy coral or fish.

I used to think the same exact way. But I will try to catch any worms that are around that size. I'll let the small ones do their thing. Does it look like a bristleworm or a fireworm?

Thx for the links Jim.

 

[TanksNStuff]

Here's a great link on worms - http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchworms.html