Worm ID

[IceNein]

This worm has created a “home” out of shell bits that it has assembled and fastened to the dry rock. I have several similar ones that appear to live inside holes they’ve dug in gulf live rock. All three of the ones I see have the same MO. They hide in the rock, and they come out and grab something and jerk back into their hides. I have never seen one leave their hole/home.

Are these just a variant of the standard bristle worm.

Here’s a probably pretty bad video as I can’t use flash to illuminate or it would scare them away. Micromussa heads in the front for scale.

 

[fishywishy]

I can’t see it very well, but it doesn’t look or behave like a bristle worm to me. It seems more like a baby eunicid worm, especially with the way it acts and the antennae on its head. I would remove it if you can.

 

[IKD]

Is there a small white ring around the neck? Looks like Eunice worm to me if so. Can’t see the face very well in the video.

Do you see any empty snail shells around its home?

 

[IceNein]

Is there a small white ring around the neck? Looks like Eunice worm to me if so. Can’t see the face very well in the video.

Do you see any empty snail shells around its home?

I have a bunch of empty shells for the hermits to swap around with, one is near its lair, why do you ask. It definitely lives behind those shells it has attatched to the rocks.

I do believe you're right that it's some sort of eunice worm. That rock is like the base of my structure, so he's going to stay there until he becomes a problem, lol.

 

[Mark Goode]

I have a bunch of empty shells for the hermits to swap around with, one is near its lair, why do you ask.

I think he means do you have any empty shells that, until recently, had snails living in them?

 

[IceNein]

I think he means do you have any empty shells that, until recently, had snails living in them?

It's too small to have killed any snails. I did have a nassarius die, but the murder suspect has been seen wearing the shell.

 

[wtdenk]

I have a few of these in my gulf rock tank. Pretty positive they are a type of Eunice worm like was said previously. They are too fast to catch for me. They will attack snails when they have an opportunity. They mainly try to add to their burrows by rounding up shells and debris then gluing it together with whatever glue-like substance they are able to create. I mainly have reverted to just tearing down their new construction, since I stopped trying to catch them. On the bright side, they certainly aren't the worst pests you'll likely face.

 

[IKD]

I think he means do you have any empty shells that, until recently, had snails living in them?

LOL, exactly what I meant. If it came with Gulf rock, definitely keep an eye on them. They grow fast. Unfortunately I had two come in with live rock. I didn’t notice any issues for months, but eventually started killing snails and even caught one munching on a cyphastrea before I was able to eventually catch him in a rock and could remove. Mine were black with a white ring around the neck.

 

[Peair]

This worm has created a “home” out of shell bits that it has assembled and fastened to the dry rock. I have several similar ones that appear to live inside holes they’ve dug in gulf live rock. All three of the ones I see have the same MO. They hide in the rock, and they come out and grab something and jerk back into their hides. I have never seen one leave their hole/home.

Are these just a variant of the standard bristle worm.

Here’s a probably pretty bad video as I can’t use flash to illuminate or it would scare them away. Micromussa heads in the front for scale.

Depending on the type of Eunice worm you have, may not do a lot of harm, some do damage to reef structures and tank inhabitants, to be safe I would try and remove them.