The Bobbit Worm Chronicles

[slapshot]

So I have discovered that I have a Bobbit Worm. He is through my main piece of lace rock (90 lbs dry) so I can not remove the rock. He has polished off a beautiful rock anemone and I fear for my Rics, and well, everything else. Here is my plan.

I am looking for alternatives or a better way. Since I can't take out the rock I consulted my Sun Tzu The Art of War book and decided to befriend an enemy then poison him when he does not expect it. I have been feeding him by hand (really tweezers) for three nights now. He shows up at the spot a couple of hours after the lights go out. My plan is to inject a shrimp with copper. Wash it off the outside and feed it to him. Will it work?

I know I risk killing some good stuff but it is better than tearing the entire tank apart.

BTW I suggest everyone get a red light and check your tanks after the lights go out. I am finding many people have these ugly things.

[kimber45]

trap won't work?

i'd be paranoid of putting copper in my tank.

how big is he? dieing off in your rock may not be a good thing if there's any size to him.

[DLBerlin]

How big is it?
Even if you kill him you may have to tear apart the tank to remove it or the copper would be released into the tank again as it rots. They can be incredibly long

[Frozn]

Get a tube and when you go to feed him... SUCK HIM UP!!!!

Really though.. I have no other suggestions, as this is the first time I've heard of a bobbit worm.

I would avoid copper though.. Maybe inject the shrimp with kalk??

[smoovie]

Yeah, feed him then suck him into the turkeybaster.

[cephalopod]

O.K. these worms, I believe can be as long as 9 ft. I also wouldn't like the idea of copper. I have never had to deal one either, but I think I would try to lure into a trap first. If that failed I probably get frustrated and go for decapitation as you're feeding the monster. Not real sure about all the details of what you're dealing with but... One of my first thoughts are that this guy isn't to small. First thought on trap design are...a good length of clear flexible tubing. One end I would attach a funnel. The other some thing like a gallon container. For the container...I would put some kind of meaty food in and have a small pump attached to the container to waft the scent out the tube. You'll probably have to secure the food in the container. Submerge the trap in your tank,place the funnel where it's been showing itself, turn on the pump, wait, and cross fingers.
Pending capture, take pics, and then destroy the monster. However you go about it, hope you get him out dead or alive. Keep us posted.

[PAZAZZ]

Bait him with a shrimp in a 18 inch clear tube... Use a wet and dry shop vac on the other end. When it enters the tube half way or more turn it on!!

[slapshot]

Originally Posted by cephalopod

O.K. these worms, I believe can be as long as 9 ft. I also wouldn't like the idea of copper. I have never had to deal one either, but I think I would try to lure into a trap first. If that failed I probably get frustrated and go for decapitation as you're feeding the monster. Not real sure about all the details of what you're dealing with but... One of my first thoughts are that this guy isn't to small. First thought on trap design are...a good length of clear flexible tubing. One end I would attach a funnel. The other some thing like a gallon container. For the container...I would put some kind of meaty food in and have a small pump attached to the container to waft the scent out the tube. You'll probably have to secure the food in the container. Submerge the trap in your tank,place the funnel where it's been showing itself, turn on the pump, wait, and cross fingers.
Pending capture, take pics, and then destroy the monster. However you go about it, hope you get him out dead or alive. Keep us posted.

He never comes more than 4 inchs out of his hole. He won't go for it. they never actually leave the holes they have. Can't cut him in two because they are segmented worms. Cut him in two and now you have two. Deb, I will be ready with cupersorb and carbon. Plus I have 350 gallons of water and two good protein skimmers (which you know ) so my thought is a drop of copper isn't going to hurt. I know him dying in the rocks will cause a mass polution. I would rather fight that then tear the tank apart. For those who don't know these things can be four to five feet long. What a nightmare!!

[slapshot]

Originally Posted by PAZAZZ

Bait him with a shrimp in a 18 inch clear tube... Use a wet and dry shop vac on the other end. When it enters the tube half way or more turn it on!!

They are so wary and fast if you move a little they are gone. Plus they are really good about not being yanked out of their holes. They must have 10,000 legs. When they put them all in reverse it is hard to stop. I thought about a trout hook. Boy would that be a good picture. I am just not sure he would swallow it far enough.

[cephalopod]

For those you don't know this is potentially what slapshot is dealing with. Watch the top video.http://www.oceanfootage.com/stockfootage/Bobbit_Worm
I read that they can reach 12ft. and crush rock with their jaws. So please watch your fingers.

[1DeR9_3Hy]

Well its official, those are some pretty disturbing google pics of a bobbit work....

good luck, and keep us posted.

[cephalopod]

On the off chance there are any male sympathizers out there...look into why it's called a Bobbit worm. The more you know about these things the worse they are.

[fishgeek88]

good luck!

[slapshot]

Anyone know of an uglier face. He did not come out for his snack tonight. Might have over fed him last night. This thing is straight out of a horror movie.

[Saltysteele]

this is from the singapore reef club

Get a male bobbit worm and if your existing is a male, they will fight. If its a female, the will mate. Then, the female worm attacks the male penis and feeds it to her young after mating... The male will be go beserk and you can find both the adults nearby easily. The bad point, you have to search high and low for the young ones if they had scram off.