Big, big, bobbit worm?

reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
Atleast I'm pretty sure that's what I have....
He is no less than 20-30 inches long. A little thicker than a pencil. And boy is he mean looking, he has the 5 antennae on his face. Dark coloration almost black.
I know most bristle worms are good to have but do the good ones get this big? I know they are very hard to indentify and a picture is almost impossible. I see him almost every night and I think I found his hideout.
I'm making some water to do a change so I can take the rock out and try to get him. So is there anything to look for to know for sure if it is a bobbit? Can the huge size alone help id him? I have a leather that I do believe is getting munched on.
 
reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
What you call the "claws" are jaws. there are 2 types of jaw pieces - 1 pair of mandibles and 4-6 pairs of maxillae. The big serrated hooked pieces are maxillae. In the close up the 5 striped filaments are the antennae & palps - these carry the sensory receptors. They have 1 pair of eyes at the base of the antennae but they may not play a big role in food capture. Bobbits are ambush predators but if they're really hungry they will scavenge for food around the opening to their burrows.
I just read an article about them and this part jumped out at me.
Does having these big jaws make him a euniced worm? It seems the non predatory worms would not need these jaws lol.
 
reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3209589
YIKES....I'd be scared LOL
Believe me the first night I saw him my wife thought I was dying and came running.
What is amazing that I have never seen any worms in my tank and I always look at night. Then all of the sudden this GIANT pops up.
 
reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/3209594
Pics please...

Just give us the best you can get.
Ok I will take what I can tonight, it's funny he almost always comes out exactly at midnight. I had a decent picture of his mid-section but I upgraded phones and no longer have it.
Cheers to hunting him tonight...get your lanterns get your guns
 
reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3209676
Oh ya.... that sounds like a Bobbit alright. I have one in a 3g pico.
Thanks you, I'm glad you answered. I'm amazed I haven't had any problems yet, except that leather like I said. Do you want this one?
And I did not see him last night for pictures....but I did practice with camera settings in the dark.
 
reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
Ok I just saw his head poke out of his rock but he went right back in. I think I will get a picture tonight.
Now I'm pretty sure this weekend I'm going to take this rock out and try to catch him.
Questions-
What s/g should I put the rock in to get him to come out? I know these guys are as hardy as can come and not alot affects them....but this rock is so nice I hate to kill it. And there is no way I'm going to break the rock. I will let it sit for a month and let him come out if I have to. This is prolly a thirty pound rock.
Can I put him in my fuge? Will he be beneficial in there?
 
reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
Sorry guys I didn't see him last night.
As soon as I get enough water made to do a big change I'm gonna take his rock out. I know it could cause a spike stirring up junk.
 
reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
I got him!.....here he is. Every bit of two feet long.
I did not want to kill him but he would not come out of the rock on his own so I had to break the rock up and he got caught up.


 
wfd1008

wfd1008

Member
If that was in my tank, I think my wife would make me throw the whole thing out on the street, fish and all.
 
reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
I was very close! I love snakes and don't have a problem with gross insects, but this guy is so creepy. I wish you could see his face well it's nasty.
 
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