4-5 Feet Long....scared The Hell Out Of Me

[wasabi]

I was taking down my frag tank for a makeover. i started pulling the 1.5 inch pvc frame apart when i got down to the last section it felt heavier than the rest. i pounded it out on my back deck.what came out made me jump back...at first i thought it was an eel and then i realized it was a 4-5 foot long bristle worm about 3/4 inches across it was movig like a snake.(very fast) a good foot of it went down in the cracks of my deck, and had to be amputated. i have the remaIning section in a small container.after the fear factor left this thing is amazingly cool.

[jeepjon]

whoa...that would scare the CRAP out of me.....I hate those wormy things...

[bamann345]

wow, thats one huge thing. Do you have any pictures of whats in the jar?

[tdwyatt]

Earl (digital dragon) was helping me take down the last system in Wellford last year when he jerked my hand back from the water while we were scooping out the sand. Mine wasn't quite that big, only about a meter long...

[Alice]

Criminy!

[FishDaddy]

Un-Real!!

Wasabi, too bad you couldn't keep that thing; you and Tom could have gone into the Super Worm breeding business!

All the more reason to wear those rubber reef gloves!

Dick

[Doug1]

Thats approaching the size of Steve Weast's BW, I believe he has the TRT record
His lived inside a PVC substructure, something to consider eh

[wasabi]

the crazy thing is i never saw this monster...and it was on an in wall tank that everyone looked into on a daily basis.

[Phantom Phish]

Holy Moly, I had no idea those things get that big! How long had the PVC been up, and what do you think it was eating?

[wasabi]

it was up for just over a year. lightly fed, but connected to another 100 gallons of reef tank that was up for 4 years. it had to feed on mainly detritis

[Geoff]

could it have been feeding on mushrooms? i thought this is what Steve said he thought his monster was feeding on.

G~

[ruhspolostar]

Oh I would have jumped so high and that thing would have been mashed my foot...creeps

[RWD]

After last weekend I'm about the depth charge my tank to get rid of all the bristle worms. I was doing some fragging and caught a handfull of them while moving some rock. My hand hurts and itches now like never before. I've been stung before but not like this. I tried soaking my hand in very hot water but it did little. I think I read somewhere that Accent meat tenderizer will work. Anyone have experience with this? Bob

[Doug1]

Bob the papain)sp) in the tenderizer will help with various stings and such but should be applied fairly quickly.
In the past I have had good luck with Elmers school glue in the little twist and squeeze bottles, Apply and smear in a thin layer, when dry peel it off and most of the bristles come with it. If need be soak in HOT water with a healthy amount of white vinegar in it. The meat tendereizer can be used as a paste or poultice on the afflicted areas.
IF you still have serious redness a couple hrs later seek medical advice, and if you even think you may be going into anaphylactic shock(difficulty breathing, sweeling or tightness in throat, dizzyness, etc call a physician immediatly.
Not saying that you wouldnt deal with it fine but this is my once a year reef emergency thread. Sometimes these symptoms sneak up and by the time we realize somethings amiss, it's critical
Remember , esp the new comers to the hobby. Most of the animals we play with are pretty benign, but occasionally we run across a nasty one, or find out that we are sensitive to stuff that others laff off.
Something as commonplace as fragging shrooms, some are full of palyotoxin, esp the yellow polyps, Always wear protection, never put the razor blade in your mouth.
I strongly suggest that eeryone keep an updated list of the varieties of corals etc in their tank, and instruct their significant other that they should present it to EMS personnel in the event you are found unconcious on the floor. Also discuss the possibility of electric shock. If they are treating you as a shock victim when in fact an envenomation has occured, time may be spent barking up the wrong tree so to speak.
Don't get the idea that reefing is dangerous , but always be careful, and most of all , ENJOY

[USA reefer]

Now I would not want bristles from that one in my hand!