Saw bristle worm kill a hermit...

[mstintheuscg]

I dont know if the hermit was sick, but it was alive. I decided to look at my tank with a red light this morning. After a few minutes, I witnessed a small bristle worm grab a hermit and eventually pull the legs out of the shell and receeded back into the rockwork with it. Just thought I would share, I took a picture but it came out all black.

[Fly Guy]

Ae you positive it was a bristle or a fireworm???

Not likely that it as to be honest. Ive had a eunicid worm that i had once would kill snails and crabs........never a bristle though if it had to kill it.

Not saying its impossible...but not likely.

I would try baiting it late at night with something smelly and use a red flashlight see if you can get a good look at and or catch it

some really long tongs and a red flashlight .....if you can see it go into a rock, you might have to disassemble the tank enough to pull that rock out and give it a freshwater dip until it comes out

thats how i caught both of mine(eunicids).. Have you noticed any shrooms or zoos depleting??

[mstintheuscg]

Thats what I thought at first, but after looking at pictures online to reconfirm what I thought, it was a bristle worm. None of my shrooms or zoas are affected ini the least bit. I have seen several of these bristles in differant lengths at night. My only explination is that the hermit was on its way out.

[ChrisPrusha]

Bristleworms don't really attack living creatures like that, ime. I wonder if it was a bad type of fireworm.

A pic would be AWESOME!

[Paintbug]

i would say an eunicid worm as well. they are a type of bristle worm. often get very large in our systems, and have been known to attack healthy fish, and inverts.