Unknown Worms - any ideas?

[JJP161]

OK, some more ID help please. I found these unknown worms and thought they were Bristle Worms. But the consensus from the other thread is they are not not, but probably bad none the less. Possibly Euchnids Sp.?? So any help and removal idea's would be greatly appreciated. Thank-you

Joe

[crvz]

Not real sure how to remove them other than manually. The trick would be hunting at night... get a red LED light (as inverts don't usually see the red light and won't hide when you use it), see if they're coming out at night, and get some tongs to pull them out. Some bait in an easy accessible location may help draw them out to catch (piece of raw shrimp... though I'd wait until dark to put it in the tank to keep fish from nabbing it).

Another idea is to use a drinking glass tilted against the rocks so the worms would slide down to get bait, and then the hope is they couldnt climb up the glass so you'd essentially trap them. They also make commercial traps for bristleworms, you may try one of those if they're proving difficutl.

[ChrisPrusha]

Joe,

I have read this and your other threads. I'm not sure I would do anything about your hitchhikers at this point. When you see them, take them out. But I wouldn't yank the rock or anything so drastic. Are you losing any livestock?

[JJP161]

Hi Chris,

I have tried the drinking glass, shrimp and red light with no success with any of these guys, though it worked great with the crabs.

Hi ChrisPrusha,

My biggest pest I'm chasing is a 3"-4" mantis and the rock crabs. They have killed 1 butterfly, 1 cardinal, 2 clowns, 1 goby, 1 wrasse, 2 brittle stars, 1 anemone over about a 72 hour period. Plus at least 15 snails and 20-25 blue leg hermits. So after trying everything I could with the mantis the rock is in 5 seperate containers with SW and airstones so I can try to locate the mantis and remaining rock crabs. I still here the mantis clicking but only ince or twice, but I can't tell from which container yet. He seems to know I am after him. Any ideas would be great.

Thank-you both for your insights, I really appreciate all of the help.

[Vdituri]

I've read before where people use seltzer water to flush mantis shrimp out. With GREAT results. Just pour on the suspected lair. It's just water and CO2 gas so it shouldn't harm it or anything else.

[ChrisPrusha]

Holy cats!! Your big problem is the mantis...the rock crabs ime will only take out a snail or two periodically.

Does the LR have corals on it? If not, what about fresh water dipping each rock in an old salt bucket?

It's not a sure-fire solution, but it might work.

What livestock is left in your tank?

[JJP161]

I have been trying the seltzer water dip but I don't know which rock and there is 150lbs of it. I do have live corals, feather dusters, christmas tree worms, etc. Please help. Thank-you

[JJP161]

The only livestock left is a foxface, cardinal, small anemone, 2 peppermint shrimp, 1 brittle star, 10 blue hermits, 10 snails.

[JJP161]

Ok, girlfriend hit a bunch of rock with the soda water and found 12 more little crabs and 4 worms. One about 4" long and fairly big around but we can get him out of the rock. Here's a couple more pics. Still can't get the mantis out.

[aquawolf]

Those look more like bristle worms now. Did the other ones look just like those? They don't to me in the picture, but my eyesight is not the best either.

[JJP161]

You are right, these do look much different. I'm starting to think we have a little of everything in there.

[ChrisPrusha]

I wish I had some proven technique for getting the mantis out. What's your latest thought on capturing him, if any?

[aquawolf]

I think you have a little bit of everything as well. It seems pretty cool over all, the only problem is what you are experiencing now and that is trying to figure out who your friends and foes are.

I am not sure what I would do in your situation as 150 lbs of rock is a lot to have to search through for these little pests. I wish I could be of more help to you but all I can do at this point is offer my support.

[BarbMazz]

Hi, Joe.. I have a TBS tank, too. Mine's been set up since mid-April. I have at least one mantis, and who knows? maybe more. Mine has not wreaked any havoc that I'm aware of. Have you ever seen yours?

Mine, I believe, is a "smasher" meaning he will smash snails/crabs. I have seen him dragging shells back to his hole on occasion, but my cuc population is staying up there so not a problem. Plus, I make sure to feed him when I feed the tank. He now comes up to a rock at the top of the tank and I slip him some hunks with tongs. I figure a fed mantis is a happy mantis that won't steal my good stuff.

If your mantis is a "spearer" he could be the culprit in your fish deaths as that's what the spearers hunt for. Both types of mantis are found in the Caribbean.

There are "mantis traps" on the market... you bait them, and when a critter goes into it a door closes so they can't escape. I've read that mantis are too smart for anything else but that! Here's a link to the trap:
http://www.aquariumguys.com/xtermina...rimp-trap.html

I also have lots of gorilla crabs; slowly getting them with occasionally set traps.

I haven't seen any worms like the ones you have pictured. I have lots of spaghetti worms and feather dusters. I'm sure the kind you have are in my tank, but I haven't seen them.

I'm so sorry you're having all these livestock losses! That's awful, and must be very upsetting for you.

Do you have a link to more information about your tank? I'd love to read up on it to see the size, age, parameters, etc.

Lastly, have you contacted Richard about the problems you're having? Or looked at the hh pictures on the TBS website? There may be some ID help there.

[JJP161]

UPDATE: the girlfriend had enough and did the all of the rock in the seltzer water and still no mantis, and he has been pretty quiet so honestly we still have no idea. One time it sounds like he is still in the tank, maybe in the sand or in the one rock left. The next time it sounds like he is in one of the tubs of rock. She did find another 8-9 crabs, they look just like the gorilla crab we had minus the hair and 3-4 more worms. So though the mantis is the target we are going ahead and pulling what we find to be on the safe side for now. Aquawolf you hit the nail on the head, we just don't know who are friends and foes and thank-you very much for the support it does mean alot. In fact, everyone thank-you for your help and support.

Thank