Help ID this 12-16 inch worm

cfd3lsd · 04/07/2012, 10:45 PM

This is the second one of these worms I've caught. The first (seen in the pic below) was in August 2008. I'm pretty sure he was eating my snail population. He covers them in a translucent mucus and could eat 10 a month. Last week I noticed my clam had mucus on was irritated after doing fine for more than 2 years. I moved him to a different location and started my nightly vigilence. Finally, I caught another large worm (he still alive!). I'm thinking it may be a Eunicid, as it creates a sand tube but it also bores into the rocks. However, it may also be a Lumbrinerid. Any thought?

cfd3lsd · 04/07/2012, 11:03 PM

another pic, this is from tonight.

cfd3lsd · 04/07/2012, 11:39 PM

Nereidae (near--id-ay)?

dzhuo · 04/08/2012, 12:09 AM

This is an Oenone fulgida. It's a nocturnal predator on snails and clams.

jcmjoe · 04/08/2012, 05:14 AM

Check out Coralife "Trap Em" worm trap. I have one and it works.

snorvich · 04/08/2012, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dzhuo

This is an Oenone fulgida. It's a nocturnal predator on snails and clams.

Good call.

cfd3lsd · 04/08/2012, 05:50 AM

Awesome, thanks for the help. I think I remember reading about these years ago. If I recall they can be pretty bad customers. Give that this is the second 10+ inch one I've caught, how worried should I be? I do have issue keeping snails alive, however my clams have been okay until one incident last week. The one affected seems to be better since I moved him. Is this a case of, if you see one/two, then you really have tons?

dzhuo · 04/08/2012, 03:05 PM

Yes I will be a little concern mainly because the reproduction cycle of Oenone fulgida is not well known so it's hard to say if there is any remaining worms (offsprings, etc). I have heard reports of tanks which are Oenone fulgida free for many months just to have them reappear. I think you will have to be diligent to search for them during lights out. You will need to know which rock they hide and remove the rock to flush out the worm.

04/08/2012, 12:09 AM	#4
dzhuo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,338	This is an Oenone fulgida. It's a nocturnal predator on snails and clams. __________________ One of the most frustrating thing about this hobby? The blind leading the blind.

04/08/2012, 05:14 AM	#5
jcmjoe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 279	Check out Coralife "Trap Em" worm trap. I have one and it works. __________________ Peace Current Tank Info: 50 gallon reef, 75 Gallon FOWLR

04/08/2012, 03:05 PM	#8
dzhuo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,338	Yes I will be a little concern mainly because the reproduction cycle of Oenone fulgida is not well known so it's hard to say if there is any remaining worms (offsprings, etc). I have heard reports of tanks which are Oenone fulgida free for many months just to have them reappear. I think you will have to be diligent to search for them during lights out. You will need to know which rock they hide and remove the rock to flush out the worm. __________________ One of the most frustrating thing about this hobby? The blind leading the blind.

04/07/2012, 11:39 PM	#3
cfd3lsd Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 160	Nereidae (near--id-ay)?

04/08/2012, 05:50 AM	#7
cfd3lsd Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 160	Awesome, thanks for the help. I think I remember reading about these years ago. If I recall they can be pretty bad customers. Give that this is the second 10+ inch one I've caught, how worried should I be? I do have issue keeping snails alive, however my clams have been okay until one incident last week. The one affected seems to be better since I moved him. Is this a case of, if you see one/two, then you really have tons?