what in the world is this thing

[rena]

Hey everybody,
I got this wierd looking creature that appears to be growing in my tank.
it looks like a worm with antenae!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway it is about an inch long, red/brown in color, and has long (like 2 inches) hair thickness tenacles (?) stretching out from it. It kinda looks like an earthworm with really long hairs. It is not a bristle and it is real thin. The "hair" like parts were sticking up out of the sand and I noticed they were moving like they were searching for something so I dug it up. This is the strangest thing I have seen in my tank yet (and I have seen some STRANGE things growing in there). If anybody has a clue and maybe knows of a site where I can get pics of wierd things I would greatly appreciate it.......Oh yeah by the way, if you dont use your account in a few months, they will kick you out and you gotta get a new one....geezzze.

 

[Chasing Puck]

Sounds like a terbullid worm--pretty common. Check here for ID: http/reefs.org/hhfaq/

They are good detrivores.

 

[rena]

Thank you very much Chasing . It is a "spaghetti worm" and apparently beneficial. Also, I found other "weird creatures" that are in my tank on that website. So far, it looks like everything I have is "normal". I do, however, believe that I have a mantis shrimp who keeps eating all my little damsels.....how do I flush him out without killing all of my good stuff in the rock?

 

[rena]

By the way, If anyone wants to see a picture of the worm go here: http/www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/picture_p...terebellid.html




Speghetti worm

 

[Chasing Puck]

Do you know what rock he has a hole in? If so, you can remove that rock--making sure he stays inside--and then use a baster to squirt freshwater into the hole. Hold the rock over a bucket while you're doing this, and keep your fingers clear or in leather gloves--mantis can cause serious damage.

Otherwise, you can try a commercial trap. Never worked for me, and if it fails once, the mantis learns to avoid them. Others have has success using a DIY trap--take a 2 liter soda bottle, cut off the bottom about 3 inches from the top. Bury this in the tank, so the mantis can get over the lip. Bait it with food, and then wait and watch. The mantis will go for the food, and then won't be able to get out very easily--you'll have to be there to grab it with some tongs, or it will figure out a way out--they are smart!

To determine if you do have one, get a flashlight and watch the tank at night. Since you are losing fish, I suspect you have a spearer type--the club types usually go after crustaceans more than fish. Probably going to be bright green, and maybe as small as one inch.

 

[rena]

okay, I will try the flush method. I am worried about the other life in and on the rock, wont this kill other life too? I am not sure if it is a Mantis but I think I have ruled out all other possiblities. A small fish will disapear and then a day later, I will find a head with bones attached. I have lost many fish to this, and each time, its a small fish. However, I have lost others who have unexplained wounds and then die from Ich. I dont know which rock but I think I have it narrowed down to two. Ill try them first. Also, once a fish has ich, is there any cure for it? I have tried the fresh water dip and medicines but they still die. I have lost 300 bucks worth of fish in less than 8 months. Let me know if you think of anything else. And again, Thanks

 

[Navarre]

Oopps missed this post!

DONT add the rock to fresh water or even add fresh water to parts of the liverock!
This will cause all sorts of trouble to the rock in the area where the fresh water has hit due to Osmosis.

The safest way to achieve this is to take some of the tank water and place it in a container with the live rock. Then slowly increase the water temperature in this container. What will happen is the oxyen levels in the water will reduce dramatically and anything living in that rock will eventually evacuate to lok for more oxygen rich waters. This will include bristelworms, mantis and pods etc. Coral are very low on using opxygen so they can live in this envirnment for longer than fish/inverts can. The beauty of this is that you can see what comes out of the roc k and simply remove anything unwanted. the rest can be put backin the tank without any harm done.

 

[impur]

Another method!!!

Remove the rock you think the mantis is in. Use a piece of string or twine and suspend this rock in a 5 gal bucket so it doesn't touch the bottom, try to get it about half way up to 3/4 of the way towards the top. Fill the bucket with SW. Add a shrimp or something to the bottom and the mantis will come out to eat, then not be able to get back up to the rock!!