best way to remove big bristle worm?

[SeymourJustice]

hello everyone

i have had an established reef aquarium for a couple years. about 4 months ago i added some new live rock to it. upon adding the live rock, i noticed some bristleworms came with it. not really a big deal considering i am aware they are beneficial in a lot of ways, but in particular i have one that is HUGE, a little over an 8th inch thick and about 7 inches long (probably at least a foot long if stretched out!!)

i have been fine with it in there for awhile, but it always seems like it is slightly bigger every time i see it! i'm sure the worms have multiplied too because i a see a lot of smaller ones lately

i tried buildng a trap and put a piece of tilapia in it for bait, came and checked it and a bunch of snails got trapped in the trap but no worms

i am wondering, what is my best bet for catching this thing? it seems like its very smart because when i try to even LOOK at it it squirms away into hiding...any thoughts? i had a little piece of heteroxenia completely disappear the other day and i can't think of any other culprit

 

[melosu58]

I`ve heard of soaking the rock in super high salinity water will force them out of the rock.

 

[SeymourJustice]

i am aware of that method but i don't think i'm ready to take my tank apart. plus it resides in the big foundation rocks on the bottom

i'm just wondering if i even have to worry about it being harmful. it's just so big

 

[melosu58]

I have many in my tank I and I dont even worry about taking them out. They are good janitors and will not harm your livestock. I just thought you had your mind made up to get rid of them.

 

[SeymourJustice]

just the big guy lol

 

[SeymourJustice]

just the big guy lol

well i wouldn't mind it but i'm just unsure of how harmful it could be. i'd be willing to keep it if i figured out for sure if it's harmful to have one that's THAT BIG.

 

[Bige]

i have a couple of them, some big, some small. I don't think they are a problem not matter how big they get. Just a little creepy when real big. I saw one at the lfs in a seahorse tank, that was at least 8 inches long.

 

[dannyb]

When i look through my sand bed thru the glass, i count so many. No bigger then 2".

 

[Sharkbait_Ls1]

They are I scary and freak me out as well I haven't seen any that is that big?!