Killer worm!

[concon]

I saw a thin, orange ,very long worm attack a small snail. It literaly wrapped itself around the snail and covered it with a slim and killed it! Can anyone tell me what kind of worm it is and how I can get rid of it?

 

[Anonymous]

How long? If it's really long & thin it could be a Nemertea (Ribbon Worm). They will eat any slow small critter in the sand.

Is there anything else about the worm that you noticed?

 

[concon]

this thing was stretched atleast eight inches but was still attached to the rock at the other end. It is thin and looks to be round and is smooth.

 

[Anonymous]

Doesn't sound like a Nemertea. Are you sure the snail was alive before the worm got there? Dead Snails attract Bristle Worms.

 

[concon]

I am sure this was not a bristle worm. I had just put some new snails in the tank and had turned off the light in the tank when I noticed the worm stretched across the sand. It appeared to have a smooth body, looked nothing like a bristle worm. The worm in the picture looks something like it . It was a light orange color. I will try to get a picture.

 

[wade1]

Drop a piece of food/shrimp/etc near where it originated and see if you can entice it out of its hole... that should help you get a pic/description.