rare opportunity

[saabtech]

i have a rare opportunity for someone.
i just caught a ribbon worm (about 3 inches in length) who wants a breed specific tank to do some studying (there is not a lot of information on this guy so you could be the front runner!)

[justahobby]

wow....

[justahobby]

wow....it should be noted these guys feed strictly on segmented worms

[Mr Cob]

Very cool.

[saabtech]

well i put him in a mug covered in pantyhose in the sump until i figure out what i am going to do with it.

[justahobby]

How did you catch him, what size tank was it in? How long has your tank been set up and what kind of substrate are you running?

[saabtech]

i put on a glove and plucked him off the sand (he came out last night) the tank is 120g tall and has been established for over 5 yrs. the substrate is about 2-3 inches of sand.
here is a post from the first time i saw him.

http://www.maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=56196&highlight=ribbon+worm

[saabtech]

Notospermus tricuspidatus

[justahobby]

Rob got served, HAHA I remember that thread now. I thought your situation sounded familiar but couldn't place it. I think its best chance for survival would be in an established tank with lots of LR and LS. My BC 14 is could be a species only but too small for a specific diet of live foods. Hopefully aregular poster will jump on it so we can follow up on it.

[saabtech]

i sure wish it would go into a breed specific tank.
i have searched and searched but have found very little information on this worm. if any one could help i would appriciate it. my question is>.....

how do these thing reproduce?
do i have more than one and they are reproducing? or
is this the same one and it is not swollen up from food?

[justahobby]

They require a male and female, they have distinct sexes and require a pair. They can more than double in size, stretching and getting skinny or shrinking and fat.

[txg8gxp]

How many crazy worms/etc. you going to find in there. What did your boy think of it?

[saabtech]

i am hoping this is the same worm i saw months ago and i got it out. i hope i don't have many of them. the boy didn't care too much but he wife was scared because i told her about the needle that they shoot out of there "mouth" to catch prey.

[txg8gxp]

hahaha like the movie Tremors...or was I the only dumbie who watched that one.