Coco worm sick?

[Reefster]

My coco worm has not come out for 3 days now except for a brief minute or two on Sunday. And when it did it was not a "full bloom". All parameters check out ok. In the past month it appeared to have added on about 1/2" to the top of it's tube. Also, I can see the top of him in the tube about an inch down - still red and white.

Any idea what is wrong? If dead, what should I be seeing?

 

[Bifferwine]

How long have you had it? Coco worms do not normally live long in our systems. It is believed that they gradually starve to death. Most people can only keep them alive for a couple weeks to a couple months. In my opinion, it is an animal that should be left in the ocean and not sold in this hobby until we know how to meet their needs. I don't know why yours isn't doing well, but that's unfortunately how it goes with 99% of these guys. It's a pity because they are so beautiful.

 

[Reefster]

I've had him for about 10 weeks and feed him about once a week.

Pity, I did not know they were so fragile in captivity. Really cool to watch - kids love watching it move around.

 

[Reefster]

Believe it or not, but after 5 days without seeing the worm, he came out and is back to business as usual.