An ID thread this one stumped my LFS

[jet fixer]

I brought my camera in to the LFS to try and get an ID on these things and they were stumped. I was also told they were flat worms on another board.
When in doubt take it out is what I was told. So I cleaned them off the power head that they were hanging out on. When I touched it water squirted from them. I thought they were tunicates they showed up about a month ago and have not caused any problems that I could tell. Did I kill something I shouldn't have?

 

[plateboy3293]

Interesting but I have no clue on what they are.

 

[harleychic]

I'm curious BUMP

 

[Flavum]

hmm I dont know it kinda looks like the red bubble algea but its never that orangy...was it in the dark?

 

[jet fixer]

they were shaded from a powerhead but not in the dark.
Here is a pic from when they were in the tank.

 

[philter4]

I would bet some sort of tunicate, it would be nice to see them in the water, do they have a siphon and exhale openings when not disturbed? When open if you touch or disturb them do they retract? If you could get a close up shot of one while not being disturbed it would help.

EDIT: I just looked closely at the shot in the tank and you can see the incurrent opening, they are some sort of tunicate, as to which one I couldn't tell you, there are lots of them. They are harmless filter feeders.

 

[Speckled Grouper]

Ikura.....

:rollface: :rollface: :rollface:

Sorry, couldn't help myself.....

I'd say tunicates aswell

 

[Shawno]

Whoaaa! id be freaked out if i saw that crap in my tank. very interesting though thats for sure

 

[Myrddraal]

The in-tank pic looks like tunicates to me too

 

[jet fixer]

Damn, guess I should not have decimated them. I thought they were tundicates but without a positive ID I had to get rid of them. I guess my tank is healthier than I thought I hear they are very difficult to keep alive let alone having them just show up eight months after the tank was set-up. thanks-all

 

[ALASKAMARTY]

Looks like a colonial tunicate, in the Clavelina species, they are common in Florida, Bahamas, and the Carribbean