Are these hydroids?

[H20Sidhe]

I used to think that these were tube worms, but I don't think so now!

I will occasionally get a bad reaction after having my hand in the tank, much like poison oak. Blistered, burning, itching skin in an area that starts as a pinpoint then spreads to about the size of a dime, then heals with a scar. A very smart lady suggested it might be hydroids stinging me.

The pictures I have found of hydroids don't look like what I have in my tank, but the description of them being 'tiny and feathery and in stiff, flexible tubes that they can retract into' is a perfect description of what I have.

Extended they look like this:

Retracted, the tubes look like this:

What do you think?

 

[juaninsac]

Yup. Great picture.

I rip the tubes off. Pull the rock out of the water. They're actually fairly easy to keep under control.

 

[mpoletti]

That is some great photo work because hydroids are very small.

 

[H20Sidhe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9329824#post9329824 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Marko9
That is some great photo work because hydroids are very small.

Thanks. My son got a basic digital camera for Christmas & he's getting pretty good with it.

I've ripped off the tubes (with forceps - don't want to get stung any more!) & for good measure I kalk-pasted the rock where they used to be. Now I'll just be on the lookout for any more sprouting up . . . Someone mentioned that they stink when you rip them off & they really do. Similar to fragging shrooms. I was surprised at how strong the shrooms smell - but the hydroids are so much smaller and just as pungent!

 

[SteveC56]

I have these all over my rocks, I never realized that they are a problem. Do they hurt anything?
I have had my hands in my tank quite a bit and haven't noticed anything.

 

[funman1]

I have to second Steve on this one??
I have a few colines on my live rock in my nano and they have never been a problem in this tank?

 

[jlfnjlf]

They sure are purdy.

What kind of a negative impact do they have in the reef aquarium?

John