Can anyone ID these tiny animals in my tank? (not pods)

[illuminum]

I don't have any photos yet, but I'll try to get some if I can. The frist thing are tiny white specs on the glass. They look vaguely similar to starfish and are about the same size as amphipods. I think they are either Staurocladia or Cladonema jellyfish. They don't look as complicated as Cladonema jellyfish, so I'm guessing they are Staurocladia. Does anyone have any info on these?


The next thing I see is growing on my live rock. It is a series of tiny sptring probably thinner than sishing wire and on these strings are tiny tiny "polyps" that are vaguely similar to aptasia polyps. Does any one know what these are? The so-called polyps don't really recede or move much when you touch them.

I'll try to get some photos in this thread soon.

Thanks!

 

[ycrazyy]

I don't know what either of those are, but as for the tiny starfish / jellyfish looking things on your glass, I have those as well on my tank and have not been able to figure out what they were. Figured they must be some sort of algae?

 

[Dubbin1]

First ones sound like hydroid jellyfish. I have no idea on the second.

 

[Paintbug]

im pretty sure the first ones going to be a hydroid jellyfish as well. hey dont move right? they have tiny legs with dots or bubbles on the tips? if yes then thats what they are.

the second could be some sort of colonial hydroid. without a pic its imposible to tell.

 

[Hattie B]

hydroid jellyfish- are they good or bad or indifferent?

 

[Paintbug]

harmless. they will go away own there own. there isnt alot really known about them.

 

[Hattie B]

Thanks,

I must have thousands of them.

Amber

 

[Paintbug]

i never had that many . my coral beauty will pick them off the glass. i dont know if he eats them but he keeps them under control. i havent seen one on my tank for months. we i first started up 10 months ago, they were everywhere.

 

[illuminum]

So these things move very slowly and they've multiplied really really fast. Is this normal? Do they cause any problems or eat amphipods?

 

[Paintbug]

hydroid jellyfish are harmless. the colonial hydroids can sting you, the fish, corals whatever. those should be removed

 

[Amphiprion]

When you say hydroid jellyfish, are you referring to their medusae? If so, medusae are free-swimming, not usually (some are) attached to the glass. All the hydroids possess nematocysts and are capable of stinging. Some species have a potent sting, including their medusae. Fish with sensitive tissue/skin/scaleless can be irritated by their presence, though most fish aren't (depending upon the species). It may be Staurocladia, but without a pic, there is no way to be sure.

 

[Paintbug]

when i refer to a hydroid jellyfish im talking about these which are most common in the aquarium. theres more than one species, many more. and im not a biologist by no means and couldnt begin telling them apart.
these are what i would call a hydroid jellyfish.