Digitate Hydroids Info.

Grimreaperz

Grimreaperz

New member
Okay....so there is a lot of misinformation or confusing information out there regarding this critter.

I have been researching for months....and so far this is what I have come across.

They are filter feeders.
They have a nasty sting.
They don't sting at all
They will kill your fish.
They don't harm fish.
They will take over your tank.
If left alone they will disappear on their own.
They are a type of jelly fish.
Use Kalkwasser paste.
Chisel them.
Acid bath is the only way.

I am having a major issue with these guys....and I'm so confused by the data I have found I'm not sure what to think anymore.

It's hard to get pictures of them as they are never still. They are long white fuzzy strands that flow in the current. Some are getting massive and everyday I see more.

I found a thread on Lionfishliar forum where he actually admits he misidentified this has Digitate and are called something entirely different.

Here is that thread

http://www.*********.com/index.php?threads/252658/

EDIT: it's a reef two reef thread so won't let me post here. Sorry

I am just looking for any kind of solid advice regarding what I can do or if I should be concerned if anyone has any?!


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mcgyvr said:
well..
have they harmed your fish?
stung you?
stung corals"
Click to expand...
Never intentionally touched one...(don't really want to if they sting)

I had a firefish die recently and I am still uncertain of the cause and would like to address all pests prior to introducing more live stock.

None are close enough to sting corals....

Anyone know anything about these things?

I would love to just acid bath the rock. But that would leave me with no LR left as they are some on every rock now....

I found a thread from a while back mentioning some type of hydroid killing agent but the site has since been taken down.....

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darmar7812 said:
Would also like to know as I hit the same wall with misinformation and had since give up
Click to expand...
Yeah man its really discouraging with such a contradiction in the information out there. It's either these are a new pest that haven't been documented yet about habits in the home aquarium.

I have tried the following with no success.

Starving tank for 1+week
Taking them off the rock with tweezers.
Chiseling them off the rock.
Boiling water.

They seem pretty resilient.

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Alright since no body has any information on these. I am going to start doing some experimenting on getting rid of these things for good. Also I'm going to touch when I get home to see if this kind stings. Anyone willing to contribute to this information gathering would be welcome!

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Okay so I was finally able to get some pics of what I am talking about.
They are still a touch blurry as these things constantly move in the current.

But give you an idea.

cj2ORJo.jpg


fk4i4tG.jpg


Haven't touched one yet as I don't really want to but will tonight.

I have noticed they do come out at night mostly.
And light sensitive as they slowly retract when I shine my light on them

I am waiting till I get my Fuge/Sump up and running to start testing extermination methods.
 
So I touched the biggest one I could access...no real sting per say. just retracted.

I am curious if a 6 line wrasse or similar type may eat them as they just hang off the rocks in the pictures above there is an extended and retracted one.

If anyone has these and is planning on a 6 line that input would be great!
I may be adjusting my fish list to allow one but I doubt it would work out in my current setup.

So far. No sting to me.
Picking them off rock with tweezers doesn't work as they grow back
boiling water injection doesn't work
Starving tank for 1+week doesn't work
My snails (Trochus and Bumblebee) aren't affected by them nor is my Cleaner Shrimp

Will update after I start with more extermination methods.
Going to try.

Boiling water with Lime Juice.
Superglue
Kalkwasser Paste
Aptasia X
 
I had them for years in my old reef and at first I was freaking out cause of what I heard about them killing everything.

BUT they don't. I always watched them closely and never saw a coral injured, absolutely never hurt a fish, and also never hurt me. I think you should just watch them for now as no one has ever shown any proof that they are that horrible. A weak coral might be stung or if they were present in big enough numbers they could be an issue but don't do anything crazy just yet.
 
I have been battling them for years, does not kill anything per say but they will prevent other things to share same space. That's the rub, they grow fast and prevent zoas, montipora, sps... from expanding colony. I have tried picking leaving rock out in sun, used deworming medication, no luck
 
drtrash said:
I have been battling them for years, does not kill anything per say but they will prevent other things to share same space. That's the rub, they grow fast and prevent zoas, montipora, sps... from expanding colony. I have tried picking leaving rock out in sun, used deworming medication, no luck
Click to expand...

This is interesting. Are you sure it's actually the hydroids keeping the corals from growing and not something else? Do you have pics of sting marks?

Also what dewormer did you use?
 
I got 2 peppermint shrimp and no more digitate hydroids in my display. Not sure if that is typical but I had quite a few of the hydroids and still have them in my refugium, but not my DT.


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Grimreaperz said:
Okay so I was finally able to get some pics of what I am talking about.
They are still a touch blurry as these things constantly move in the current.

But give you an idea.

cj2ORJo.jpg


fk4i4tG.jpg


Haven't touched one yet as I don't really want to but will tonight.

I have noticed they do come out at night mostly.
And light sensitive as they slowly retract when I shine my light on them

I am waiting till I get my Fuge/Sump up and running to start testing extermination methods.
Click to expand...

I have these and didn't know what they were. From what I've seen they don't do much in way of stinging some of them are in my GSP and the GSP wins. They seem like nocturnal filter feeders. I've seen amphipods crawl over them without getting eating.
 
Ztous said:
I have these and didn't know what they were. From what I've seen they don't do much in way of stinging some of them are in my GSP and the GSP wins. They seem like nocturnal filter feeders. I've seen amphipods crawl over them without getting eating.
Click to expand...
Okay thanks for the information. They have been spreading like wild fire....have been worried as there isn't much solid info out there on these things.

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Bongo Shrimp said:
I had them for years in my old reef and at first I was freaking out cause of what I heard about them killing everything.

BUT they don't. I always watched them closely and never saw a coral injured, absolutely never hurt a fish, and also never hurt me. I think you should just watch them for now as no one has ever shown any proof that they are that horrible. A weak coral might be stung or if they were present in big enough numbers they could be an issue but don't do anything crazy just yet.
Click to expand...
Awesome thank you that's what I have been looking for someone who has had these in their tank and can testify they haven't killed anything....my numbers are growing quite rapidly....but I will be doing rock maintenence soon and will get rid of majority of them.

I'll use a bunch of different methods and let you know which is most effective...besides acid bath.

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Gilby said:
I got 2 peppermint shrimp and no more digitate hydroids in my display. Not sure if that is typical but I had quite a few of the hydroids and still have them in my refugium, but not my DT.


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Click to expand...
I will be picking some up as I have some Aptasia as well thanks for the heads up!

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These things have always been like Vermetid snails IME. Keep your nutrients down and the population should decline over time.
 
AlSimmons said:
These things have always been like Vermetid snails IME. Keep your nutrients down and the population should decline over time.
Click to expand...
But they aren't harmful per say to any live stock? That's my main concern. As I have had my tank fallow sorry almost a month and haven't bother more fish in fear these things will kill them....I have seen my Snails climb over them but maybe thought they may not me effected by the sting....I may be feeding a bit to much but I have about 20-30 baby trochus....like just hatched so need to make sure they grow up big and stronng before I sell them then I will cut nutrients out and just do manual removal till then.

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