hitch hiker ID

[coralfever]

New to the hobby and the site so any help is appriciated. I was wondering if anybody could ID these for me. They live in the LR, maybe some type of worm(?) the have about 1" long tenticles that resemble a tree branch. There are 8 tenticles per worm(?). One is white and the other is white with redish bands. They fold over when feeding(?) one tenticle at a time and slowly uncurl, sort of like a wip. If scared they quickly suck back into the rock. I will see if I can get some pics. Thanks for the help.

 

[scrmbld33]

sounds like aptasia (bad) or feather dusters, im leaning toward aptasia but really need a pic to be sure

 

[lvpd186]

Check the thread on Aiptasia Control. If I remember right there are pics there that you can compare with what you are seeing in your tank. (also how to get rid of them)

 

[coralfever]

thanks but definately not aptasia. Had the problem already lol. As for the feather duster, i don't think so. I have done many searches of feather dusters and can't come up with anything that resembles it. Thanks for the response though

 

[Evergreen]

Re: hitch hiker ID

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6948431#post6948431 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coralfever
There are 8 tenticles per worm(?). One is white and the other is white with redish bands. They fold over when feeding(?) one tenticle at a time and slowly uncurl, sort of like a wip.

This sounds like Xenia!!

 

[sebwin]

Are you sure it's a worm? Sounds very much like a tiny starfsh. Very common hitchiker in live rock. They come out at night and spend the day often hidden in tiny cracks in rock with only their arms sticking out, they characteuristically curl around like you say, so often not recognisable as starfish.
They usually wouldn't have 8 legs though?

Here are some white ones, but come in many sizes and shapes. I have a couple of thing ones with red and white striations on their legs.

 

[Paintbug]

the way they are feeding sounds like a Crinoid (feather star). take a look here http://www.starfish.ch/collection/federsterne.html does any of these look close? if not we are probably going to need a pic.

 

[Dischirm]

Spaghetti worms! You will be able to see your rock "poop" occassionally. Not sure of latin name but they are good things!!

 

[RLMainers]

Feather dusters...but a pic would be nice.

 

[coralfever]

thanks for the responses but they are none of these mentioned(brittle stars, spagetti worms) I have both. Possibly a Crinoid (feather star) but none of the pics matched. I tried to take picks but to blury to really see them. Thanks for the help!

 

[Mrs.kbmdale]

check out these two sites and see if they help, if not then at least you'll have them for future reference

http://melevsreef.com/id/ and http://www.xtalworld.com/Aquarium/hitchfaq.htm

Hope you find out what it is you have.

Bree