ID on this hitchhiker?

[keiferd]

Hello, I recently purchased a Mushroom Polyp rock and noticed this hitchhiker on it. It seems to send out tentacles to eat particles out of the basket it made. I originally thought it was just a mini serpent star or fan worm. but the basket is stationary and I have no idea what it is.

 

[Dogshowgrl]

It kinda looks like bryopsis TBH. It's an algae that a few species of grow in that kind of cluster. If it retracts it may be a type of duster but if you can touch it and it doesn't retract, I would suspect algae over animal.

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[keiferd]

It kinda looks like bryopsis TBH. It's an algae that a few species of grow in that kind of cluster. If it retracts it may be a type of duster but if you can touch it and it doesn't retract, I would suspect algae over animal.

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it doesn't retract when I touch it, but there is definitely a living animal in the center of it that feeds. I just fed my tank and there are like 4 arms coming out. Maybee a symbiotic relationship?

 

[Dogshowgrl]

Hmmmmmm. Can we have a shoot straight on?

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[Diana A]

I am on my phone so your photo is small. It looks like an Aiptasia

 

[AlSimmons]

Check this out. (Polychaete - Flabelligeridae)

http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker.shtml

 

[bdunn12]

It doesn't look like aiptasia to me. Wish I can help more.

 

[JAnwyl]

http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker/aiptasia.shtml ?
http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker.shtml

Don't know if you've seen this link before, but I think its pretty awesome.

 

[mcgyvr]

Check this out. (Polychaete - Flabelligeridae)

http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker.shtml

probably it...

It is most certainly not bryopsis or aiptasia.. Not even close..

 

[Mrs.Shrimps]

it kind of looks like the coral specie sexus organa

 

[keiferd]

Check this out. (Polychaete - Flabelligeridae)

http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker.shtml

Thank you. It is definitely this!

 

[keiferd]

I even notice the iridescent arms of it when I look at it at different angles, very cool and I'm happy it's harmless.