Pix & ID: Critters that come in your rocks: the good and the bad.

[Fishypapa]

Just got a piece of coral from a club member today And while doing a Bayer dip, this little guy climbed out. Got him with teasers and put him in clean tank water. Anyone know what it is and whether I should keep or not?

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

Looks like a brittle star to me. My tank has lots of them. They're good as they help keep things clean.

 

[hogfanreefer]

Ha! I got him!!!

The bad news is as I was celebrating the capture I looked back and saw his twin scooting across the sand. I had him trapped in a small plastic bowl but he got blown out by the current as I was bringing him up :headwallblue:.

The Polyclad Flatworm hunt continues!

OK, I caught the second one but then the next week in successive filter sock changes I recovered two more in my filter socks! I have looked almost every night after lights out and haven't seen any more. Do these kill snails? My smaller Ceriths have been disappearing lately. Do you think I have gotten rid of all of them?

 

[SushiGirl]

Yes, they eat snails. Some eat clams.

 

[Fishypapa]

Thanks Rob. I have one but he's huge and green and I've never had a hitchhiker on a frag before. Haha lucky I guess.

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

Hey Papa,
The tiny brittles are cute. Most of the time I just see an arm or two hanging out from under a rock. Move a rock and they'll scurry like rats. Good ones, though!

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

I am can't get a photo yet, but thinking I have an odd worm of some sort...

There's what appears to be a single strand of spiderweb that drifts in the water. Hanging from one side of it are numerous single strand 'flags' that measure maybe an eighth of an inch. It seems to be a net to catch debris. On occasion this web gets drawn away. I can't find the critter it's attached to, seems it blends into the live rock or something.

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

I'm gonna guess it's harmless...

 

[cloak]

A comb jelly perhaps? Check this out. (Ctnophore)

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

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

That's it, Cloak! Thanks!

 

[jdt312008]

When it moves and you don't catch it often it kinda looks like a crab covered with dust, any ideas?

 

[jdt312008]

Also noticed this little critter towards the center of the photo, it is white in color with a small hole in the center and looks like the texture of a cotton ball, any help is appreciated.

 

[SushiGirl]

Pics are really blue & hard to make out. If the last pic is fuzzy, it's a pineapple sponge. If it's not, it's probably still a sponge LOL.
First pic, no idea where I'm looking.

 

[ReeferKimberly]

I am can't get a photo yet, but thinking I have an odd worm of some sort...

There's what appears to be a single strand of spiderweb that drifts in the water. Hanging from one side of it are numerous single strand 'flags' that measure maybe an eighth of an inch. It seems to be a net to catch debris. On occasion this web gets drawn away. I can't find the critter it's attached to, seems it blends into the live rock or something.

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

I'm gonna guess it's harmless...

Does it look like this? Just sounded like this. They do blend in well. Mine are purse jellies. In the link from Cloak they also look like comb jellies. Does anyone know how to tell the difference? Or are they the 'same thing'?



In this pic I circled the jelly's "body". They resemble bandaids on my leather. It came with 3. If you look close you can see the strands in the pic as well as in the video.

 

[Rob in Puyallup]

Yup, looks like it, Kimberly!

Cool video!

Thanks!

 

[Davi37ggs]

A lot of neat things like barnacles, tunicates, and little clams don't last long in our tanks. Wish they did.

 

[lutz123]

Help with ID

Help with ID

I've skimmed this thread and searched countless hitchhiker websites and just can't ID this one. Newly cycled Picotope (6 weeks or so). It's dark brown or black, about the size of a grain of rice but round and fat - very similar to a fly pupa. You can see whatever appendages it uses for feeding, no visible legs but I haven't pulled it out. Tank is bare bottom. I saw it for the first time slowing moving last night, still in the same general area this morning when I turned the lights on.

Thanks!

 

[LizardLou]

Hi guys/gals may I get some help ID'ing?

This red stuff is cool--it deflates when you come near the tank.
<a href="http://s26.photobucket.com/user/DubZPicZ/media/001_zps9d06667b.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/DubZPicZ/001_zps9d06667b.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 001_zps9d06667b.jpg"/></a>

Really awesome branching star
<a href="http://s26.photobucket.com/user/DubZPicZ/media/007_zps7e817877.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/DubZPicZ/007_zps7e817877.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 007_zps7e817877.jpg"/></a>

Small black thing--a worm?
<a href="http://s26.photobucket.com/user/DubZPicZ/media/002_zps872883fa.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/DubZPicZ/002_zps872883fa.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 002_zps872883fa.jpg"/></a>

Is this yellow sponge?
<a href="http://s26.photobucket.com/user/DubZPicZ/media/007_zpsdd346633.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/DubZPicZ/007_zpsdd346633.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 007_zpsdd346633.jpg"/></a>

Coral
<a href="http://s26.photobucket.com/user/DubZPicZ/media/005_zpsf0e6db64.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/DubZPicZ/005_zpsf0e6db64.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 005_zpsf0e6db64.jpg"/></a>

 

[cloak]

I've skimmed this thread and searched countless hitchhiker websites and just can't ID this one. Newly cycled Picotope (6 weeks or so). It's dark brown or black, about the size of a grain of rice but round and fat - very similar to a fly pupa. You can see whatever appendages it uses for feeding, no visible legs but I haven't pulled it out. Tank is bare bottom. I saw it for the first time slowing moving last night, still in the same general area this morning when I turned the lights on.

Thanks!

A chiton perhaps?

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-11/as/index.php

 

[cloak]

Hi guys/gals may I get some help ID'ing?

This red stuff is cool--it deflates when you come near the tank.
<a href="http://s26.photobucket.com/user/DubZPicZ/media/001_zps9d06667b.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/DubZPicZ/001_zps9d06667b.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 001_zps9d06667b.jpg"/></a>

Really awesome branching star
<a href="http://s26.photobucket.com/user/DubZPicZ/media/007_zps7e817877.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/DubZPicZ/007_zps7e817877.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 007_zps7e817877.jpg"/></a>

Small black thing--a worm?
<a href="http://s26.photobucket.com/user/DubZPicZ/media/002_zps872883fa.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/DubZPicZ/002_zps872883fa.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 002_zps872883fa.jpg"/></a>

Is this yellow sponge?
<a href="http://s26.photobucket.com/user/DubZPicZ/media/007_zpsdd346633.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/DubZPicZ/007_zpsdd346633.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 007_zpsdd346633.jpg"/></a>

Coral
<a href="http://s26.photobucket.com/user/DubZPicZ/media/005_zpsf0e6db64.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/DubZPicZ/005_zpsf0e6db64.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 005_zpsf0e6db64.jpg"/></a>

1. tunicates?
2. basket starfish?
3. ?
4. tunicates?
5. hidden cup coral?

HTH.

 

[LizardLou]

Thanks Cloak! He's def a basket star now that I've looked at more images. He's the coolest hitchhiker.

And yes yellow and red tunicates. I'm glad I have names for them now. I feel like I should flip the rock upright so the red colony can be seen better. I actually just rescaped the rock and I had them in the sand, doh!

Hidden cup coral for sure--you're right on. Thanks a bunch!