Please help identify these?

[fishnick2401]

Hi, I got a piece of live rock from a store, it had a few of these on it. Now they're spreading all throughout the tank, everything except the glass..... They're thin like the thickness of a few human hairs combined. Clearish-white in color.During the day they are about a inch long, but I noticed during the night when the lights are out they extend a couple more inches longer. They seem to have some type of branches, extending off of them the length of their body. The branches are only about 1/16" of and inch long. Like minature trees. Here's a few pics of them, sorry about the quality of the pics. They're really hard for the camera to get a good pic. Any help would be great....Not sure if they're good or bad? They seem to be filter feeders, never seen them grab any food. Thanks again, nick. not sure if the pic is going to show up? never posted a pic on here before, don't know how to?

 

[johnike]

Try photobucket or another picture sharing site, and copy and paste picture.

 

[fishnick2401]

what are these?

what are these?

ok the pictures should show up now, any help with these would be great. thanks.

 

[cloak]

Digitate hydroids maybe?

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Could be any number of worm species stretching out to feed. Spionid, terebellid, cirratulid, echiura. Pretty hard to give a positive Id with those pics. Do some google searches, and here's a couple of links.

http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchworms.html
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rs/index.php

 

[epicenter]

Looks like a worm of some sort.

 

[fishnick2401]

do you think they are harmful? i'll try getting a better shot. They're hard to get a clear, shot showing good detail.

 

[cloak]

Does it look anything like this?

http://www.melevsreef.com/id/digitate_hydroid.html

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

do you think they are harmful? i'll try getting a better shot. They're hard to get a clear, shot showing good detail.

All of the ones I listed are harmelss scavengers.

 

[fishnick2401]

I typed in digitate hydroids as suggested by another member. Looks just like the ones in my tank. Here's a pic of one

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

I typed in digitate hydroids as suggested by another member. Looks just like the ones in my tank. Here's a pic of one

:thumbsup: Glad you found your answer! They pack a powerful sting so don't try removing them without gloves. From what I understand, they geneally disappear after a while. Here's a thread discussing them - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=836138&referrerid=112003

 

[fishnick2401]

thanks, was reading that artice you suggested, from the sounds of it they will go away after time? Is this correct.My tanks been up and running for about 3-4 months. Started it from an established tank, using some of the rock, live sand and the water from another tank of mine.

 

[johnike]

Yes, they do tend to disappear after a while from what I've noticed in my tank over the years. I wouldn't worry too much unless they start to take the tank over.

 

[fishnick2401]

thanks, appreciate all the info. from everyone.