Pretty sure I have Hydroids, please help! pic for ID

[sam11909]

I found what looks like small brown aptasia between my zoanthids. I'm pretty sure they're hydroids, just in case they aren't here's a pic for ID.

sorry it's fuzzy, it's the best pic I can get.

how could I get rid of these? should I just let them run their course, or do they spread rapidly? I really don't want to hurt any of my zoanthids in the process of killing them.

Any advice welcome!:bounce1:

 

[sam11909]

no one has experience?

 

[jenglish]

When you touch them to they go back into a tube? or are they all soft and just retract into the rock. Just from the pic it could be hydroids or aptasia. My solutions to either aren't going to do those zoas any favors. I typically use kalk paste or a hand torch.

 

[sam11909]

I haven't touched them yet, but I don't think they are aptasia. Never seen aptasia like this, and they aren't getting any bigger just splitting. They don't seem to bother my zoanthids too much.

 

[jenglish]

If you touch them and see how they retract it can be helpful. At least the hydroids I have live in a tube similar to a worm. My guess is that n matter what it is a thick layer of kalk paste would kill it but likely the zoanthids that go covered would die as well.

 

[sam11909]

Is there any other way to kill them?

 

[Blown 346]

You can inject Joes Juice into there stalks with a syringe, or just use plan old fashioned boiling water and inject them.

 

[sam11909]

I'll probably do that since I only have about five.

 

[jp634]

get some mysis shrimp and a cbb he will take care of them. just make sure he is eating before you buy one,

 

[bubbly]

Those are hydroids -- I have experience with them, and you definitely want to get rid of them before they get any worse.

if they never get bigger but split then they are hydroids, and once those hydroids get established they will be a pure ***** to get out, just because of their ability to retract into the rock (I think they bore into the rock or something).

I would use a razor blade to remove the zoas from the area right around them (and hopefully save the zoas, as the treatment would kill them) and spread some superglue over the hydroids. The zoas can then grow back over the superglue and you'll be as good as new. Alkalinity will also kill them, so kalk paste should work as well.

The last thing you want to do is let these things get established, though -- then they can get everywhere since they are so tiny and you will be afraid to move any live rock to another tank for fear of infecting that tank.

 

[jenglish]

Even if you can't remove the zoas, it is IME better to nuke 3 or 4 and be rid of the hydroids forever. Zoas grow back.