what are these fuzzy things?

[LG1907]

Hi

i have about 5 of these growing in my tank, they are fairly small... Can you tell me if these are ok... are they friend or foe?

since i am seeing more, just want to be sure

 

[Flippers4pups]

How about a picture? Is the "thing" in question in your avatar?

 

[disc1]

Hmmmm. Fuzzy? My guess is it's a cat. It probably hitch hiked in on the live rock from the pet store or it fell into the tank while trying to catch a fish. You should take it out of the tank as they generally don't like water. Be careful because they have some fierce claws and will scratch at you.

 

[LG1907]

LOL ---Pic was too big

LOL ---Pic was too big

omg...i spent like 45 mins trying to get my pics up... i am going to change my camera settings since cropping didnt help... thanks for your patience :wavehand:

 

[LG1907]

Fuzzy thing take II

Fuzzy thing take II

lets see if the pic will fit, tried cropping it.... looks like a feather duster, but they are growing out of my live rock... i've seen about 5 of them...this is the biggest and its about the size of my finger tip

 

[bigkegkev]

?Majano or aiptasia, would be my guess! Both prolific and can sting corals!

 

[poolkeeper1]

Aptasia, Very Invasive and a Copperband Butterfly Fish will eat them all gone!
Bill

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Aiptasia, a pest anemone. you need to get to them now before they continue multiplying. There are several products on the market you can inject them with but you can also use boiling water, lemon juice or some kalk slurry to kill them. Inject directly into their mouth.

 

[Dream2aReef]

Aiptasia, you can try Joe's Juice or Aptasia X. Before adding any fish that are said to take care of the problem do a little research to make sure they'll be compatiable with the other fish, corals, and inverts you may have or may be getting.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Aptasia, Very Invasive and a Copperband Butterfly Fish will eat them all gone!
Bill

I would advize against this. Copperbands are notorious for not lasting very long due to the difficulty in feeding them. If you want to try biological control, peppermint shrimp will eat aiptasia.

 

[sean112280]

I like to use Kalk. Its cheap and usually works well

 

[Dream2aReef]

I forgot to say that I've personaly tried Aptasia X with some luck but I've had the most luck with my peppermint shrimp.

 

[LG1907]

can i try pulling them out myself? I have 2 clown fish that eat everyting and all my other fish and shirmp have died from starvation... very frustrating!! I had a fireshirnp and a alage blenny that both died .... due to starvation i think

 

[Dream2aReef]

You can try but it's not easy because they pull away as soon as you go near them. I've also read that others have tried this and it doesn't work or they see more pop up in its place.

 

[disc1]

If you pull it out and even one single cell is left behind on the rock, they will come back. You have to melt them.

 

[LG1907]

pulling them out...

pulling them out...

ah u r correct they will probably close up... how can i melt them? using Kalk?

 

[disc1]

Kalk, boiling water, lime juice, there are lots of methods out there. Search for aptaisia control and you will get thousands of hits.

 

[sponger0]

I used some lemon juice and heated it up in the microwave and injected with a siringe and gone. So yes this method works

 

[stevereef]

pepermint shrimps did the trick for me, althought it is my understanding not all perpermint shrimps will eat the aptaisia. I guess it depends where the shrimps were collected? Or just use Joe's Juice.