What are these weird things (pics)?

[Fluid]

Anyone have any clue what the following things are?

1. Black & White flat thing. Maybe a flatworm of some kind? It's probably a millimeter thick and never seems to move in front of my eyes, but it does move. I would say 1 1/2 centimeters long. Any ideas?

2. Weird black and white antennae that come out of the ends of one of my rocks. There are two, and they constantly swirl about. I would say they are about 1 centimeter in length. Weird?!

3. Ok, this one has completely stumped me. This little flat white and purple rock looks to be some sort of old dead rock. It's about 1/2 a centimeter from one side to the other, and 1 mm thick. I originally thought it was just some shell or something, but this is where it gets weird. I started noticing it in weird spots about my tank, like up against the tank wall, or next to something else, it almost was like it was moving. THEN TODAY, I see it literally suspended off an edge of my live rock. If you look closer, you can see some sort of very faint whitish stuff holding it to the rock. I have no clue, but it is not just a shell, this thing has a life of its own.

 

[pimpinitup6969]

# 2 looks like some sort of bristle star

 

[Iguana79]

Welcome to the wonderful world of reefing. I see all this weird stuff and just go with it! You will find more weird stuff. Just enjoy it and go with it!

 

[Fluid]

The shell thing leaves me totally dumbfounded. No clue how a rock can move. It basically looks like a dime sized shell with no legs or arms or anything.

 

[Alexzor]

I have 2 #2's and I have never seen them come fully out yet however they both have 5 arms and I belive they are a starfish of some kind.

 

[rgrobe]

#1 does look like a flatworm or small mollusk. If you can't positively ID it I would take it out. #2 are the legs of young brittle stars. As they mature they will grow in size and the stripes on the legs will become more pronounced. You will probably see more in numbers as time goes on. If there is one there are probably more. As they grow they will show more of themselves. #3 is something I've never seen. Following the thread to see if anyone else knows.

 

[Fluid]

An update: #1 has two brown "horns" coming out of one end. This is making me think it is some sort of nudibranch? They are thicker and shorter than antennae would be, they look much more like horns. You can see them at the tip of the larger section of picture #1.

Also, #3 has now been completely stuck against the rock, it is no longer suspended, and the brown tube in the picture has turned around to "hold on" to it.

 

[eyesinthedrk]

#3 looks like it maaaaaaaay be a Foraminiferan


http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchodds.html

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/rs/index.php

 

[Fluid]

Here's an updated shot of it. You may be on to something with the Foraminiferans, I actually found another one of these discs in my tank, it's about half the size of the original.

Updated original disc, it has now moved slightly.

 

[greenbean36191]

1. is an arminid nudibranch. It feeds on the clove polyps you found it on.
2. is a brittle/serpent star
3. is a foraminiferan

 

[Fluid]

Excellent, thanks! I immediately removed the nudibranch, although it was not a very pretty removal. The thing basically disintegrated when I grabbed him with tweezers.

 

[Whys]

I hope you are running carbon. Some nudibranch can be toxic.

 

[Fluid]

Great, toxic nudibranch guts + 12 gallon tank make for an excellent cocktail. I do run carbon, but it hasn't been changed in about a week and a half! Let's hope everything's alive! Thanks again.

 

[greenbean36191]

There's only one family of nudibranchs that is toxic enough to pose a risk to tankmates and it rarely makes it into the hobby. This slug is not one of them. The tankmates will be fine.

 

[BeginnerReefer]

I thought most nudibranches cost a pretty penny? Cause don't most people get them for aiptasia or something like that? lol

 

[greenbean36191]

Those are entirely different nudibranchs from a whole different family. There are thousands of species and almost all have very specialized diets. Those that eat soft corals generally don't eat anemones, and Aeolidiella (aka "Berghia") doesn't eat soft corals like arminids do. No one would pay a pretty penny for an arminid since they are pests.

 

[Whys]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14836170#post14836170 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by greenbean36191
No one would pay a pretty penny for an arminid since they are pests.

Clearly, you're not a salesman.