ID Needed - What is this? Snake Polyp? PIC included

saltman123 · 04/05/2007, 10:27 PM

I traded someone this single tube looking polyp for a nice orange shroom.

The guy called it a snake polyp. Is that what it is?
Anyone know anything about them? I read that snake polyps grew in bunches, but this guy is solo.

I've never seen anyone showcase one, or talk about them so I figured I would ask if others have them????

His Tank:

My tank after 3 days in the mail:

Fuegofish777 · 04/05/2007, 10:52 PM

i dont know, but its awesome...

saltman123 · 04/05/2007, 10:53 PM

Sort of looks like a fluorescent cucumber/pickle

Anyone else know about these or have one???

Hormigaquatica · 04/05/2007, 11:45 PM

It does look very much like some species of Isaurus aka Snake Polyps. Ive heard conflicting reports of whether they should be in strong light, or very low. I believe Borneman wrote that they should be in very bright light. Regardless, they do need to be fed regularly at night to do well. They tend to grow extremely slowly, and also shed a mucousy 'skin' layer off once in a while, so make sure your current is strong enough to dislodge it, but not so strong it will sweep away their food before they can eat it.

Good luck. Its a nice looking on; I like the green. Ive been trying to find some nicely colored ones like that for quite some time.

saltman123 · 04/06/2007, 12:13 AM

I also heard that they are ideal to keep in low light. The last guy that had it said that he noticed it was happier when it was far away from light so I will take his word since it is super colorful, and I've never seen one this color.

They say that these guys are photosynthetic a bit, but it is kind of funny since they only open at night. Guessing they absorb light all day through their body, and then open up at night to eat from the water.

Hoping this guy makes it and opens soon. So far it has changed size and length just about every time I look in the tank. Seems like a good sign.

I would love to see some more pictures if anyone has one. I've searched for Snake Polyp and found a ton, but are all the same looking. Anyone have a pic to share of their own??

PlaneReefer · 01/15/2013, 11:15 AM

Not to raise the dead here or anything, but I think I have either baby snake polyps or hydroids....It's hard to tell, but this looks similar to images I've found on the net.

PlaneReefer · 01/15/2013, 11:15 AM

Not to raise the dead here or anything, but I think I have either baby snake polyps or hydroids....It's hard to tell, but this looks similar to images I've found on the net.

cloak · 01/15/2013, 12:06 PM

It's kind of hard to tell from that picture, but those are either hydroids or harmless feather dusters. Check this out.

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

ag09g · 01/16/2013, 02:56 AM

To the OP, definitely looks like a snake polyp to me. I have a cluster on a small liverock I definitely did not illegally take from the Florida Keys...took me forever to ID them. I have mine at the bottom of my tank and they seem to be doing fine. Mine went through at least 4 different aquarium cycles and survived so I think they must be fairly hardy. Ive tried feeding them at night but mine closed up VERY quickly whenever I tried....between the flashlight and me squirting things at them they didnt stay open long. So basically those attempts failed miserably.

Im also by no means an expert and have only had mine about six months, I just know I couldnt find much info on them when I finally figured out what they were!

Ill post a couple pics of mine. One of them closed and one of one (partially) opened.
They pictures are old and from when my tank was still cycling. The open polyped one was taken the first night I came home and found one of them had actually opened up, so im guessing it was within just a couple days of the cycle ending. Apparently those are the only pictures I have, and theyre terrible, so I apologize. These days every polyp opens wide at night and theres even a little baby growing

sahin · 01/16/2013, 05:36 AM

Wow OP, that is a cool creature.

04/05/2007, 10:27 PM	#1
saltman123 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: CT Posts: 1,048	ID Needed - What is this? Snake Polyp? PIC included I traded someone this single tube looking polyp for a nice orange shroom. The guy called it a snake polyp. Is that what it is? Anyone know anything about them? I read that snake polyps grew in bunches, but this guy is solo. I've never seen anyone showcase one, or talk about them so I figured I would ask if others have them???? His Tank: My tank after 3 days in the mail: __________________ 12 Gallon Aquapod. 4 Gallon Pico-Coming Soon Current Tank Info: 12 Gallon Aquapod

04/05/2007, 10:53 PM	#3
saltman123 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: CT Posts: 1,048	Sort of looks like a fluorescent cucumber/pickle Anyone else know about these or have one??? __________________ 12 Gallon Aquapod. 4 Gallon Pico-Coming Soon Current Tank Info: 12 Gallon Aquapod

04/05/2007, 11:45 PM	#4
Hormigaquatica Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 3,022	It does look very much like some species of Isaurus aka Snake Polyps. Ive heard conflicting reports of whether they should be in strong light, or very low. I believe Borneman wrote that they should be in very bright light. Regardless, they do need to be fed regularly at night to do well. They tend to grow extremely slowly, and also shed a mucousy 'skin' layer off once in a while, so make sure your current is strong enough to dislodge it, but not so strong it will sweep away their food before they can eat it. Good luck. Its a nice looking on; I like the green. Ive been trying to find some nicely colored ones like that for quite some time. __________________ Reaching up and reaching out and reaching for the random, or whatever will bewilder me. Have Some Personal Accountability Current Tank Info: 240g LPS/Softie Reef

04/06/2007, 12:13 AM	#5
saltman123 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: CT Posts: 1,048	I also heard that they are ideal to keep in low light. The last guy that had it said that he noticed it was happier when it was far away from light so I will take his word since it is super colorful, and I've never seen one this color. They say that these guys are photosynthetic a bit, but it is kind of funny since they only open at night. Guessing they absorb light all day through their body, and then open up at night to eat from the water. Hoping this guy makes it and opens soon. So far it has changed size and length just about every time I look in the tank. Seems like a good sign. I would love to see some more pictures if anyone has one. I've searched for Snake Polyp and found a ton, but are all the same looking. Anyone have a pic to share of their own?? __________________ 12 Gallon Aquapod. 4 Gallon Pico-Coming Soon Current Tank Info: 12 Gallon Aquapod

04/05/2007, 10:52 PM	#2
Fuegofish777 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: S. California Posts: 1,191	i dont know, but its awesome...

01/15/2013, 11:15 AM	#6
PlaneReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: PVD Posts: 28	Not to raise the dead here or anything, but I think I have either baby snake polyps or hydroids....It's hard to tell, but this looks similar to images I've found on the net.

01/15/2013, 12:06 PM	#8
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	It's kind of hard to tell from that picture, but those are either hydroids or harmless feather dusters. Check this out. http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker/hitchhiker.shtml

01/16/2013, 05:36 AM	#10
sahin Ultimate Reefer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 8,540	Wow OP, that is a cool creature.