Clear strings in tank?

leemosh · 11/05/2015, 10:33 AM

Hi, I have some kind of filter feeding things in my tank I was hoping someone could help me identify. They are little white slimes that are in a couple of places (on a gorgonian, on a powerhead and on the back wall of the tank). They are all white and quite small (~1/8"). They send out long (~6") very thin strands that I assume they use for filter feeding. If I touch the strand with something, it retracts. Often the long strand has many smaller strands coming off of it, it kind of looks like a feather.

It's hard to describe. It's even harder to photograph. The strands are so thin that sometimes I only see them when I look a certain way in the tank. It kind of reminds me of vermetid snails, but there aren't any shells.

Does anyone know what this could be? And is it something I should try and deal with or just let it be?

cloak · 11/05/2015, 11:29 AM

Comb Jelly perhaps? (Ctnephore)

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

leemosh · 11/05/2015, 03:41 PM

Good call, that's exactly what it looks like!

I've looked and looked, but it's hard to search for something without knowing what it's called, so thanks for helping with that.

It sounds like they're harmless filter feeders that don't usually last long, so I'll enjoy them while I have them and stop worrying about them harming other things.

11/05/2015, 10:33 AM	#1
leemosh Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 48	Clear strings in tank? Hi, I have some kind of filter feeding things in my tank I was hoping someone could help me identify. They are little white slimes that are in a couple of places (on a gorgonian, on a powerhead and on the back wall of the tank). They are all white and quite small (~1/8"). They send out long (~6") very thin strands that I assume they use for filter feeding. If I touch the strand with something, it retracts. Often the long strand has many smaller strands coming off of it, it kind of looks like a feather. It's hard to describe. It's even harder to photograph. The strands are so thin that sometimes I only see them when I look a certain way in the tank. It kind of reminds me of vermetid snails, but there aren't any shells. Does anyone know what this could be? And is it something I should try and deal with or just let it be?

11/05/2015, 11:29 AM	#2
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Comb Jelly perhaps? (Ctnephore) http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker.shtml

11/05/2015, 03:41 PM	#3
leemosh Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 48	Good call, that's exactly what it looks like! I've looked and looked, but it's hard to search for something without knowing what it's called, so thanks for helping with that. It sounds like they're harmless filter feeders that don't usually last long, so I'll enjoy them while I have them and stop worrying about them harming other things.