Pix & ID: Critters that come in your rocks: the good and the bad. - Page 14

Mr. Demeanor · 02/22/2012, 10:23 PM

Finally got a semi decent pic of what I think is an anemone. This looks evil but kind of cool at the same time. While I was taking a pic, I think it ate a copepod. About the size of a dime.

jenhunter · 02/22/2012, 10:26 PM

Can ball anemones also be white? I just see reference to the orange ones. I have what I think is a ball anemone growing under a giant clove polyp coral. Do I need to remove it if it doesn't seem to bother anyone,

SushiGirl · 02/22/2012, 10:39 PM

Mr. Demeanor, that almost looks more like a baby LPS coral to me.

jen, I have white ones that have a tiny bit of green around the mouth that you can usually only see under the blue lights. If it's not bothering anything you can leave it. Most of mine like to bug my zoas for some reason LOL.

Mr. Demeanor · 02/22/2012, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SushiGirl

Mr. Demeanor, that almost looks more like a baby LPS coral to me.
.

Could be but he just acts anemomeish !

I have a red sponge ( at least I think its a sponge and so does my LFS) that is growing like plate coral. I noticed tonight that it has little bright red spots that almost look metallic.
I have three variaties of sponge and two are doing quite well. One was a red tree sponge rescued from the beach after a storm. The "brain" looking sponge (its orange but my lights are off) in the bottom left of the magnifying glass is slowly receding unfortunately.

Heres the red:

Sk8r · 02/23/2012, 12:28 AM

I'm agreeing with Sushigirl---
The way to handle it IF it is, is to bring your water to the standard in my sig line, and put that little fellow in a very gently curved glass, not too deep, so that it won't blow under the rocks. Keep the calcium up, and the salinity steady at 1.025, in the lighted part of the sand. If you're cycling---don't panic: many corals survive it handily, as long as it isn't too nasty.
I had some frog and hammer pop some heads (bail) during a tanksitter event, and my rockwork was able to keep them from blowing away. They all grew stony bases, and the frog now has eight heads and is more than softball sized. People think corals are so delicate...they're actually tougher than many fish.

ReeferHead84 · 02/23/2012, 10:39 AM

I couldnt get any help in another forum, so I would give this one a shot. Any clue to what this is would be great. Hydroid?

Sugar Magnolia · 02/23/2012, 01:38 PM

It's a digitate hydroid.

SushiGirl · 02/23/2012, 06:38 PM

Mr. Demeanor, that looks more like algae to me, possibly a plating type coralline, which sometimes the deep red like that looks orange to start.

Mr. Demeanor · 02/23/2012, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SushiGirl

Mr. Demeanor, that looks more like algae to me, possibly a plating type coralline, which sometimes the deep red like that looks orange to start.

Its soft like a leather. I thought it was a leather. I took a small piece to my LFS and they are pretty sure its a sponge. Ill try and get a better pic when the lights are up.
Lots of unique growth on that one rock.

bdr · 02/24/2012, 07:49 PM

What is this red thing? About a half in the way it is folded and about as thick as a hair with white things on each end that are super fine. that is the biggest one i could find. there were a couple tiny ones. thanks!

ReeferHead84 · 02/25/2012, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia

It's a digitate hydroid.

Thank you very much.

Persius · 02/25/2012, 05:01 PM

Just spotted this well hidden fella with what looks like an open shell/mouth. Its about the size of a thumbnail on a piece of Fiji LR that I've scanned at least 100 times. Maybe its just a piece of cracked coralline but those serrations look too regular. If it's alive, its one damn well camouflaged critter.

Ideas?

SushiGirl · 02/25/2012, 05:32 PM

Some kind of clam/mussel, Persius.
Bdr, have no idea what that red thing is, does it move? Could be a worm, could be algae, dunno.

Persius · 02/25/2012, 06:50 PM

Thanks Sushi....maybe I'm not hallucinating after all. (at the moment anyway). The rest of the red stuff on the rock is just foraminiferans and coralline I believe. Nothing moving - except apparently that little biter.

Kingerfish76 · 02/27/2012, 11:04 PM

i have 2 pics which i am wondering what these hitch hikers are im only about 3 to 4 weeks into my first time thanks in advance for your help.

kingerfish

saltwater tank1.jpg

saltwater tank2.jpg

Kingerfish76 · 02/27/2012, 11:09 PM

sorry forgot to mention my tank info i have 30g with clean up crew and 1 clown want a reef set aventualy just not ready for it yet

kingerfish

Sugar Magnolia · 02/28/2012, 06:53 AM

First pic is clove/daisy polyps. Second looks like a stretched out mushroom.

sirbazz · 02/28/2012, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SushiGirl

Sirbazz, hard to tell since the tentacles are all withdrawn. Got any pics with them out?

Mental note: Bow front tanks suck for taking pictures through them.

Well a week later and the critter moved so a spot where I could get a better picture of him/her. I haven't seen the tentacles extend more than this in the past week.

It also has made it's home directly opposite the powerhead in order to feed on vegetation that it can catch in the current.

This rotated pic shows it chomping on a bit of algae, (the long piece).

SushiGirl · 02/28/2012, 10:20 PM

Well, it definitely looks like some kind of anemone, just not sure if it's aiptasia or some other kind.

sirbazz · 02/28/2012, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SushiGirl

Well, it definitely looks like some kind of anemone, just not sure if it's aiptasia or some other kind.

Yeah we'll probably let it grow some more and hopefully have a better chance of ID'ing it down the track. It appears to be the only one in the tank and has made itself at home on the glass where it's easy to find so not too concerned about losing it in the rocks at least for now.

I'll post an update if it changes it's form or color in good time.

WickedBlue28 · 02/29/2012, 12:57 AM

I've had some fish go missing. Do you think emerald crabs are to blame?

Sk8r · 02/29/2012, 10:01 AM

Not too likely, unless they're small gobies that like to sleep in the rocks. Mithrax are given to nipping fins for a little extra protein, but usually won't take a whole fish. I'd look more to alkalinity or other water quality issue, or disease. (Of course all fish except dragonets should be quarantined for 4 weeks before letting them into your display. What fish bring into a tank is a class of critter too small to see, but often lethal to the entire tank: velvet and ich and infections.) OTOH if they're gobies, they den and hide, and you may not see them for a month on end, then they'll be back, pert and happy.

markalot · 03/01/2012, 07:12 PM

Good snail?

SushiGirl · 03/01/2012, 08:48 PM

The snail would be a great question for PagoJoe, I have no idea.

Master_Shake · 03/01/2012, 09:05 PM

What about sea spiders? I have one that keeps getting sucked up in the filter. It lost a leg but has still been surviving and growing.

02/22/2012, 10:39 PM	#328
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Mr. Demeanor, that almost looks more like a baby LPS coral to me. jen, I have white ones that have a tiny bit of green around the mouth that you can usually only see under the blue lights. If it's not bothering anything you can leave it. Most of mine like to bug my zoas for some reason LOL. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

02/23/2012, 12:28 AM	#330
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I'm agreeing with Sushigirl--- The way to handle it IF it is, is to bring your water to the standard in my sig line, and put that little fellow in a very gently curved glass, not too deep, so that it won't blow under the rocks. Keep the calcium up, and the salinity steady at 1.025, in the lighted part of the sand. If you're cycling---don't panic: many corals survive it handily, as long as it isn't too nasty. I had some frog and hammer pop some heads (bail) during a tanksitter event, and my rockwork was able to keep them from blowing away. They all grew stony bases, and the frog now has eight heads and is more than softball sized. People think corals are so delicate...they're actually tougher than many fish. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/23/2012, 01:38 PM	#332
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	It's a digitate hydroid. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

02/23/2012, 06:38 PM	#333
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Mr. Demeanor, that looks more like algae to me, possibly a plating type coralline, which sometimes the deep red like that looks orange to start. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

02/25/2012, 05:01 PM	#337
Persius Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 26	Clam? My Imagination? Just spotted this well hidden fella with what looks like an open shell/mouth. Its about the size of a thumbnail on a piece of Fiji LR that I've scanned at least 100 times. Maybe its just a piece of cracked coralline but those serrations look too regular. If it's alive, its one damn well camouflaged critter. Ideas? __________________ Persius Ottawa, Canada Current Tank Info: 14g nano reef, multiple small freshwater tanks

02/22/2012, 10:26 PM	#327
jenhunter Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Buckeye, AZ Posts: 14	Can ball anemones also be white? I just see reference to the orange ones. I have what I think is a ball anemone growing under a giant clove polyp coral. Do I need to remove it if it doesn't seem to bother anyone,

02/23/2012, 10:39 AM	#331
ReeferHead84 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Solano County Posts: 61	I couldnt get any help in another forum, so I would give this one a shot. Any clue to what this is would be great. Hydroid?

02/25/2012, 05:32 PM	#338
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Some kind of clam/mussel, Persius. Bdr, have no idea what that red thing is, does it move? Could be a worm, could be algae, dunno. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

02/25/2012, 06:50 PM	#339
Persius Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 26	Thanks Sushi....maybe I'm not hallucinating after all. (at the moment anyway). The rest of the red stuff on the rock is just foraminiferans and coralline I believe. Nothing moving - except apparently that little biter. __________________ Persius Ottawa, Canada Current Tank Info: 14g nano reef, multiple small freshwater tanks

02/27/2012, 11:04 PM	#340
Kingerfish76 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 5	i have 2 pics which i am wondering what these hitch hikers are im only about 3 to 4 weeks into my first time thanks in advance for your help. kingerfish saltwater tank1.jpg saltwater tank2.jpg

02/27/2012, 11:09 PM	#341
Kingerfish76 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 5	sorry forgot to mention my tank info i have 30g with clean up crew and 1 clown want a reef set aventualy just not ready for it yet kingerfish

02/28/2012, 06:53 AM	#342
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	First pic is clove/daisy polyps. Second looks like a stretched out mushroom. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

02/28/2012, 10:20 PM	#344
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Well, it definitely looks like some kind of anemone, just not sure if it's aiptasia or some other kind. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

02/29/2012, 12:57 AM	#346
WickedBlue28 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 149	I've had some fish go missing. Do you think emerald crabs are to blame?

02/29/2012, 10:01 AM	#347
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Not too likely, unless they're small gobies that like to sleep in the rocks. Mithrax are given to nipping fins for a little extra protein, but usually won't take a whole fish. I'd look more to alkalinity or other water quality issue, or disease. (Of course all fish except dragonets should be quarantined for 4 weeks before letting them into your display. What fish bring into a tank is a class of critter too small to see, but often lethal to the entire tank: velvet and ich and infections.) OTOH if they're gobies, they den and hide, and you may not see them for a month on end, then they'll be back, pert and happy. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/01/2012, 07:12 PM	#348
markalot ... Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Florence, KY Posts: 3,806 Blog Entries: 3	Good snail? __________________ -- Mark 150G (72x18x27) \| 35G sump \| SRO-XP2000INT Skimmer \| ATI SunPower T5 / NanoBox LED hybrid 60" x 4 + 8 NanoBox v3.1 arrays

03/01/2012, 08:48 PM	#349
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	The snail would be a great question for PagoJoe, I have no idea. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

03/01/2012, 09:05 PM	#350
Master_Shake Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 29	What about sea spiders? I have one that keeps getting sucked up in the filter. It lost a leg but has still been surviving and growing.

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