Pix & ID: Critters that come in your rocks: the good and the bad. - Page 34

dsdaley77 · 07/04/2012, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gagonzalez

Also got a piece of rock with about 30 arms coming out of it (First 2 pics). And something that looks like a basket (Last pic). Can anyone identify/confirm these? I think the arms are Brittle stars but I have no clue on what the basket could be.

Thanks

G I would say the first two are indeed brittle stars but not sure on the third pic, kinda blurry

Gagonzalez · 07/04/2012, 12:01 PM

Yea....It's very hard to take a good pic when it's that small. I'll try to post a better pic if I can.

Did you see the previous post? Would you agree with it being a Hammer Coral?

Thanks

dsdaley77 · 07/04/2012, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gagonzalez

I just added some live rock from my LFS and looks like this hitchhiked along. Don't know if it's going to survive since I just placed my Live Rock in the tank but I guess you never know. My guess is it's a type of hammer coral? It's about 1/4" in diameter and started as a 1/2" blob of white stuff when I put the rock in. I think it kinda died and came back to life in the last 2 days. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Not sure if I would confirm Hammer but something in that group. there are so many its hard to tell so young and without the skeletal base. Could even be octopus coral as I had a piece come home from a rubble bin, only lasted 3 days but looked kinda similar.

dsdaley77 · 07/04/2012, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gagonzalez

Yea....It's very hard to take a good pic when it's that small. I'll try to post a better pic if I can.

Did you see the previous post? Would you agree with it being a Hammer Coral?

Thanks

After further look at pic 3 I would guess based on what I see and your description that might be a closed up aptaisia or a closed trumpet paly. Not sure though

SushiGirl · 07/04/2012, 12:25 PM

Gagonzales, in the first pic does it have a hard skeleton under it? If you disturb it you should be able to tell if it does or not. If not, it might be a manjano (majano) anemone. A better pic top down would help or a pic with it closed up.

The arms are brittle stars, and in the last pic I can't tell. Any way to move the rock to get a better pic?

Gagonzalez · 07/04/2012, 07:31 PM

It doesn't close up. Looks the same 24/7. It does not have any single tentacles. Every arm has 2 green dots on the tip and is shaped just like a hammer. Don't know how to distinguish a hard skeleton or not. What's the difference?

As far as the last pic, i can't get a better pic. It's the closest I can get with my dslr. It's very small and im pretty sure its a tunicate of some sort. If i scare it, it closes extremely fast. As fast as a feather duster closes when spooked.

SushiGirl · 07/04/2012, 10:59 PM

The skeleton should be a hard "branch" like you can see in this pic,so it should be attached to something sticking up from the rock.

Tunicates can shrink up a little when you get close to them, but they can't really close. Is that rock on the bottom where you can't temporarily move it close to the glass to get a better shot?

Gagonzalez · 07/05/2012, 09:47 AM

Now that I see a picture, It does have a small white base at the bottom. It is so small though, doubt it will survive the cycle. Actually looks very much like your reference pic with a much shorter base. I'll try to get a better pic of the basket thing when I get a chance and post it up again. May be a few days though.

Thank you Sushigirl!

devildog999 · 07/05/2012, 05:52 PM

Any idea what these are? Good or bad?

sasdrum · 07/05/2012, 05:58 PM

Hi, I have a hitchhiker crab of unknown species. It's currently in my sump, but I want to put some live rock in there and I want to double check that this would be okay in there. In general though, my roommate and I are just curious about it's species. Thanks!

devildog999 · 07/05/2012, 06:21 PM

Would be fine in the sump, just make sure that if you go to put some of the LR into the tank at some point, he isn't attached to it.

SushiGirl · 07/05/2012, 06:51 PM

devildog, they look like Sphaeromatid isopods, if so they're fine.

sasdrum, I can't really see much detail, really need a closer shot, but check here.

sasdrum · 07/05/2012, 07:25 PM

Devildog: I'm looking at putting a couple small pieces of rubble rock in there, nothing large like I'm putting in the tank.

Sushigirl: I've checked that website multiple times, but I can't seem to figure out which one he is.

This is the only other one that turned out clear before I put him in the sump. All I know for sure, is that it took me two hours to dig him out of my rock.

SushiGirl · 07/05/2012, 07:43 PM

Well, still can't really see the shape of the claws, which along with body shape is the best way to ID. I went through all 18 pages of this site & didn't see it there, either. Based on body shape I'd guess some kind of Xanthid. Best to have put it in the sump.

sasdrum · 07/06/2012, 06:23 AM

Thanks for the help.

devildog999 · 07/06/2012, 08:45 PM

Thanks much SushiGirl

debincalif · 07/07/2012, 01:22 PM

I found a couple hitch hikers that came in on my LR. The first is a narcissus (sp?) snail, which should be fine. The other I'm 99% sure is an emerald crab. I've gone through this thread and checked out the crab ID info, so I'm pretty confident I've ID'd him correctly... but I've attached a pic just in case.

My question is this: many folks have warned against any crab other than hermits being in a reef set up. Do you think it's ok to leave him, or should I try to fish him out? Tank is still cycling, but it will eventually be home to softies, a few LPS, and some fish friends.

Thoughts??

emerald1.jpg

emerald2.jpg

SushiGirl · 07/07/2012, 01:37 PM

I can't get the pics to open. Easiest way to tell if it's a true "emerald" is if it has red in the elbow joints of its main claws, like this.

As for whether to keep it or not, that's personal preference. Most people who say they're evil don't feed them/expect them to find food on their own, then don't like the "food" they choose LOL. I've had 4 emeralds in my 55 softy/LPS tank that were well-fed & never hurt a thing.

debincalif · 07/07/2012, 02:24 PM

Let's see if I can try the pics again. He's hiding right now, so I can't tell if there is any red in his joints. One claw has an obvious white tip, and he is definitely green with hairy looking legs.

debincalif · 07/07/2012, 03:16 PM

SushiGirl, you ROCK!

Crab is out of hiding, and indeed, he does have some red markings in the area you described. So now I'm 100% convinced that he is an emerald, and I'll keep him happy and well-fed.

Question: should I put something in there for him to eat while the tank finishes its cycle? He seems to be pretty happy grazing on the LR so far...

mlott132 · 07/07/2012, 04:27 PM

Sorry in advance for the bad pic. I found this on one of my rocks. It is about 1/8 inch long and neon green. It appears to have a fan coming out the one end. Any ideas?

SushiGirl · 07/07/2012, 05:31 PM

mlott, google pineapple sponge.
Deb, you can try Hikari Crab Cuisine (or any other larger size pellets) or even small pieces of sheet algae.

ArrowCrab · 07/08/2012, 02:31 PM

Some kind of anemone or coral?

TheKman · 07/08/2012, 05:53 PM

it's in the middle of the picture it looks like maybe hair algae??

TheKman · 07/08/2012, 05:57 PM

07/04/2012, 12:25 PM	#830
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Gagonzales, in the first pic does it have a hard skeleton under it? If you disturb it you should be able to tell if it does or not. If not, it might be a manjano (majano) anemone. A better pic top down would help or a pic with it closed up. The arms are brittle stars, and in the last pic I can't tell. Any way to move the rock to get a better pic? __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

07/04/2012, 10:59 PM	#832
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	The skeleton should be a hard "branch" like you can see in this pic,so it should be attached to something sticking up from the rock. Tunicates can shrink up a little when you get close to them, but they can't really close. Is that rock on the bottom where you can't temporarily move it close to the glass to get a better shot? __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

07/05/2012, 05:58 PM	#835
sasdrum Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Greenwood, SC Posts: 14	id this please Hi, I have a hitchhiker crab of unknown species. It's currently in my sump, but I want to put some live rock in there and I want to double check that this would be okay in there. In general though, my roommate and I are just curious about it's species. Thanks!

07/05/2012, 06:51 PM	#837
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	devildog, they look like Sphaeromatid isopods, if so they're fine. sasdrum, I can't really see much detail, really need a closer shot, but check here. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

07/05/2012, 07:43 PM	#839
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Well, still can't really see the shape of the claws, which along with body shape is the best way to ID. I went through all 18 pages of this site & didn't see it there, either. Based on body shape I'd guess some kind of Xanthid. Best to have put it in the sump. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

07/04/2012, 12:01 PM	#827
Gagonzalez Reef Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Las Cruces, NM Posts: 703	Yea....It's very hard to take a good pic when it's that small. I'll try to post a better pic if I can. Did you see the previous post? Would you agree with it being a Hammer Coral? Thanks

07/04/2012, 07:31 PM	#831
Gagonzalez Reef Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Las Cruces, NM Posts: 703	It doesn't close up. Looks the same 24/7. It does not have any single tentacles. Every arm has 2 green dots on the tip and is shaped just like a hammer. Don't know how to distinguish a hard skeleton or not. What's the difference? As far as the last pic, i can't get a better pic. It's the closest I can get with my dslr. It's very small and im pretty sure its a tunicate of some sort. If i scare it, it closes extremely fast. As fast as a feather duster closes when spooked.

07/05/2012, 09:47 AM	#833
Gagonzalez Reef Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Las Cruces, NM Posts: 703	Now that I see a picture, It does have a small white base at the bottom. It is so small though, doubt it will survive the cycle. Actually looks very much like your reference pic with a much shorter base. I'll try to get a better pic of the basket thing when I get a chance and post it up again. May be a few days though. Thank you Sushigirl!

07/05/2012, 05:52 PM	#834
devildog999 That Guy Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Braunfels, TX Posts: 457	Any idea what these are? Good or bad?

07/05/2012, 06:21 PM	#836
devildog999 That Guy Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Braunfels, TX Posts: 457	Would be fine in the sump, just make sure that if you go to put some of the LR into the tank at some point, he isn't attached to it.

07/05/2012, 07:25 PM	#838
sasdrum Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Greenwood, SC Posts: 14	Devildog: I'm looking at putting a couple small pieces of rubble rock in there, nothing large like I'm putting in the tank. Sushigirl: I've checked that website multiple times, but I can't seem to figure out which one he is. This is the only other one that turned out clear before I put him in the sump. All I know for sure, is that it took me two hours to dig him out of my rock.

07/06/2012, 06:23 AM	#840
sasdrum Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Greenwood, SC Posts: 14	Thanks for the help.

07/06/2012, 08:45 PM	#841
devildog999 That Guy Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Braunfels, TX Posts: 457	Thanks much SushiGirl

07/07/2012, 01:22 PM	#842
debincalif Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 397	Hitchhiker Question I found a couple hitch hikers that came in on my LR. The first is a narcissus (sp?) snail, which should be fine. The other I'm 99% sure is an emerald crab. I've gone through this thread and checked out the crab ID info, so I'm pretty confident I've ID'd him correctly... but I've attached a pic just in case. My question is this: many folks have warned against any crab other than hermits being in a reef set up. Do you think it's ok to leave him, or should I try to fish him out? Tank is still cycling, but it will eventually be home to softies, a few LPS, and some fish friends. Thoughts?? emerald1.jpg emerald2.jpg

07/07/2012, 01:37 PM	#843
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	I can't get the pics to open. Easiest way to tell if it's a true "emerald" is if it has red in the elbow joints of its main claws, like this. As for whether to keep it or not, that's personal preference. Most people who say they're evil don't feed them/expect them to find food on their own, then don't like the "food" they choose LOL. I've had 4 emeralds in my 55 softy/LPS tank that were well-fed & never hurt a thing. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

07/07/2012, 03:16 PM	#845
debincalif Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 397	SushiGirl, you ROCK! Crab is out of hiding, and indeed, he does have some red markings in the area you described. So now I'm 100% convinced that he is an emerald, and I'll keep him happy and well-fed. Question: should I put something in there for him to eat while the tank finishes its cycle? He seems to be pretty happy grazing on the LR so far... __________________ 24g JBJ Nano, Kessil a360w, InTank Media Basket, Tunze 9002, VorTech MP10wES, ReefKeeper lite

07/07/2012, 04:27 PM	#846
mlott132 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NWI Posts: 697	Sorry in advance for the bad pic. I found this on one of my rocks. It is about 1/8 inch long and neon green. It appears to have a fan coming out the one end. Any ideas? __________________ 75 Gallon mixed reef, Trigger Systems Ruby 30S, Lifereef SVS3-24 Skimmer, Eheim 1262, 2x AI Vega LED Lights, 1x Jebao RW-8 powerhead, 1x Ecotech MP-40 powerhead

07/07/2012, 05:31 PM	#847
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	mlott, google pineapple sponge. Deb, you can try Hikari Crab Cuisine (or any other larger size pellets) or even small pieces of sheet algae. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

07/08/2012, 05:53 PM	#849
TheKman Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 227	it's in the middle of the picture it looks like maybe hair algae?? __________________ 65gallon reef tank - 30gal Sump - Evergrow IT2080 LED - NAC 6 Skimmer - RKL Controller - Jebao WP25 - JBJ ATO \| 2 Clowns, 3 Pajama Cardinals, 1 Hovens Wrasse, Flame Angel, lots of corals.

07/08/2012, 05:57 PM	#850
TheKman Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 227	__________________ 65gallon reef tank - 30gal Sump - Evergrow IT2080 LED - NAC 6 Skimmer - RKL Controller - Jebao WP25 - JBJ ATO \| 2 Clowns, 3 Pajama Cardinals, 1 Hovens Wrasse, Flame Angel, lots of corals.

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