Can you help me ID these critters?

Lithy · 05/27/2007, 07:26 PM

Hello!
my 110g has been up for a bit over 2 months. I have 110lbs of LR and a 3-4â€ LS layer. A multitude of small critters are growing out of the rock and can be seen in the tank. Can you help me identify them and let me know if they are good or bad?

For the pictures please follow the link below. If you click on "Slide show" you will be able to read a brief description. I have a list of 7. If you know what they are please let me know.

http://web.mac.com/robertholloway/iW...0PleaseID.html

Paintbug · 05/27/2007, 07:35 PM

1. dont know
2. a bristle worm of some kind. most the time they are harmless but theres no way to ID the species from that pic.
3. Pineapple Sponge. harmless filter feeders.
4. Amphipod. harmless algae grazer.
5. Vermetid snails. harmless, but the webs, and tubes can irritate corals.
6. Hydroid Jellyfish. harmless and will go away on their own.
7. could be a sponge or an algae, cant really tell from the pic.

Lithy · 05/27/2007, 07:44 PM

Thanks Paintbug! #5 are snails? These tiny spikes coming out of the rock are actually snails? They are completely stationary, hard and grow slowly. hmmm weird!

Paintbug · 05/28/2007, 08:39 AM

yep vermetid snails dont move.

heres a little info on them.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rs/index.php

dc · 05/28/2007, 08:58 AM

What he said! The orange balls are cool. Are they growing at all?

Lithy · 05/28/2007, 01:18 PM

Thanks guys..read a bunch about vermetid snails...kinda cool.
The orange balls where a brief appearance a few weeks back on two or three occasions. They were floating around in the currents eventually disappeared, possibly stuck behing a rock or eaten. The were always the same size, maybe about 1-2mm in diameter each and in clusters of a few balls up to maybe 10 of them. They looked like fish eggs of sorts but I don't think they were. The tank at the time only housed 3 starfish, two blue tangs and some snails/hermit crabs. I have not seen any in about a month or more.

05/27/2007, 07:26 PM	#1
Lithy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern CA Posts: 50	Can you help me ID these critters? Hello! my 110g has been up for a bit over 2 months. I have 110lbs of LR and a 3-4â€ LS layer. A multitude of small critters are growing out of the rock and can be seen in the tank. Can you help me identify them and let me know if they are good or bad? For the pictures please follow the link below. If you click on "Slide show" you will be able to read a brief description. I have a list of 7. If you know what they are please let me know. http://web.mac.com/robertholloway/iW...0PleaseID.html

05/27/2007, 07:35 PM	#2
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	1. dont know 2. a bristle worm of some kind. most the time they are harmless but theres no way to ID the species from that pic. 3. Pineapple Sponge. harmless filter feeders. 4. Amphipod. harmless algae grazer. 5. Vermetid snails. harmless, but the webs, and tubes can irritate corals. 6. Hydroid Jellyfish. harmless and will go away on their own. 7. could be a sponge or an algae, cant really tell from the pic. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

05/28/2007, 08:39 AM	#4
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	yep vermetid snails dont move. heres a little info on them. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rs/index.php __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

05/27/2007, 07:44 PM	#3
Lithy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern CA Posts: 50	Thanks Paintbug! #5 are snails? These tiny spikes coming out of the rock are actually snails? They are completely stationary, hard and grow slowly. hmmm weird!

05/28/2007, 08:58 AM	#5
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	What he said! The orange balls are cool. Are they growing at all? __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

05/28/2007, 01:18 PM	#6
Lithy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern CA Posts: 50	Thanks guys..read a bunch about vermetid snails...kinda cool. The orange balls where a brief appearance a few weeks back on two or three occasions. They were floating around in the currents eventually disappeared, possibly stuck behing a rock or eaten. The were always the same size, maybe about 1-2mm in diameter each and in clusters of a few balls up to maybe 10 of them. They looked like fish eggs of sorts but I don't think they were. The tank at the time only housed 3 starfish, two blue tangs and some snails/hermit crabs. I have not seen any in about a month or more.