Please help identify unknown creature

nikkincharles · 06/26/2011, 05:39 PM

Okay everyone we need a little help from some of the members on this board. For the life of me, ......I nor my husband can seem to determine what these three cluster of red plant looking creatures are growing off of a piece of our live rock.

Originally we did think they were a type of coral that might have hitched a ride on our rock from the LFS. They seem to open and close when touched by hands or other tank mates but do corals even move??? We are new to this, sorry! However, today we witnessed one eating a piece of mysis shrimp leftover from me feeding our long tentacle anemone.

We also had a separate but similar cluster of a set of two yellow plant like creatures that would open and close on another piece of rock in our tank but were eaten by our emerald crab.......I wonder if they were the same type of creature. I have included a picture to help in the identification process.
And secondly, If anyone could help identify this guy for us PLEASE! Suggestions &/or Ideas would be greatly appreciated, I have NO clue what he might be.....my husband says he is an anemone because he was originally on our sand bed but one day he somehow popped up on a rock in the back of our tank. Sometimes he is there and then the next minute he is completely gone...out of sight , no trace of him anywhere. We had a an emerald crab and for a period of time this mystery of an plant/animal was gone so we assumed the crab ate him but after returning our crab back to the LFS (because of his aggressive behavior towards our anemone) the mystery animal/plant popped back up on the rock again. I have also included a picture of him here behind our anemone and anemone crab you can see him faintly in the back. The plant/or animal has a red top and yellow stem base which is attached to the rock he is now on. He doesnt open or close like the others I have pictured here but he seems to play hide and seek games with us LOL Please help!

Thanx in advance for the input! Patiently waiting

Lynnmw1208 · 06/26/2011, 05:43 PM

first one looks like some kind of palythoa, 2nd one might be a mojano anemone which is a pest, third is a porcelain crab and the last one looks like a mojano as well.

thebkramer · 06/26/2011, 05:46 PM

WELCOME TO RC & THE ADDICTION!!

The first pic looks like reg Button Polyps to me

the other pics look like a bad pest anemone called majano .. sorry

Here are some great links for ID'ing the "crazies" in our tanks..

XtalWorld
ChucksAddition
MelevsReef
TBSW
Inverts

JHawlz9989 · 06/26/2011, 05:48 PM

the first picture is a small colony of polyps! very cool creatures, and eventually they will multiply. i have brown button polyps myself. you can feed them zooplankton if you'd like, but they also get the nutrients they need from lighting. the yellow group sounds like yellow colony polyps.

not as sure as to the other pictures. the structure certainly looks like a type of polyp, but i dont think ive seen those color patterns before. ill defer that so someone more experienced.

thebkramer · 06/26/2011, 05:48 PM

I'd like to add.. if you decide to keep the buttons.. just keep them separated from the rest of your rockwork so they don't grow like mad!! They are pretty much like weeds in the garden...

nikkincharles · 06/26/2011, 05:50 PM

Okay thank you for the input! What is a mojano anemone if you dont mind me asking and why is it considered a pest??..... and my crab just got in the way

.....I didnt need help identifying him but thank you for the quick reply

nikkincharles · 06/26/2011, 05:58 PM

Wow interesting to know but now Im mad my emerald crab ate my yellow colony I had .....anyway tho how would I keep the buttons separate from the rest of my rock work so they dont spread? Alot of my rocks touch & or lean against each other to form caves and crevices in the tank..... Just curious

bpledger84 · 06/26/2011, 06:14 PM

First one is a button polyp just bought a tiny frag of these. Not sure about 2, 3rd porclean crab, not sure about 4th one either. hope that helps

thebkramer · 06/26/2011, 06:18 PM

Majano and Aiptasia are pests because they reproduce like crazy and can sting your corals, fish and even eat some if they get big enough. They pack a powerful sting.. and can even be harmful to us.. I would know.. as I am allergic to their stingers

There are many ways to kill them.. some easier than others.. but can be frustrating just the same. I like to use lemon juice in a hypodermic needle to inject them in their mouths. Majano from what I understand.. are much harder to kill then aiptasia. Good Luck

Looks like you have the buttons pretty well separated from the rest of the rocks. Just keep an eye on them so they don't take over the tank like this:

This is an older pic..
[IMG]http://i40.*******.com/2iu91f.jpg[/IMG]

and most recent..
[IMG]http://i56.*******.com/10f3yv6.jpg[/IMG]

its an ongoing battle trying to get these things to back off!! lol
unless of course.. you really like them.. then let them go crazy!!!

06/26/2011, 05:43 PM	#2
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	first one looks like some kind of palythoa, 2nd one might be a mojano anemone which is a pest, third is a porcelain crab and the last one looks like a mojano as well. __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

06/26/2011, 05:46 PM	#3
thebkramer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 3,198	WELCOME TO RC & THE ADDICTION!! The first pic looks like reg Button Polyps to me the other pics look like a bad pest anemone called majano .. sorry Here are some great links for ID'ing the "crazies" in our tanks.. XtalWorld ChucksAddition MelevsReef TBSW Inverts __________________ Rhonda There is NO such things as Dumb Questions!! There are However.. Dumb Answers!!! ;) ____________ Current Tank Info: 55g reef....Current Orbit SunPaq Lights, HOB Eshopps, HOB AquaClear 110, 2-1400 Koralia Powerheads & 1 Nano Koralia, 40+ lbs LR, 2" LS

06/26/2011, 05:48 PM	#5
thebkramer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 3,198	I'd like to add.. if you decide to keep the buttons.. just keep them separated from the rest of your rockwork so they don't grow like mad!! They are pretty much like weeds in the garden... __________________ Rhonda There is NO such things as Dumb Questions!! There are However.. Dumb Answers!!! ;) ____________ Current Tank Info: 55g reef....Current Orbit SunPaq Lights, HOB Eshopps, HOB AquaClear 110, 2-1400 Koralia Powerheads & 1 Nano Koralia, 40+ lbs LR, 2" LS

06/26/2011, 05:50 PM	#6
nikkincharles Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 12	Okay thank you for the input! What is a mojano anemone if you dont mind me asking and why is it considered a pest??..... and my crab just got in the way.....I didnt need help identifying him but thank you for the quick reply

06/26/2011, 06:18 PM	#9
thebkramer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 3,198	Majano and Aiptasia are pests because they reproduce like crazy and can sting your corals, fish and even eat some if they get big enough. They pack a powerful sting.. and can even be harmful to us.. I would know.. as I am allergic to their stingers There are many ways to kill them.. some easier than others.. but can be frustrating just the same. I like to use lemon juice in a hypodermic needle to inject them in their mouths. Majano from what I understand.. are much harder to kill then aiptasia. Good Luck Looks like you have the buttons pretty well separated from the rest of the rocks. Just keep an eye on them so they don't take over the tank like this: This is an older pic.. [IMG]http://i40.*****.com/2iu91f.jpg[/IMG] and most recent.. [IMG]http://i56.*****.com/10f3yv6.jpg[/IMG] its an ongoing battle trying to get these things to back off!! lol unless of course.. you really like them.. then let them go crazy!!! __________________ Rhonda There is NO such things as Dumb Questions!! There are However.. Dumb Answers!!! ;) ____________ Current Tank Info: 55g reef....Current Orbit SunPaq Lights, HOB Eshopps, HOB AquaClear 110, 2-1400 Koralia Powerheads & 1 Nano Koralia, 40+ lbs LR, 2" LS

06/26/2011, 05:48 PM	#4
JHawlz9989 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 270	the first picture is a small colony of polyps! very cool creatures, and eventually they will multiply. i have brown button polyps myself. you can feed them zooplankton if you'd like, but they also get the nutrients they need from lighting. the yellow group sounds like yellow colony polyps. not as sure as to the other pictures. the structure certainly looks like a type of polyp, but i dont think ive seen those color patterns before. ill defer that so someone more experienced.

06/26/2011, 05:58 PM	#7
nikkincharles Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 12	Wow interesting to know but now Im mad my emerald crab ate my yellow colony I had .....anyway tho how would I keep the buttons separate from the rest of my rock work so they dont spread? Alot of my rocks touch & or lean against each other to form caves and crevices in the tank..... Just curious

06/26/2011, 06:14 PM	#8
bpledger84 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 89	First one is a button polyp just bought a tiny frag of these. Not sure about 2, 3rd porclean crab, not sure about 4th one either. hope that helps

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Unknown creature! Please help!	sufunk	Reef Discussion	8	04/07/2007 09:07 AM
Unknown Creatures	iownakiva	Reef Discussion	4	09/22/2006 07:40 PM
unknown creature	tory	New to the Hobby	2	04/18/2006 12:43 PM
unknown creatures	reefNetWork	Reef Discussion	2	04/09/2006 11:49 AM
Unknown creature coming out at night?	IMPERATORFAN	Reef Discussion	8	01/18/2006 03:29 PM