feather duster/aiptasia??? HELP!!

criss57 · 11/28/2006, 05:40 AM

Does aiptasia retract? I discovered 2 on my life rock. They are very tiny and retract quite often. I have been on this forum looking at ID pictures of aiptasia but am having a hard time figuring out if that is what I discovered. They are very "feathery" and pretty. I can try to take a pic but they are so tiny and are always retracting. So once again my question is "does aiptasia retract? Thanks

Steven Pro · 11/28/2006, 06:26 AM

If it is retracting into a tube, it is likely a featherduster. If instead it is pulling itself down into a hole in the rock, it might be an Aiptasia.

criss57 · 11/28/2006, 07:03 AM

Its so tiny I can't tell if it has a tube or not.

Lydo · 11/28/2006, 07:35 AM

Does it look like the bottom left picture at this like

http://melevsreef.com/id/anem.html

of more like this http://melevsreef.com/id/tube.html

If it has tentacles then it's aiptasia but if you can clearly see that it looks more like feathers then it's more likely to be a feather duster. Plus the way you describe it, sounds more like a tube worm. Aiptasia is normaly more brave than feather dusters.

criss57 · 11/28/2006, 07:40 AM

No... it's more feathery and flowing. I swear it is a baby feather duster. It does not have tentacles like the picture. How do featherdusters reproduce anyway? I have 3 big ones in my tank.

Lydo · 11/28/2006, 08:56 AM

When it opens up is the fan about the size of a quarter? I have a few in my tank. I've been trying to get you a picture but I can't find one of the small ones. I have a few red ones that are even smaller.

criss57 · 11/28/2006, 09:35 AM

They are so small right now that the fan is the size of a dime.

11/28/2006, 05:40 AM	#1
criss57 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 10	feather duster/aiptasia??? HELP!! Does aiptasia retract? I discovered 2 on my life rock. They are very tiny and retract quite often. I have been on this forum looking at ID pictures of aiptasia but am having a hard time figuring out if that is what I discovered. They are very "feathery" and pretty. I can try to take a pic but they are so tiny and are always retracting. So once again my question is "does aiptasia retract? Thanks

11/28/2006, 06:26 AM	#2
Steven Pro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 9,376	If it is retracting into a tube, it is likely a featherduster. If instead it is pulling itself down into a hole in the rock, it might be an Aiptasia. __________________ Steven Pro, yep that is my real name. Current Tank Info: Twelve 600 gallon tubs located in a greenhouse

11/28/2006, 07:35 AM	#4
Lydo Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 121	Does it look like the bottom left picture at this like http://melevsreef.com/id/anem.html of more like this http://melevsreef.com/id/tube.html If it has tentacles then it's aiptasia but if you can clearly see that it looks more like feathers then it's more likely to be a feather duster. Plus the way you describe it, sounds more like a tube worm. Aiptasia is normaly more brave than feather dusters. __________________ 90g tank with internal coast to coast overflow. Quiet One 4000 HH return pump reeflow dart for Closed loop 3 in sandbed Berlin turbo XL Skimmer 4 48" daylight T5s 2 48" T5 actinics

11/28/2006, 08:56 AM	#6
Lydo Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 121	When it opens up is the fan about the size of a quarter? I have a few in my tank. I've been trying to get you a picture but I can't find one of the small ones. I have a few red ones that are even smaller. __________________ 90g tank with internal coast to coast overflow. Quiet One 4000 HH return pump reeflow dart for Closed loop 3 in sandbed Berlin turbo XL Skimmer 4 48" daylight T5s 2 48" T5 actinics

11/28/2006, 07:03 AM	#3
criss57 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 10	Its so tiny I can't tell if it has a tube or not.

11/28/2006, 07:40 AM	#5
criss57 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 10	No... it's more feathery and flowing. I swear it is a baby feather duster. It does not have tentacles like the picture. How do featherdusters reproduce anyway? I have 3 big ones in my tank.

11/28/2006, 09:35 AM	#7
criss57 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 10	They are so small right now that the fan is the size of a dime.