What is this hitchhiker?

[freeasafish]

I got this with some sea cucumbers.....take a look at the pics...

thanks for your help

[plyr58]

post on photobucket and add the img code to a post here. It's too small to tell anything from the picture in your gallery

[freeasafish]

thanks drew....look for it in a few minutes...thanks

[freeasafish]

check out these pics!

http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv348/freeasafish_2009/DSC_3710.jpg
http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv348/freeasafish_2009/DSC_3709.jpg
http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv348/freeasafish_2009/DSC_3706.jpg

[token]

Sure looks like a pipefish.....

[freeasafish]

don't pipefish have a long slender mouth?

[S4mula]

Its a pearlfish it lives inside the cucumber.

[freeasafish]

should i put it in the tank?

[token]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14226567#post14226567 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by S4mula
Its a pearlfish it lives inside the cucumber. Learn something new (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_fish) every day!

[asherah]

Pearlfish are unusual in that the adults of most species live inside various types of invertebrate. Typically, they live inside clams, starfish or sea squirts, and are simply commensal, not harming their hosts. However, some species are known to be parasitic on sea cucumbers, eating their gonads. Regardless of the habits of the adults, the larvae of pearlfish are free-living among the plankton. Pearlfish larvae can be distinguished by the presence of a long filament in front of their dorsal fin, sometimes with various appendages attached


I wouldn't

[token]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14226586#post14226586 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by freeasafish
should i put it in the tank? Sure seems like you should.

[Octoberfest]

Ok....I'll say it...that thing freaks me out.

[schristi69]

Alien!!!

[skippy2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14226760#post14226760 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Octoberfest
Ok....I'll say it...that thing freaks me out.

OMG, I would have a heart attack if I saw that.

[freeasafish]

It's cool.....it swims backwards... like a snake...

i think i can see its teeth

[gbothepro]

That thing is crazy looking... Flush it!

[chimmike]

don't put it back in. If there's a question..........

[Anemonebuff]

I would put it back in., even if it eats gonads...that thing is cool!

[andygb54303]

put it back in!

[rldavisou]

I would also put it back in. The thing doesn't say it will kill the cuke, just castrate it. Does anyone think that would kill it?

This would be an interesting relationship. I'm curious, did you get to see it come out of the cucumber?

[andygb54303]

or it might haunt you and eat your gonads....lol

[Dancing4raiin]

Set up a small tank for it all alone.

[plyr58]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14226567#post14226567 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by S4mula
Its a pearlfish it lives inside the cucumber.

Dude, how did you know that?

I never cease to be amazed by the quality of the collective knowledge on this site.

[widmer]

I would freeze it before it somehow makes its way into your favorite cucumber.

[Shmax]

Personally, I would like to say I would put it back in the tank.... but if the gf saw that thing, I'd be looking for a 2BR Apt and a roomie that likes fish.

[digitalis]

that thing is cool!

[reeferstace]

Pearlfish have a commensalistic relationship with certain species of sea cukes. The fish lives within the lower GI tract of the cuke. It rarely harms the 'host' cucumber. I am not sure of the success rate of a pearlfish that does not have a sea cucmber host. I say put it in.

[wickedfood]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14226612#post14226612 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by asherah
Pearlfish are unusual in that the adults of most species live inside various types of invertebrate. Typically, they live inside clams, starfish or sea squirts, and are simply commensal, not harming their hosts. However, some species are known to be parasitic on sea cucumbers, eating their GONADS! Regardless of the habits of the adults, the larvae of pearlfish are free-living among the plankton. Pearlfish larvae can be distinguished by the presence of a long filament in front of their dorsal fin, sometimes with various appendages attached


I wouldn't

I'll tell you where not to put it--down your shorts.

[S4mula]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14228734#post14228734 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plyr58
Dude, how did you know that?

I never cease to be amazed by the quality of the collective knowledge on this site.

I watch alot of nature stuff on the tele. :cool:

[devgru]

i grabbed my gonads as soon as i read the reply that they eat gonads...first pi i thought it was loch ness fry