Help with id

[mfaso24]

Anybody have any clue as to what this is? Noticed a few spots on different areas of my live rock.

[cloak]

Can you get a picture without the blues on? Can you describe what your seeing? It's kind of hard to tell from the picture above..

[Calappidae]

can you get a picture without the blues on? Can you describe what your seeing? It's kind of hard to tell from the picture above..

+1

[Noah 123]

If you mean the little spiny thing it could be aiptasia, a sea urchin, or a sea spider.

[Betta132]

The spiny stuff?
Get a picture without the blue so we can see the color. Also, does it only turn up in the shadows? What does it feel like? Does it move/retract if poked? Don't poke with a finger, it may sting.

[mfaso24]

Hope this is a better picture.
Anyway to help with how it looks. It kinda has a brown surface with white spiny things coming out of it. These are quite small and you really have to look to find them. The white things look almost worm like (but are not worms) and have tiny tentacles on each of them. Tried brushing against it with a net. It didn't really retract.

[cloak]

I'm not sure what the brown stuff is, (algae of some sort perhaps) but the spiny things your describing sounds kind of like spionid worms.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rs/

[mfaso24]

I'm not sure what the brown stuff is, (algae of some sort perhaps) but the spiny things your describing sounds kind of like spionid worms.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rs/

Don't spionid worms have a tube they live within?

[dzhuo]

Are you able to get a closer up (and clearer) photo? With the blurry photo, my guess would be hydroids.

[mfaso24]

Are you able to get a closer up (and clearer) photo? With the blurry photo, my guess would be hydroids.

That's what I fear. I have digitate hydroids in my tank. These are not digitate. Could these be colonial?

[dzhuo]

Yes that's what I suspect. Probably Hydractinia or relative.

[mfaso24]

Yes that's what I suspect. Probably Hydractinia or relative.

Hmm any suggestions on how to irradiate this pest?

[ajespo85]

kill it with fire..

[dzhuo]

Hmm any suggestions on how to irradiate this pest?

Nudibranchs and certain type of snails are the only natural control I am aware of. Unfortunately, none of them are readily available. Worse, you need to know the exact spices of the hydroids (which we are still not even sure) in order to find the right nudibranchs. For example, certain types of Opisthobranch sp. will almost certainly be able to control most hydroids you throw at them.

In all honesty, manual removal is probably the only and best way to go. If this is the only patch you have, just physically remove this particular section of the rock and be done with it. If you are able to make sure to keep nutrition low in your tank, it's possible they never become a real problem.

[cloak]

You could try smothering them with some epoxy.

[Betta132]

I vote for pulling out the rock and covering them in superglue. Make sure it's completely set before putting it back, though, or a fish could glue its mouth shut nipping at it.

[mfaso24]

Just wanted to update you guys that I noticed a few of these same growths on some of my dwarf cerith snails shells. Could that change the id or is it still likely hydroids?

[dzhuo]

No change of ID. I would still suspect Hydractinia:

http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/cnidaria/hydech.jpg

But you are now able to get a better picture?