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View Full Version : ID on this hitchhiker?

keiferd
07/30/2016, 08:53 PM
Hello, I recently purchased a Mushroom Polyp rock and noticed this hitchhiker on it. It seems to send out tentacles to eat particles out of the basket it made. I originally thought it was just a mini serpent star or fan worm. but the basket is stationary and I have no idea what it is.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h62/kvb2001/IMG_9838.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h62/kvb2001/IMG_9829.jpg
Dogshowgrl
07/30/2016, 09:42 PM
It kinda looks like bryopsis TBH. It's an algae that a few species of grow in that kind of cluster. If it retracts it may be a type of duster but if you can touch it and it doesn't retract, I would suspect algae over animal.

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keiferd
07/30/2016, 10:02 PM
It kinda looks like bryopsis TBH. It's an algae that a few species of grow in that kind of cluster. If it retracts it may be a type of duster but if you can touch it and it doesn't retract, I would suspect algae over animal.

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it doesn't retract when I touch it, but there is definitely a living animal in the center of it that feeds. I just fed my tank and there are like 4 arms coming out. Maybee a symbiotic relationship?
Dogshowgrl
07/31/2016, 06:37 AM
Hmmmmmm. Can we have a shoot straight on?

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Diana A
07/31/2016, 06:48 AM
I am on my phone so your photo is small. It looks like an Aiptasia
AlSimmons
07/31/2016, 09:34 AM
Check this out. (Polychaete - Flabelligeridae)

http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker.shtml
bdunn12
08/01/2016, 09:49 AM
It doesn't look like aiptasia to me. Wish I can help more.
JAnwyl
08/01/2016, 03:00 PM
http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker/aiptasia.shtml ?
http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker.shtml

Don't know if you've seen this link before, but I think its pretty awesome.
mcgyvr
08/01/2016, 03:57 PM
Check this out. (Polychaete - Flabelligeridae)

http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker.shtml

probably it...

It is most certainly not bryopsis or aiptasia.. Not even close..
Mrs.Shrimps
08/01/2016, 08:46 PM
it kind of looks like the coral specie sexus organa
keiferd
08/02/2016, 06:08 AM
Check this out. (Polychaete - Flabelligeridae)

http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhiker.shtml

Thank you. It is definitely this!
keiferd
08/03/2016, 12:02 AM
I even notice the iridescent arms of it when I look at it at different angles, very cool and I'm happy it's harmless.