Pix & ID: Critters that come in your rocks: the good and the bad. - Page 6

Gibbnal · 12/21/2011, 09:04 PM

So how quickly can these reproduce in a small tank? One thing I am learning is that if you see one small creature on your rocks, there is usually another one in there somewhere.

SushiGirl · 12/21/2011, 09:33 PM

They'll reproduce pretty quickly, usually by dropping legs that turn into new starfish.

Modern-Revolution · 12/23/2011, 02:29 PM

what are these orange "cracks" that move around in the back of my pod tank? they look white in this pic.

seeya · 12/23/2011, 02:36 PM

are they good or bad to eat

big cats · 12/23/2011, 08:28 PM

Okay, I'm looking to find an ID on two creatures. One I have no idea what it is, the other i know is a starfish, but just dont know what type.. In the picture, in the middle, right next to the small white spot on the rock, is a small orange-ish colored creature that I am thinking may be a sponge??

diagonally up and right of him, right next to the large white area of the rock, is the starfish. He is pink and green. Pink in the center and the legs have a greenish tint to them. TIA

SushiGirl · 12/23/2011, 08:37 PM

I don't see what orange creature you're talking about.
The starfish looks like an asterina.

big cats · 12/23/2011, 09:15 PM

Would the asternia be a bad one or a good one? Some of them eat corals right?

The orange guy is facing horizontally, and is to the right of the small white spot on the rock. He looks more yellow in the picture than Orange. He has two red spots on him near his base.

SushiGirl · 12/23/2011, 09:23 PM

No way to know on the asterinas until you catch them eating coral. Sorry, I don't know what the other thing is from the pic or the description. To me it just looks like the red spots are coralline algae on a small bit of rock. A really close up clear pic of it would help, but I know that's not always possible.

big cats · 12/23/2011, 09:29 PM

Well, that is the best picture I could get of it unfortunately..the only reason i am leaning towards sponge is because I have no lights on my tank, it's fresh off a cycle, and I can't really think of anything else that could be thriving in that environment.

Joshporksandwic · 12/26/2011, 11:13 PM

Zoa eating Nudibranch and eggs

SushiGirl · 12/26/2011, 11:26 PM

And that spiral above it is its eggs.

UCT · 12/28/2011, 01:00 AM

Found this guy on my snail. Moves fast when the light hits. Has some antenna or feelers. Looks clear but might have picked up the green color from the flash.

mjm7757 · 12/28/2011, 01:22 AM

Looks like an amphipod which is great, they're smaller crustaceans that are a great source of food for the other inhabitants of your tank.

mjm7757 · 12/28/2011, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDSM

what are these orange "cracks" that move around in the back of my pod tank? they look white in this pic.

Most likely they are just really fine bristle worms, as long as they don't get oversized they shouldn't pose a threat to anything.

Seagull_3 · 12/28/2011, 06:22 AM

Hi guys, lots of things starting to pop up now...

Any idea what these 3 x things are?

SushiGirl · 12/28/2011, 11:32 AM

Pics are too small to tell 1 and 3. 2 is a featherduster, harmless.

BDSM, not sure what those are (guess I missed that post). Not bristleworms since they don't branch like that. Could be some type of bryozoan or ctenophore.

Seagull_3 · 12/28/2011, 09:18 PM

Thanks (as always) SushiGirl...

Don't suppose you happen to know what this green hard type of substance is that has also just sprung up overnight. Is most prominent on the rock in the attached photo, although I have noticed small patches on my other rocks as well.

BTW, the cycle is now at around day 13.

SushiGirl · 12/28/2011, 09:58 PM

It may be green coralline. I have some in my tank that's a little darker than that.

Seagull_3 · 12/28/2011, 10:40 PM

Ok, cool... I thought that Coraline was mostly pink/purple, so am just wary of anything unknown (which admittedly is quite a lot given that this is my first saltwater tank haha).

The guys down at my LFS don't seem to be worried about anything. They just said to leave it all alone, no water changes, don't worry about algae, critters etc. You can just get paranoid somethimes when you read about things that you HAVE to remove from the tank before they spread/etc

Can't wait until I get to the point where I can just know what everything is and whether or not any action is required

Seagull_3 · 12/28/2011, 10:48 PM

oops, double post.

SushiGirl · 12/28/2011, 11:14 PM

Coralline comes in all colors. Over the years I've had pink, purple, green, tan, orange, red, white, and maroon. I've heard of blue, but I've never had that. I think the pink/purple is just what ends up liking tank conditions the best.

I'm still not at the point where I know what everything is, and sincerely doubt I ever will be...there's just too much out there!

Aaarrrggg · 12/29/2011, 10:08 PM

Does anyone know what these are...?

#1 White/clear tubes
They're translucent / clear white tubes and they're all over the place in the shadows on one side of my tank. I'm hoping they're some sort of sponge rather than hydroids. I've never seen a feathered crown or any movement, but they appear to be growing quite rapidly. They're not rock hard, but they are quite stiff... I waved the magfloat near them and they wobbled a little in the current.

#2 Lines in the sand
I'm guessing these are caused by some sort of worm or maybe just trapped gas in the sandbed? I was curious if anyone knew any more. They're very small... my sand is quite fine (Pink Fiji)

#3 Algae Strands
I've got a lot of this popping up in my Nano. It feels and looks a lot like chaeto. Can chaeto grow like this in the DT if it escapes the sump? It is often a single strand which starts curling around itself... kind of like green pubes, for lack of a better term!

I'd like to know if it's a good guy or not before I move some of my nano LR over to my new tank.

SushiGirl · 12/29/2011, 10:17 PM

Your IDs are all correct. I don't know what kind of worms those are, but I've seen them before.

Aaarrrggg · 12/30/2011, 12:37 AM

Oh whew! I've been so worried about those sponges!

Thanks so much Sushi!

mjm7757 · 12/30/2011, 02:14 AM

1. I don't believe the tubes are hydroids either. 2. Yeah, I would think those are just from some worms or other life in your sand bed and wouldn't worry about them. 3. I would say that is definitely chaeto.

12/21/2011, 09:04 PM	#126
Gibbnal Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 56	Asternia Star So how quickly can these reproduce in a small tank? One thing I am learning is that if you see one small creature on your rocks, there is usually another one in there somewhere.

12/21/2011, 09:33 PM	#127
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	They'll reproduce pretty quickly, usually by dropping legs that turn into new starfish. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

12/23/2011, 08:37 PM	#131
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	I don't see what orange creature you're talking about. The starfish looks like an asterina. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

12/23/2011, 09:23 PM	#133
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	No way to know on the asterinas until you catch them eating coral. Sorry, I don't know what the other thing is from the pic or the description. To me it just looks like the red spots are coralline algae on a small bit of rock. A really close up clear pic of it would help, but I know that's not always possible. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

12/26/2011, 11:26 PM	#136
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	And that spiral above it is its eggs. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

12/23/2011, 02:29 PM	#128
Modern-Revolution Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 77	what are these orange "cracks" that move around in the back of my pod tank? they look white in this pic.

12/23/2011, 02:36 PM	#129
seeya Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 4	are they good or bad to eat

12/23/2011, 08:28 PM	#130
big cats Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Yucca Valley, CA, United States Posts: 338	Okay, I'm looking to find an ID on two creatures. One I have no idea what it is, the other i know is a starfish, but just dont know what type.. In the picture, in the middle, right next to the small white spot on the rock, is a small orange-ish colored creature that I am thinking may be a sponge?? diagonally up and right of him, right next to the large white area of the rock, is the starfish. He is pink and green. Pink in the center and the legs have a greenish tint to them. TIA

12/23/2011, 09:15 PM	#132
big cats Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Yucca Valley, CA, United States Posts: 338	Would the asternia be a bad one or a good one? Some of them eat corals right? The orange guy is facing horizontally, and is to the right of the small white spot on the rock. He looks more yellow in the picture than Orange. He has two red spots on him near his base.

12/23/2011, 09:29 PM	#134
big cats Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Yucca Valley, CA, United States Posts: 338	Well, that is the best picture I could get of it unfortunately..the only reason i am leaning towards sponge is because I have no lights on my tank, it's fresh off a cycle, and I can't really think of anything else that could be thriving in that environment.

12/26/2011, 11:13 PM	#135
Joshporksandwic Moved On Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Hialeah Posts: 2,918	Zoa eating Nudibranch and eggs

12/28/2011, 01:00 AM	#137
UCT Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: 90720 Posts: 142	what is it? Found this guy on my snail. Moves fast when the light hits. Has some antenna or feelers. Looks clear but might have picked up the green color from the flash.

12/28/2011, 01:22 AM	#138
mjm7757 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 60	Looks like an amphipod which is great, they're smaller crustaceans that are a great source of food for the other inhabitants of your tank.

12/28/2011, 11:32 AM	#141
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Pics are too small to tell 1 and 3. 2 is a featherduster, harmless. BDSM, not sure what those are (guess I missed that post). Not bristleworms since they don't branch like that. Could be some type of bryozoan or ctenophore. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

12/28/2011, 09:58 PM	#143
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	It may be green coralline. I have some in my tank that's a little darker than that. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

12/28/2011, 10:40 PM	#144
Seagull_3 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 12	Ok, cool... I thought that Coraline was mostly pink/purple, so am just wary of anything unknown (which admittedly is quite a lot given that this is my first saltwater tank haha). The guys down at my LFS don't seem to be worried about anything. They just said to leave it all alone, no water changes, don't worry about algae, critters etc. You can just get paranoid somethimes when you read about things that you HAVE to remove from the tank before they spread/etc Can't wait until I get to the point where I can just know what everything is and whether or not any action is required

12/28/2011, 10:48 PM	#145
Seagull_3 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 12	oops, double post.

12/28/2011, 11:14 PM	#146
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Coralline comes in all colors. Over the years I've had pink, purple, green, tan, orange, red, white, and maroon. I've heard of blue, but I've never had that. I think the pink/purple is just what ends up liking tank conditions the best. I'm still not at the point where I know what everything is, and sincerely doubt I ever will be...there's just too much out there! __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

12/29/2011, 10:08 PM	#147
Aaarrrggg Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 866 Blog Entries: 53	Does anyone know what these are...? #1 White/clear tubes They're translucent / clear white tubes and they're all over the place in the shadows on one side of my tank. I'm hoping they're some sort of sponge rather than hydroids. I've never seen a feathered crown or any movement, but they appear to be growing quite rapidly. They're not rock hard, but they are quite stiff... I waved the magfloat near them and they wobbled a little in the current. #2 Lines in the sand I'm guessing these are caused by some sort of worm or maybe just trapped gas in the sandbed? I was curious if anyone knew any more. They're very small... my sand is quite fine (Pink Fiji) #3 Algae Strands I've got a lot of this popping up in my Nano. It feels and looks a lot like chaeto. Can chaeto grow like this in the DT if it escapes the sump? It is often a single strand which starts curling around itself... kind of like green pubes, for lack of a better term! I'd like to know if it's a good guy or not before I move some of my nano LR over to my new tank. __________________ Click on my homepage link to see my new 144g Half Circle Build! Current Tank Info: 144g Half Circle Oceanic (started 11/7/2011)

12/29/2011, 10:17 PM	#148
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Your IDs are all correct. I don't know what kind of worms those are, but I've seen them before. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

12/30/2011, 12:37 AM	#149
Aaarrrggg Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 866 Blog Entries: 53	Oh whew! I've been so worried about those sponges! Thanks so much Sushi! __________________ Click on my homepage link to see my new 144g Half Circle Build! Current Tank Info: 144g Half Circle Oceanic (started 11/7/2011)

12/30/2011, 02:14 AM	#150
mjm7757 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 60	1. I don't believe the tubes are hydroids either. 2. Yeah, I would think those are just from some worms or other life in your sand bed and wouldn't worry about them. 3. I would say that is definitely chaeto.

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