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FAQs about Live Rock Hitchhiker/Creature
Identification 7
Related Articles: Live
Rock, Reef Systems, Refugiums,
Related FAQs: Live Rock, Answering
Some LR FAQs by James Fatherree, LR
Hitchhiker ID 1, LR Hitchhiker ID
2, LR Hitchhiker ID 3, LR Hitchhiker ID 4, LR Hitchhiker ID
5, LR ID
6, LR ID
8, LR ID
9, LR ID 10, LR ID 11, LR ID 12,
LR ID 13, LR
ID 14, LR ID
15, LR ID 16, LR ID17 LRID 18,
LRID 19, LRID
20, LRID 21, LRID 22, LRID
23, LRID
24, LRID 25, LRID 27, LRID 28,
LRID 29,
LRID 30, LRID 31,
LRID 32, LRID 33,
LRID 34, &
Non-Vert IDs 1, Tubeworm ID, Polychaete Identification, Live Rock 1, LR
2, LR 3, LR 4, LR 5, Curing Live Rock, Live Rock Selection, Shipping/Moving, Placement, Lighting, Water Quality, Live Rock Studies in Fiji Collaboration
& Charts, Copper Use, Marine Landscaping, Marine Biotope, Sumps, Refugiums, Faux
Rock,
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White funk on liverock 1/26/06 I have a 20 gallon
high saltwater tank that has about 7 1/2 pounds of Fiji live rock,
along with a couple damsels and a Sallylightfoot crab. my question is
this: our live rock is looking really nice ( was cured before being
added to the aquarium) except for one thing. there is a whitish, almost
spider webby looking coating on some of the rock, which didn't show
up until after we added the fish. the sally lightfoot crab pulled some
of it off and it seemed like he ate some of it, but there's still
some on there. what is this stuff? and how do i get rid of it? i would
have included a photo but my digital camera is all messed up. my
boyfriend and i are new to the marine aquarium hobby, and want to do
everything we can to get this small tank going well so we can upgrade
to a larger aquarium. we like your site a lot, and ya'll really
seem to know your stuff. i wasn't able to find anything on the site
about the stuff on my rock. once we get this aquarium going well, we
would like to upgrade to at least a 90 to set up a mini reef, and
eventually (once we have a house with more space) have a shark tank. i
was interested in the banded cat sharks, since they stay smaller.
we've read your FAQ section on sharks, and done a lot of research,
and we've come to realize its going to be a while before we can
afford a large enough tank for such a fantastic animal to be happy.
thanks for the help ~Erica and Eric <Is just decomposition
products... likely not harmful... will be replaced, succeeded in time
with adequate light, circulation, water changes, time going by. BTW
there is no such word as a lot, i's are capitalized, there are
spaces between sentences. Fix this all before sending. Bob Fenner>
| Live Rock ID questions.... - 01/24/06 Hi, Being
new to using live rock, I've spent countless hours in the last
few weeks reading through your site. All I can is thanks...I have
yet to find another resource that's been as helpful and
informative as yours. I've attached 2 pics of some growth on my
live rock that I haven't been able to identify (though for all
I know they are extremely common), and I was hoping you might be
able to help me. <Only the second one came through> Picture
1a - There are two red circled items - one is branch-like and one
is a collection of clearish/green round balls. The yellow circle is
of some small green sprout (these type of sprouts have been popping
up all over the place). <Very likely a pest algae (Valoniaceae).
See WWM re Greens> Picture 2a - I've had a lot of small
green sprouts that look different than in picture 1, they seem to
look more like blades of grass, and are starting to cover the
entire rock. <More algae...> I appreciate your help...I'm
not entirely sure what I'm looking at and with all I've
read about nuisance growth on live rock, I'm worried that I may
be seeing a future problem in the making. <Not a problem... will
cycle out mostly... can be controlled biologically, through careful
maintenance> If it matters, this is Caribbean live rock,
supposedly from Haiti. Thanks again for all of your help, and your
great site... <Welcome and thank you. Bob Fenner> |
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Unidentified creature - 19/1/06 Hello, I have a question
about a creature that we have found on some live rock in our
aquarium. We have a 65 gallon tank and got a new piece of
live rock. On the rock there is a creature that looks
similar to a barnacle. He sends out a kind of web of fine
fibers, lets them swirl around in the water flow for a
while. Then he, bit by bit, draws the fibers back into
him. I also saw him sort of spitting out these small orange
pellets about the size of the tip of a pen. I was wondering
if you might have any idea as to what this creature is. His
web is catching on some of my soft corals and attempting to pull them
toward him. Of course their a bit stronger than his web and
he is unsuccessful. Any help in identifying him would be
appreciated. <It sounds like it could be a Vermetid
snail. Do search WWM, the web for more information on these interesting
creatures (A good article can be found here: http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_net/0897/0897_8.html.
Enjoy the diversity of life you have! Best regards, John.>
Thanks,
Live rock ID Dear Team at WWM, as a proud new owner of a
10 gal tank with live rock (no fish yet and not soon planned) and
as a newbie to the saltwater experience I truly enjoyed browsing
your website for the last couple of weeks. I learned tons of stuff,
thanks! I still couldn't find anything there or anywhere else
on the web that would've helped me ID something that came with
my rock (please see attached image) <A nice pic... but need
close-up/enlargement of item #2> Circle #1 is a tree-like
structure about 1" and it is attached to the rock. There is
smaller alike looking structure growing in its neighborhood.
<This is very likely a hydrozoan... perhaps a Stylasterine>
Circle #2 is a .5" long oval shape and it seems to have three
spikes sticking out of it. I feels like it is filled with a
gel-like substance. <Sorry to state, but my eyesight is so
feeble, that even enlarging the pic, losing acuity, I can't
make this out. Please send another more resolved image if you
can> Thanks a bunch for your help! Bettina
<Oh, neither are harmful, need to be removed. Bob
Fenner> |
Re: Live rock ID 1/16/06 Dear Bob, You are
fabulous! Thanks so much for the super quick response! I could not
get a better picture of #2 since this thing is so tiny, but after
doing some more research on your site, I think it is some kind of
sponge, it "breathes" and what I thought to be spikes
turned out to be holes. Thanks again, what a terrific hobby! Kind
regards. Bettina
<Thank you for your shared enthusiasm. Bob Fenner> |
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LR Growth ID - 01/09/2006 WWM, <Hello Bryan.>
How's life under the reef? <Actually, wonderful (except
these confounded cement shoes!).> If you could, I ask for your
endless knowledge in helping me ID this growth I have on one of my
rocks. <Hmm...Endless? My sister used to convince me to pay her
25 cents to help me eat my ice cream, so it wouldn't melt!>
Let me know if the picture does not come through. <Got it just
fine.> To the touch it is hard and semi-rough; nothing like a
sponge feeling. It kind of looks like a star polyp colony, but with
no polyps, and I pretty sure it is not that since I have
successfully reproduced those before and know what they look like.
I'm thinking it's some kind of stony coral, but have not
got a clue as to what kind. I have been through all my books and
have found nothing. What ever it is I hope it keeps
growing; the bright pink color will make an awesome addition to the
tank. Any suggestions? <One, for a start anyway. It appears to
have pseudopodia extended at the ends. Try a Google search on
foraminiferans; specifically Homotrema rubrum. It would be a good
sized cluster, but it looks right to me. If you have it, look in
Sprung's invertebrates book also.> Thanks guys!! <Gladly.
Let us know if this is correct or you need more help.> Bryan
<Josh.> |
LR Growth ID - 01/13/2006 Josh, <Hi there Bryan!>
Thanks for the information. I'm pretty sure now that you were
right on the mark. <Glad to be able to help.> I did find
various pictures and articles that are almost identical to the one
in my tank. My only question now is "what" exactly is it?
<That's a good one! These are great filter feeders to have
and a nice decorative addition.> Everything I've read just
referred to it as Homotrema rubrum or species, and almost always
had "seaweed" somewhere in the paragraph. Is Homotrema
rubrum a type of hard seaweed? <The seaweed bit was probably in
reference to the role that Foraminiferans play in feeding them.
They are actually not considered plants or animals, but Protists
(yeah, I had to look that up). I found a great link for more info.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/rs/index.php
. Hope that helps you out.> Thanks again
Bryan
<Quite welcome. - Josh> |
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White Cobweb With Bugs - 01/01/2006 Hi there - we have a
marine tank which has been "previously owned". Set up a month
ago with four inherited fishes (a Yellow Tang, blue Damsel and two
green damsels). All fishes ecstatically happy. All snails happy.
Nitrate and Nitrite levels good, <Meaning?> phosphates under
control. <As in?> The only problem seems to be the small piece of
"living" rock we inherited. Its full of life, despite its
size and treatment to date. <Resilient stuff.> It has just
started growing a white gauzy mould which is spreading fairly quickly.
<Probably sponge growth.> Underneath the film are tiny little
clear ticks - fast moving and confined to that rock. <All throughout
your tank most likely.> They're multiplying fast. Can you tell
us if we should be worried and what it is? <Nothing to worry about
except excess nutrients perhaps (fueling the rapid growth). Otherwise
normal developments.> Thanks, Jon.
| Items On Live Rock - 12/29/05 I have these items that
look like "white commas" on the live rock. The cleaner
shrimp does not seem interested in eating them. I have
two photos (the second being zoomed in). Any ideas on
what these are? <<Yep...a Serpulid worm of some
sort...harmless if not beneficial...nothing to be concerned
about. EricR>> |
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The Mysterious Critters of Live Rock 12/7/05 Hello
there! <Hey Jess! Adam J with you this morning'¦well almost
noon now.> I looked through a ton of postings and did not find the
answer to my question, so here it is. <Okay.> I have noticed what
look like eggs in my reef tank. They are white, fuzzy, shaped kind of
like a tear drop, and have these almost transparent white things coming
out of the bottom of them. I'm guessing this is to pick up the
stray bacteria in the tank to provide nourishment for whatever is
growing inside of it. <Stray nutrients would probably be a
better term.> They are suspended from one of my live rock
"caves" and there are only two. I have a serpent starfish who
hangs out by them all the time. Also, a peppermint shrimp, a banded
coral shrimp, snails (who are reproducing like crazy), hermit crabs, a
yellow tang and a tiny clown. Any ideas what they might be? <Well as
you mention below a picture is the best and only way I can even come
close to a positive identification though I will take a few guesses at
it. The white ball sounds very much like a sponge but the 'feathery
appendages' you mention make it sound rather like some type of tube
worm (possibly a Spionid/Chaetopterid worm) or even a barnacle, could
even be some type of hydroid. I know that's a broad list of very
different animals but without any more detail or pictures that's
really the best I can do.> I tried to take a picture, but they get
blurry when I zoom in close enough to see them. Thanks! <Sorry I
could not be of more help.> Jess
<Adam J.>
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| Liver Rock Hitchhiker/Limpet 10/12/05 Thank
you for the pointers Ted. <<You're
welcome.>> I've checked through the suggested areas
and come up with two other 'what is it' e-mails from the
WWM archive. The problem now is that one response says that the
limpet is fine and will browse on algae, diatoms etc - the other
says it may be partial to corals... What would your best suggested
course of action be? <<Observe him/her as well as your
corals. It is likely harmless but you never know. If you find
yourself worrying, remove him/her.>> The creature has
stayed grazing within a small area since I first spotted it 3 days
back, and seems to be eating algae. I've attached a marginally
better picture. Any advice much appreciated. While watching this
mollusk I also noticed this other strange phenomenon. It appears
that something has made a home out of old coral, shells and sand
held together with a web like material,( much like a fresh water
caddis-fly larvae would). The tube is around 5cm long up a piece of
live rock. No animal is visible,( but I suspect a worm), I know
it's a awkward ask, but friend or foe? <<I would agree
that it is likely a worm. Most are beneficial although some are bad
news. At this point, I would simply observe things.>> Thank
you again. Bob Mehen <<You're welcome and good luck -
Ted>> |
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LR Hitchhiker 10/10/05 Hello Again good people of W.W.M.,
<<Hello Bob - Ted Here>> Please can I once again ask
for your help with an identification problem? While watching my
aquarium tonight I noticed a new inhabitant on one of the pieces of
live rock. It is about 2cm in diameter, mainly rusty brown in colour ,
but with a series of paler rings bisected by green/white dots radiating
out from its centre. The middle of 'it' is slightly raised. It
looks a little like some of the chiton species we get here in the UK,
but without the obvious segmentation. It has no visible opening on it
so I don't think it's a sponge or ascidian and I haven't
found a match in your FAQ's. The live rock is supposedly from
Indonesia if that's any help! <<It can be difficult to
identify LR hitchhikers with or without a picture but a couple of
possibilities come to mind. Please search WWM for Stomatella and limpet
and see if your critter looks like these gastropods.>>
Thank you for your help. Bob Mehen, Cornwall, UK. <<You're
welcome and cheers - Ted>>
Live Rock Bio-Diversity 10/7/05 I have a 37 gallon reef tank,
live rock soft corals etc..... Anyway, I have these small little
colonies of tiny almost microscopic shrimp. They are transparent and
they are definitely not copepods. <Honestly without a picture
or more thorough description it's nearly impossible to give you an
exact identification. One of the marvels of live-rock is that there is
a large variety of life on it, what most aquarists refer to as
bio-diversity. It could be a number of things from Mysid or mysis
shrimp to amphipods. Please see here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_2/cav2i3/Live_Rock/live_rock.htm
(and use the related FAQ's links above it) .> So my
question is are they going to start eating stuff off my live rock or
soft corals? <You'll have to identify them before we can
say if they harmful or not. I wouldn't worry to much most of the
live-rock microfauna causes little to no intrusive damage, Adam
J.>
ID these creatures please 10/4/05 Hi there,
<Jennifer> Just today, when I turned off the lights, I noticed 2
tube-like things coming out of my live rock. The best way to
explain them are like an elephants trunk, they very light brown (almost
clear) and stretch out 3 or so inches. When they come in
contact with part of the live rock they look like they stick to it for
a second and them move on to another area. I saw another one
on a different piece of live rock that looked longer and almost striped
horizontally black. Each one of these things look like they
shrink into themselves when lights come on. Just wondering
what these things might me and if I need to worry about
them. <Likely some type of tubiculous worm... of these,
probably some sort of sedentariate polychaete... not harmful> I also
have one piece of live rock that have BRIGHT neon green tubes (1/2 inch
about 15) all over and nothing has come out of
them. Any ideas? <Please see WWM re Live Rock
and Marine Invertebrate IDs. Bob Fenner>
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