Mound builder, SW invert. ID guess    2/6/07
Hi, we have a marine tank set up 7 weeks.  All's well.  We purchased a rock with mushrooms.  We have witnessed very fine floaty hair like strands coming from under the sand beside this rock.  These strands "collect" pieces of sand & have built a small mound against the rock....any ideas what it might be?
Kind regards
Sue Carveth
<Mmm, might be the Corallimorpharian itself... could be an Ophiuroid or one of many worms... Bob Fenner>

Re: mound builder  2/9/07
So are you saying this creature could be a basket star or brittle star?
<Could be numerous ones of the latter>
I've read this can be good or bad...what is your opinion?
<Is not bad>
  We have hermit crabs 5 larger (1 inch) & had 2 both of which I've found out of their shells & dead ...could this be connected?
<Mmm, not likely, no>
Today I saw something  next to the rock projecting from the sand .....looks likes a very pale skin colour tube like thingy (3mm diameter ) with jagged edges....looks like the hair like fronds are projecting from it.  Most of the floaty hair like fronds range from a couple of inches to 4/5 inches in length & whitish in colour, although today a very long one has appeared & wrapped itself around the sponge growing on the rock.  Under microscope it looks as though it is darker in colour & segmented & may have flattened thorny bits on it.  It also looks like it is not attached??  Tried a photo but it wasn't visible against the sand!
Thanks for your time....Sue
<Welcome. BobF>

Hitchhiker ID...Ophiuroids I think - 02/04/07
Hi (again)
<<Hello Joanne>>
Thanks for the info on the shrimp, I looked Mysid shrimp up and you were right, that's exactly what they look like!
<<Neat!>>
I'm sorry to come back to you so soon but I have spent the last 2 hours on the net looking for an ID to a worm I have living in my live rock.
<<No problem>>
I thought it might be a spaghetti worm as there seems to be several of them coming out of a hole in the rock, they are not much thicker than a hair but they are black and white banded and haven't found anything that sounds the same.  They widen slightly towards the base although I have not seen the other end, this stays in the rock.  I tried to take a pic but they are too small to pick up on the camera.
<<...?>>
Any ideas?
<<Well Joanne I can only guess from your description, but based on this and their behavior I think what you are seeing is not a worm at all...but rather a tiny Ophiuroid (a brittle or serpent star).  And nothing to worry about as it is a harmless and beneficial detritivore.  Perhaps a peek with a flashlight after the lights on the tank go out will confirm>>
Thanks again x,
Joanne
<<Quite welcome, EricR>>

Identifications: Miter snail, Zoanthids and Pachyclavularia Oh! My! Hello to the most informative crew on the web! <Hi Todd, Mich with you today.  Wow!  What flattery!>      I'm sending along three pictures today of animals I'm hoping you may be able to help me identify.  I've done my due diligence on your site and in many books and believe that I have narrowed down general ID's of two of the three but am hoping for more specifics, or corrections of my assumptions.  I believe it is our responsibility to try and correctly identify all our charges so we can provide the best husbandry for them possible. <Most assuredly.>      Picture one is a snail that was sold to me by my LFS before I found this wonderful site.  It was sold to me as a sand sifter and in fact below the sand is where it seems to stay; often coming to the surface at night to cruise around half submerged.  I did find a picture on your site of one of these, located in the FAQ about Marine Snail Identification 2 section, that while not providing a definitive id did suggest this may be an egg cowry, perhaps Dentiovula dorsuosa.  However further research on this particular species seems to show a smooth shell, while this one as obvious ridges, and indicates that they live on coral and not under the sand. <This is a snail of the family Mitridae, possibly Mitra mitra.>      Pictures two and three are animals that I received attached to two separate pieces of live rock.  One appears to be some species of green button polyp, each polyp is about a quarter of an inch across while the other to me resembles a brown phase of star polyps. <Yes, a green Zoanthid.  A great coral to frag and share.  Read more about them here:   http://www.wetwebmedia.com/zoanthid.htm http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i1/blane-zoanthids/zoanthids.htm I believe you are correct with the Green Star Polyps (GSP)(Pachyclavularia sp.) also, It appears the polyps are coming from a purple mat, which would be a dead give away.   More to read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/clavulariids.htm http://www.wetwebmedia.com/polypbehfaqs.htm > Thanks again, <You're welcome!  -Mich> Todd

Little crawly critter I.D. 1/28/07
Hello Bob or Graham,
<GrahamT again, Steph. Did you miss me?>
This is Steph. I had a few "green bubbles" on my button polyp, which, after looking on your site resembled bubble algae. Removed those, only a few.
<Hope you read on the preferred method for "bubble algae" removal, using a siphon, etc.>
Now, I see some whitish, long, and slender "bugs". Some of them are on the sides of the tank and some crawling on my button polyps....are these a good thing?
<Hmm, still would like to see these, rather than go on a verbal description. I am inclined to believe that you are ok, though.
-GrahamT.>
Steph