invertidf38

FAQs about Non-Vertebrate Animal Identification 38

Banded Tentacles ID 12/25/08 Hello Guys, <Scott> Any idea what these things might be? <Mmm, yes. Ophiuroids... Brittlestars. Please read here re: http://wetwebmedia.com/brittlestars.htm> You can tell from the bubbles that they are about 1 cm long. The tentacles are quite active, although I have never seen any body emerge from the holes in the rocks in which they live. They seem to be harmless. Your thoughts? Thanks for all you guys add to the hobby. Scott <Welcome. There are some predaceous species to be concerned re, but I think that this species is fine with what you likely have stocked. Cheers, Bob Fenner>

Need an ID please 12/14/08 Hello to all WWM crew! <Hiya Cath> Here's, in joined pieces, a picture took from the tank of a reefer of my area. I really don't know what this little beast is...have any idea? Best regards and have a great Christmas time! <It's very hard to tell from the photo... does it move? If so... might be a Scutus. If not, could be a bivalve. Any chance you can get a better picture?> Cath from ReefConcept
<Best,
Sara M.>

An Ascidian. RMF

Re: Need an ID please 12/15/08 Hello to all WWM crew! <Hello Cath> Here's, in joined pieces, a picture took from the tank of a reefer of my area. I really don't know what this little beast is...have any idea? Best regards and have a great Christmas time! Cath from ReefConcept <Am following up to Sara's input... I do think this is very likely a Sea Squirt... Please see our pix here et al re: http://wetwebmedia.com/ascidians.htm Cheers, Bob Fenner>

Mysterious Creature 12/05/08 Hi to all of you, <http://photos.msn.com/viewing/Photos.aspx?pi_Type=SlideshowTask&Task=Download&stppData=&pi_ImagesOnly=1&Folder=nBuRgwTGIGjkVpLJ3Nc!FMsrTAxsyiotG1xZyVhKVf8%24&User=heRNVFXLFsN0qPNvXqJHHaGDzJVTKju2&pi_NoLogin=1> I am hoping that someone might be able to help us identify this strange but beautiful creature that came out of the live rock last night. <I do think it might be a barnacle. If not a barnacle than a worm of some sort-- both common hitchhikers.> I have searched high and low and can't find anything even close. The spines are very colorful and change colors depending on what angle you look at it. It has two long tentacles and it looks like a bunch of short tentacles in the center. If spooked it will retract back into the rock like a feather duster. I am sure that's not what it is since when fully out of the rock the spines do not sway with the current or move at all. I am attaching some pictures I managed to take. It would be good to know if the new addition is good or bad for our little reef tank. I read through your site a lot, and it has helped us to identify other little hitchhikers that made it home with us. The information you provide is outstanding. <Thanks> Thank you for your help. Veronika <De nada, Sara M.>

Mysterious Creature... Perhaps a Polychaete 12/5/08 Photo E-mail Play slideshow<http://photos.msn.com/Viewing/Album.aspx?PST=8nK2AN1B!1JmZao!iR2Cw 4p77vaMrwXT0k5ggGbvCxtKz!TFaw3zIIzDFrbQ67qNGj58PnbsE4tN5Jb6!pDEgA%24%24> | Download images http://photos.msn.com/viewing/Photos.aspx? pi_Type=SlideshowTask&Task=Download&stppData=&pi_ImagesOnly=1&Folder=nBuRgwT GIGjkVpLJ3Nc!FMsrTAxsyiotG1xZyVhKVf8%24&User=heRNVFXLFsN0qPNvXqJHHaGDzJVTKju 2&pi_NoLogin=1 Hi to all of you, <Hi there, Mich here.> I am hoping that someone might be able to help us identify this strange but beautiful creature that came out of the live rock last night. <Is beautiful!> I have searched high and low and can't find anything even close. The spines are very colorful and change colors depending on what angle you look at it. <So pretty!> It has two long tentacles and it looks like a bunch of short tentacles in the center. If spooked it will retract back into the rock like a feather duster. <I believe it to be in this family, some type of Polychaete perhaps.> I am sure that's not what it is since when fully out of the rock the spines do not sway with the current or move at all. <I have had these in my system. Mine did not last long term, I hope yours do better.> I am attaching some pictures I managed to take. <Very nice!> It would be good to know if the new addition is good or bad for our little reef tank. <In my experience they caused no harm.> I read through your site a lot, and it has helped us to identify other little hitchhikers that made it home with us. The information you provide is outstanding. <Thank you for your kind words.> Thank you for your help. Veronika <Welcome, Mich>

-invert ID-- possibly Vermetid snails- 11/27/08 Crew, <Hello, first, I'm so sorry it has taken this long to get back to you. Sometimes some of our crew members move emails to their folders and forget about them.> I've recently developed some sharp spines about a quarter inch in length growing all over my live rock. What is it? <It's difficult to say without a photo, but they could be Vermetid snails. Please visit these links and see if you can find something that looks like what you have growing on your rock: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/MolluscPIX/Gastropods/Prosobranch%20PIX/Vermetids /tubesnailidf.htm http://www.wetwebmedia.com/MolluscPIX/Gastropods/Prosobranch%20PIX/Vermetids /vermetidsnails.htm > Is it harmful? If so, how do I control it? 140 gal salt under tank sump set up about 1 year ago. Fish only right now with plans to do a reef. <If they are tube snails, they're probably not harmful... and will likely start to die off eventually on their own.> aqua c EV 120 1/4 HP chiller 40watt UV sterilizer Red Sea Ozonizer (currently disconnected) Twin 150 watt metal Halides w/ twin 65 watt actinic Michael A. Grande <Best,
Sara M.>

Unidentified Growth -sponge 11/21/08 Hi Crew! I'm attaching a picture of a white sack that is growing on the side of my live rock. <That, my friend, is what we fish-folk call a sponge.> I don't know what it is but it seems to be getting bigger. <Cool... sponges are fun, attractive, and beneficial.> It may be hard to see on the picture, but there is a little hole with a spout near the top of the sack. Is this a nest? Should I be concerned? I thank you for your time and expertise. As always, you guys are the best! <Thanks... please see here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sponges.htm http://www.wetwebmedia.com/spongeidfaqs.htm -OneCoolFish
Sara M.>

Unidentified inhabitant... Microbrittle star 11/20/08
Hi everyone,
<Hi Robert, Mich here.>
I have an unidentified inhabitant in my aquarium.
<An IRI (unidentified reef inhabitant)? Heehee!>
I used to have corals in it but now only fish and live rock.
<OK.>
One of the large rocks is very porous
<Hopefully all your rocks are!>
and when the lights go out this little guy comes out to play.
<Cool!>
There are five or six, two to three inch "arms" that extend from various holes in this large rock. They are a light color with reddish brown rings that go the entire length. If I saw a body I would say serpent star but then the whole rock would have to be hollow. What would be your best guess?
<Likely a Microbrittle star, you can see images here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestaridfaqs.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/britstaridf2.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/britstaridf3.htm
Let me know if this is what you've got.>
Thanks
Robert
<Welcome,
Mich>

Re: Unidentified Inhabitant... Microbrittle star 11/21/2008
YEP!! That's him!
<YAY!>
Since he only comes out in the dark and then just the arms I couldn't decide if he was a star or some other URI.
<They are quite common... and beneficial... enjoy your new URI>
Thanks for the pics and info.
<Welcome!>
Robert
<Mich>

Anthias eggs, other 11/16/08 Good morning tankers, <?> Thank you for everything thus far, your site has been of tremendous value over the years! My question is of my Lyretail Anthias. 5 females and 1 male have been in my 125 reef for the last two months. This last week during a water change, I noticed two 1/8" clear balls in my socks with black granules inside. I've never seen this in the year and a half I've had this tank. So I put them in my fuge for safety from other fishes to see if maybe they would hatch? I want to try to take care of these eggs. I don't think it could be eggs from any other livestock as my tank stock is as follows; Fish 1 Green Clown Goby - Gobiodon histrio 04.08 2 Pajama Cardinals - Sphaeramia nematoptera 11.07 1Blue Streak Cardinal - Apogon leptacanthus 1.08 <Apogonid eggs are about a 1/16"> 2 Saddleback Clownfish - Amphiprion polymnus 2.08 1 Dusky Jawfish - Opistognathus whitehurstii 05.08 <Eggs are about a 1/16"> 1Royal Gramma- Gramma loreto 08.08 1 Dejardin's Tang - Zebrasoma desjardinii 01.08 1 Yellow Tang - Zebrasoma flavescens 09..08 6 Lyretail Anthias - Pseudanthias squamipinnis 1 male/5 females, 10.02.08 1 Randall's Goby - Amblyeleotris randalli 10.02.08 1 Midas Blenny - Ecsenius midas 10.02.08 ---------- 18 fish INVERTS 2 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp - Lysmata amboinensis 11.07 3 Peppermint Shrimp - Lysmata wurdemanni 08.08 1 Red Banded Pistol Shrimp - Alpheus randalli 10.02.08 -------- 6 shrimp 1 Blue Linckia Starfish - Linckia Laevigata 10.02.08 1 Sand Sifting Starfish - Astropecten Polyacanthus 11.05.08 Various Corals Thank You! <Eighth inch in diameter? Clear? Perhaps some bail-out material from your corals... None of the other life listed has such large reproductive material. Bob Fenner>

White spiral creatures on glass 11/15/08 Good Morning, <Hello.> Your site is very helpful in many ways. Thanks for all you do. <Thank you.> My tank is a 125 with 80# of black reef live sand with 60# of Fiji rock with more to come [?]. Fish in tank 2 Damsels, one clown (Nemo as the daughter calls it) one pencil urchin , one purple urchin, about 10 small blue legged hermits one turbo snail, 5 small snails, Nitrites 0.0, nitrates 0.0 ammonia 0.0 P.H. 8.6 Salt 1.025 temp 78 controlled by a current 1/3 hp chiller, est. 20 gal sump with med to large protein skimmer, my tank is around 5 months old. My questions. I have some small spiral looking creatures all over my glass, most are less the 1mm in diameter so pictures are hard to come out clear enough to send. They have on one end what appears to be hair or something. What might these creatures be? <Small feather dusters, no worry.> Another question is I'm interested in trying mushrooms in my tank and in a round about way found my answer but not clearly. Will a pencil urchin or a purple urchin eat the mushrooms? <They can. Best to be sure the urchin is well fed, see http://www.wetwebmedia.com/urchinfdgfaqs.htm> Thanks again for all you do to help your site has been helpful in the setup of my system. <Welcome, Scott V.>

Help ID Tank Spaghetti 11/14/08 Dear Crew, <Hello Andy.> It's been a long time since I rapped at you. I've been out of the loop because my tank crashed in September and I haven't had much to write about <Sorry to hear about that.> -my only inhabitants are a Kole Tang, a Sea Hare (Aplysia californica) that I borrowed from my LFS to deal with the incredible amount of algae that plagued my tank after the crash from (I assume) all the nutrients that were released when $3k worth of fish and coral disintegrated, and a bunch of hermits and snails. I know this Sea Hare is a temperate water species and will eventually starve in my tank, which is why I borrowed it rather than purchased it--I needed something big to eat an incredible amount of algae. Anyway, as I mentioned there is very little in my tank--I am letting my tank settle/re-mature and don't want to load it up with any fish for a few months. Almost nothing survived the crash, so almost all life other than the above is new that came in on a few new pieces of LR and some bristleworms, etc. that I transferred from my other tank. So, imagine my surprise when I found the attached on the underside of a piece of live rock tonight. This mass looks like a handful of spaghetti (same thickness and about 4" in diameter). It appears to be some type of egg mass, but the only thing that could have deposited it is the Sea Hare. Am I right on this? <Absolutely. These are sea hare eggs. Thanks for sharing. Do you know the National Resource for Aplysia at the University of Miami? You'll find information on the lifecycle, larval stages there. Rearing procedures are also briefly described on their website http://aplysia.miami.edu.> Thanks! Andy
<Welcome. Marco.>

Help ID Tank Spaghetti II 11/14/08 Wow, thanks Marco. Does this mean I'm going to have 8 million Sea Hares in my tank? <No, are they fertilized at all? I thought you only got a single specimen.> In the normal tank, would most get eaten by fish, corals, etc? <Even if you had two and the eggs were fertilized, few would have a chance. Not all would be eaten, the rest would be filtered, skimmed. If you want to raise sea hares you need at least two, and contact the National Resource for Aplysia and see their site for Aplysia production.> Thanks again. Andy. <Cheers, Marco.>

Help ID Tank Spaghetti III 11/14/08 I assume they are not fertilized--I have only one specimen, and I have had it for 4 weeks or so. I have no interest in raising Sea Hares. Thanks for your help. <Welcome. Marco.>