Hitchhiker from Vanuatu!

[kkonowalchuk]

Hi folks.. I have a small, currently unidentified critter (or 4?) who has appeared in my Vanuatu live rock. I noticed the small clear tentacles with white tips of one of my hitchhikers one day, and only noticed 3 more like him (all within 2" of each other) while trying to get a good angle for a picture. I noticed that it is able to hide in a "tube" when it wants to, but is usually out - and is out more at night. Should I be worried about this little guy? I have no coral currently, but DO plan on getting some soon!

The attached pictures were taken at night with a flashlight.

Also, I've noticed some of my live rock glows orange at night under my blue LEDs... So far, it's in small areas, but I hope it spreads!

[ajx22]

Hi folks.. I have a small, currently unidentified critter (or 4?) who has appeared in my Vanuatu live rock. I noticed the small clear tentacles with white tips of one of my hitchhikers one day, and only noticed 3 more like him (all within 2" of each other) while trying to get a good angle for a picture. I noticed that it is able to hide in a "tube" when it wants to, but is usually out - and is out more at night. Should I be worried about this little guy? I have no coral currently, but DO plan on getting some soon!



Do a search here for:
Aiptasia
Ball Anemonehttp://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=23493&highlight=ball+anemone

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=23230&highlight=ball+anemone


Also - browsing through this "Identify Me Please!!" forum would yield the same pics.

:cheers2:

[vaporize]

I agreed with AJ, I think the first 2 are aptasia anemones (pest).

The 3rd one, I am leaning towards some kind of encrusting coral / coraline algae.

[kkonowalchuk]

Thanks guys - looks like I'm gonna have to get some peppermint shrimp in there before this Aiptasia gets out of hand... I had a little Juvenile Blue Angelfish in my tank for a day or 2 (before I knew anything about them - long story) - and he seemed to have chewed the tops off these things. Too bad they came back! :)

[mark0933]

I tend to disagree, the first pic looks a lot like a stony coral that I got on my tampa liverock. The second pic, can't tell if is the same. Here's the link, try pic 14, see if it is similar.

Mark

http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com/thepackage/organisms.html

[mr.wilson]

It looks like a hard coral to me. Anemones don't form hard tube bases.

[kkonowalchuk]

Wouldn't ya know it... The little guy is being shy today, so I can't see him. He's all pulled back into a little hole because of a snail passing by or something. From memory, it looks a little like pic 14 there, but more like 12 (which may very well be the same thing).

I'll keep my eye on it for another week or so. If there's 40 next week where there used to be 4, I'll have to borrow another hungry angelfish! :)