a bunch of "things"

[Mihai]

Can you please help with id for the following creatures?
my preliminary guesses are
a) anemone - comes out at night only but it loves shrimp during day
b) sponge?!
c) ??? flat worm? can't be, I didn't get anything in the tank for more than a month
d) some algae
e) some (other?) algae on top of a pink sponge

Thanks a lot,
Mihai

 

[Mihai]

continued

 

[Mihai]

continued

 

[Anonymous]

I think you're right on on every one....and that does look like a flatworm.

 

[Anonymous]

I have something like the algae you have for "e"...

Is it really tough stuff? - Like, gotta either chip the rock away or break out the wire scrubber to remove the stuff kinda tough? - Thats what mine is like.. Stuff is freaking indestructible!! - I even buried the small chunk of fiji staghorn "rock" its on in my setup for several months in an attempt to kill it and it just came right back after a few weeks. 8O

Mine doesn't seem to grow taller than a couple of inches and hasn't spread beyond the little 2" patch it originally grew from, but man I just can't kill it!

 

[Anonymous]

I have some of the black sponge stuff too. It's only about the size of a dime. Has your's grown in size?
~wings~

 

[Mihai]

About the grass: it doesn't grow. At least it didn't in the last 2 months. It seems happy in there. I didn't try to kill it. I kind of like it. I am just worried it's something bad that will take over the tank .

About the sponge, I got several in the last few months, and yes they grew considerably: now they are larger than a quarter. One died and melted away a few days ago (after I changed the position of the rock, without getting it out of water though). I still have a bunch (all on the same rock).

About the flatworm: should I worry? It looks nice so far . I didn't see any others in the tank...

M.

 

[Anonymous]

Don't sweat the grass.. (Damn that sounds good for some reason.....)

Seriously, if its the same as what I have (and it looks a lot alike) it doesn't grow for sh**.. - The most its grown was up to maybe 3" in height.. - I was able to trim it down but not remove it completely.. - Its grown nowhere else in the tank at all but it definitely has this one spot claimed.

 

[iphy]

I have a little anemone just like (a). It lives down in a hole in a rock which has detritus/sand at the bottom. It likes to extend so it is flush with the surface of the detritus/sand. Since it is shaded down in the hole, it stays out all day and all night. Only occasionally do I see it extended so you can see the tube body as you can in your picture. Once, it was extended nearly two inches to the top of the hole in the rock, which surprised me greatly since I'd never notice it extending before at all.

It hasn't got any bigger and it hasn't reproduced. Just the one guy there minding his business. He welcomes the occasional mysis shrimp, but most of the time I don't feed him at all and he seems pretty happy. He was a hitch-hiker with my original box of liverock which I cured myself; so I've had him something like four years now.

 

[Mihai]

That's a bummer. I hoped it will reproduce :-(.
I kind of like it. You're right, it's flush with the rock most of the time during the night. During the day it's a bit more retracted than that, but I can still see the tentacles. I'm at least happy that it's long living.

I had the impresioni that it grew a bit (just a tad) since I got him as a hitchhiker with some Caribbean LR.

Regard,
Mihai

 

[waterfaller1]

Your "anemone" is a pest anemone,known as aptasia.It is not a good thing,as it can reproduce in great numbers,and has a powerful sting.It is best to eradicate it before it spreads.A little paste made from kalkwasser,put in a syringe..and "feed" it to the aptasia,will burn it.I have even heard of some using lemon juice,or even a clump of salt.Best to get him before he has 100's of buddies.

 

[Anonymous]

That anemone is not an Aiptasia spp.

 

[waterfaller1]

It does'nt look like a desirable anemone.There are mojanos,tulip anemones,and aptasia,and probably many more types.All I know is I would'nt be encouraging it's growth...JMO. :wink:

 

[wade1]

BTW- your "flatworm" is the type that comes out early and eats copepods. Its nothing to be concerned about at all. Actually a good sign.

Wade

 

[Mihai]

Well, about the anemone: it's not a pest if it doesn't bother me. And it sure doesn't bother me.

Thanks wade, I was worried that I'm on the brink of disaster. See you tomorrow on Radio Island.

Mihai

 

[Brian5000]

I noticed flatworms in my tank just like that recently. They're clear with a central spot and seem to be photophobic. Both the good LFS in my area have had a population explosion with an opaike, orange type. Does this species have the potential to do the same?
_________________
economic stimulus bill

 

[wade1]

If they are orange/brown in color then they are not the beneficial type pictured above... If they remain clear then they are fine.

Wade