Maybe Aiptasia

[nhlives]

All of the pictures I have seen don't completely describe the little critters on some new LR that I have. The head of these guys look like the pictures of Aiptasia. However, is the annemone-like head sitting on a long, worm like tube which retracts deep into the rock when distrubed? On one of these guys the "tube" is protruds from the rock at least 1/2 inch. It is no telling how far back into the rock it goes.

Unfortunately I am temporarily without a camera. If we need a picture I will have to borrow a working camera.

 

[Anonymous]

Need a picture, but it sounds like it could be Aiptasia spp or Anemonia spp.

mario

 

[nhlives]

I assume niether one is particularily helpful in the reef.

 

[Anonymous]

Both are pests.

mario

 

[nhlives]

So I thought. I am in the process of cycling 100# of base rock with 10# of LR to seed benefical bacteria. I don't need the hassle at this point of a major, future Aiptasia infestation. The LR has been in the tank about a week. The tank has not cycled and has off the test chart NO2 concentrations.

I am hopeful that a week has not been enough time for the little beggers to spread especailly in a not very friendly tank chemistry. So I just removed the one small piece with the Aiptasia - going to make it base rock.

On the brighter side, one of the pieces has a couple of other critters that are whitish in color and appear to be feather dusters.

 

[trido]

However, is the annemone-like head sitting on a long, worm like tube which retracts deep into the rock when distrubed?

Is this tube white and hard? If so I could just be a feather duster.

 

[nhlives]

Unfortunately, no. Almost certainly the bad guys.

 

[SnowManSnow]

I've never seen an anemone that has a hard tube.

also, if it retracts really fast it isn't an aneomone either.

b