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FAQs about Non-Vertebrate Animal Identification
37 Related Articles:
Marine Invertebrates, Marine
Invertebrate Systems, Marine
Invertebrate Compatibility, Marine
Invertebrate Disease, Marine
Invertebrate Reproduction,
Quarantine of Corals and Invertebrates,
Feeding Reef Invertebrates,
Lighting Marine Invertebrates,
Water Flow, How Much is Enough,
Related FAQs: Non-Vert IDs 1,
Non-Vert IDs 2, Non-Vert IDs 3,
Non-Vert IDs 4, Non-Vert IDs 5,
Non-Vert IDs 6,
Non-Vert IDs 7, Non-Vert
IDs 8,
Non-Vert IDs 9,
Non-Vert IDs 10, Non-Vert IDs 11,
Non-Vert IDs 12, Non-Vert IDs 13,
Non-Vert IDs 14, Non-Vert IDs 15,
Non-Vert IDs 16, Non-Vert IDs 17,
Non-Vert IDs 18, Non-Vert. ID 19,
Non-Vert. ID 20, Non-Vert. ID 21,
Non-Vert. ID 22, Non-Vert. ID 23,
Non-Vert. ID 25, Non-Vert ID 26,
Non-Vert ID 27, Non-Vert ID 28,
Non-Vert ID 29, Non-Vert ID 30,
Non-Vert ID 31, Non-Vert ID 32,
Non-Vert 33, Non-Vert ID 34
Non-Vert ID 35, Non-Vert ID 36,
Non-Vert ID 38, Non-Vert ID 39,
Non-Vert ID 40, Non-Vert ID 41,
Non-Vert ID 42, & Marine Invertebrates,
Marine Invert.s 2, Marine Invert.s 3,
& FAQs about: Marine Invertebrate
Behavior, Marine Invertebrate
Compatibility, Marine Invertebrate
Selection, Marine Invertebrate
Systems, Feeding Reef Invertebrates,
Marine Invertebrate Disease,
Marine Invertebrate Reproduction, &
& LR Life
Identification, LR Hitchhiker ID 1,
Anemone Identification,
Aiptasia Identification, Aiptasia ID
2, Worm Identification,
Tubeworm ID, Polychaete
Identification, Snail Identification,
Marine Crab Identification, Marine
Invert.s 1, Marine Invert.s 2,
Marine Plankton, |
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ID for a Green, Stationary, Segmented tube worm growing in my tank
Green, Stationary, Segmented tube worm growing in my tank, Algae
Actually 6/30/08
Hello,
<Hi>
Hope you all are well, and
thanks so much for providing the wealth of information and insight
that has made this hobby even more rewarding!
This email is a bit
lengthy, but I think that it is always helpful to give a complete
history, especially in the case of a tank crash.
<Fire away>
I
have a 55G long, Indo-Pacific reef tank that has spent the last six
months recovering from a 4 day power loss in PA in the middle of
December. Prior to the crash, this tank was populated with 6
different color/types of Zoanthids, yellow polyps, green star
polyps, white clove polyps, red mushroom corals, and assorted
crabs/snails, two huge batches of Halimeda and 3 fish (coral beauty,
false percula and blue damsel).
After the crash, this tank was
populated with really smelly mud. I was breaking down the tank and
noticed that, in fact, there were a handful of crabs and snails that
actually survived 4 days at 40 degrees.
<They are survivors.>
I didn't have the heart to chuck them down the driveway with the
stinky water, so I pulled out all that I could find, scrubbed down
the rock in a batch of RO/DI salted water and re-established the
tank. (The insult to injury in all of this was the fact that I had a
20,000 watt home generator installed that I thought would allow me
to avert such a crisis, but, unfortunately, it wasn't installed
correctly and we could never get it to come on and give power.)
<Ouch>
Flash forward six months later and I once again have 3
fish (all new):
a coral beauty, a false percula, and a yellow
Coris wrasse. Believe it or not, I've gotten about 50-60 yellow
polyps that have come back, a bunch of purple coralline algae
encrusting the rock again and I random worms/feather dusters that
have crept out of the rock that I'd never seen prior to the crash.
<They have no competition for the moment.>
This brings me to my
question. I've attached some JPG files of some stationary tube worms
that seem to be growing out my rock. I've searched your site and
across the web, but have found not a single picture or description
that matches these critters. They have a white, calcareous base that
starts narrow and gets wider to a rounded tip. They extend about 1.5
- 2 inches up from the rock. They almost look like elongated thumbs.
As you progress up the tube, there are rings of fine, green
"feathers" that get larger as the tube widens, then taper towards
the tip. They appear to be segmented.
<Not worms actually, algae,
Neomeris annulata.>
NOTE: The only thing new in this tank is a
rock with some blue-green Zoanthids on it, but it was placed in the
tank after these guys showed up. The rest is all indo-pacific rock
from about 8 years ago.
Any help that you can give me in
identifying these worms would be greatly appreciated!
Deb
<Neomeris annulata is harmless, calcium loving algae. Fairly common
in tanks, although it seems to fade over time. Enjoy it while its
there.>
<Chris> | 
|
Strange particles – 06/28/08
Hi,
<Hello there>
I see some
green/brown particles in my aquarium sump and in the overflow.
They
don't look like green algae but they look like some polyp. They stick to
the wall and grow from there. I have attached some images to make it
clear. Can someone please help me identifying what this is?
<Not from
these pix... look like... as you say, particulate matter... could well
be a biological component. Perhaps a magnifying glass, small microscope
will show more... I'd use a mechanical filter... likely an Emperor
Aquatics "bag" on the discharge end of your drain line/s going into the
sump to capture a good deal of this>
Another question that I had was
the problem with the overflow. The overflow always gets some bubbles and
the siphon is lost.
<Yikes... dangerous>
I have installed
Aqualifter and its still working but the bubbles don't seem to enter the
hole unless I tilt or move the overflow around. Any help would be
appreciated.
<... I'd drill the tank, have it drilled. Read here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/marsetupindex2.htm
the fourth tray down... Bob
Fenner> | 
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New Critter Needs ID, Asterina 6/27/08
Hello again crew,
<Hi>
I don't suppose my tank stats matter for this question, so I will skip
those. This little guy showed up on my glass yesterday and I have no
idea what he is. A few weeks ago I asked you guys about some things that
showed up when the lights were out, and Lynn identified them as
Collonista and Stomatella (thanks again for that!). Anyway, this guy is
about the 4 or 5 mm long, and looks like some kind of snail. However, as
you can see from the pic, he looks 5-sided, with one longer side. Some
sort of starfish maybe? My fish keep investigating him, its kinda funny
actually, but none have bothered him yet. Any ideas crew? Thanks again,
Jared S.
<Looks like an Asterina star to me. See here for more
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/asterinaidf.htm .>
<Chris> | 
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Better Pic of New Critter on Glass 6/27/08
Hey crew,
I was
able to take a better picture of the new critter on my glass. I am
pretty sure its some kind of starfish now, just would like to know
which.
Thanks again, Jared S.
<Yep, an Asterina.>
<Chris> | 
|
Re: Critter ID.
6/24/08
Hi, I wish
I'd seen this query - I'd have nabbed it for sure! I saw something
similar to this a couple of days ago while on the hunt for Tineke's
mystery shell/slug/Rhodophyte combo. I'll see if I can't backtrack and
find out what it is.
-Lynn
<Thank goodness... I swear I've seen,
read about this sort of "bivalvish", footed, ambulatory marine life...
but can't for the life o me wake up and smell da cacao and recall what
the Dickens group it belongs to. Be chatting! B>
LOL Yep, I know what you mean. Now the trick for me is to remember where
I saw the blasted thing!
Take care,
-Lynn
<Know whatcha
mean... Hey, where are my pants!? Will do. B>
Critter ID:
Bivalve Mystery - 6/24/08
Hi there,
<Hi Carl, Lynn here this
afternoon!>
Firstly congratulations on the great site!
<On behalf
of Bob and the crew, thank you very much!>
This is my first marine
aquarium and your site has provided me with a great amount of
information to help me on my way.
<Excellent>
I was wondering if
you could help me identify this little chap which seems to have hitched
a lift on my last batch of live rock.
<Will sure try.>
He's only a
few millimeters in size and brown in colour, the main part of the
(shell?) looks like a split seed casing out of which comes a small white
worm.
<Okay>
It moves by basically attaching the (head?) end of
the worm
<The shape is reminiscent of a clam siphon.>
..to a rock
or the glass and then dragging itself along. It seems to be around day
and night and doesn't seem to be causing any problems in the tank.
<That’s always a plus!>
Just curious as I've not been able to ID it.
http://h7lwpw.blu.livefilestore.com/y1p4IDr1MtfX0zR2RucSIySuNcmVaXc7KuxbCiaLHGLhtFTkVWWLqzE8IFbeJTW3-OK_HeGwiouZZhJjzRoDIj7KA/Untitled-1.jpg?download
<Okie doke. Is there any way you can get a higher resolution/more
detailed photo of this little guy? If not, that’s okay. Hopefully,
together we can solve this mystery! When it comes to bivalved critters,
the choices that come to mind are mollusks in the Class
Pelecypoda/Bivalvia (clams and such), Ostracods (“seed
shrimps”/Crustaceans), Brachiopods (aka “lamp shells”), and
Opisthobranch sea slugs in the Family Juliidae. Of these possibilities,
the most mobile are the Ostracods and sea slugs. I think we can rule out
Ostracods because they have multiple long hair-like antennae protruding
from their shells instead of a single, thicker stalk/siphon (whatever
that thing is in the photo). See this example of an Ostracod for
comparison:
http://www.friendsofwarnhamlnr.org.uk/images/pondlife/crustacea/ostracoda/cypris05.jpg
Sea slugs in the genus Juliidae are also out because all have two
obvious rhinophores/antennae on their heads. I don’t see any on your
creature and I think you would have noticed them had they been there. By
the way, let me know if you take another look at your little guy and do
indeed see rhinophores! In the meantime, please see these links for sea
slug examples: http://www.seaslugforum.net/display.cfm?id=19650
http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=julizebr .
Now we’re
left with mollusks/bivalves and Brachiopods. Most live either attached
to hard surfaces or buried in sediments. Although they’re mostly
sessile, they can and do move about when very young (before settling)
and, if possible as an adult, when necessary. Brachiopods attach
themselves to hard surfaces and anchor themselves in the sand by way of
what’s called a "pedicle" or stalk. Bivalve mollusks (except for
scallops and such) use a muscular foot to move about/bury themselves in
the substrate, while those that attach themselves to hard surfaces
secrete byssal threads as holdfasts. Now that you have some of the
general terms, please see the criteria listed below. Hopefully it will
help narrow things down. By the way, if you have a magnifying glass
somewhere, dig that puppy out and take a close look at your little
critter.
1. Pedicle that emerges from a single hole on one side of
the shell = Brachiopod.
2. Long, slender pedicle that emerges from
what appears to be a hinged area (where the two shell halves meet) =
Brachiopod.
3. A Muscular foot that emerges from the open side of two
shell halves (not at the hinge) = bivalve/mollusk.
4. Shell with no
pedicle hole + foot/siphon that can completely retract into shell =
bivalve/Mollusc.
5. Once attached to a surface, the creature is able
to pivot about on the stalk/holdfast = Brachiopod.
Hopefully this
helps! One thing I'd like to mention is that there may easily be other
possibilities as well that I'm totally unfamiliar with! As is, I’m
inclined to think that what you have is likely a very young bivalve
(mollusk) of some sort trying to find a place to settle, rather than a
Brachiopod. The reasoning behind this is mainly because the latter is
less common. That and the fact that I can't come up with any other
possibilities! Please see the following links for photos:
Brachiopod
(see pedicle):
http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/CA25677D007DC87D/LUbyDesc/WPB-lamp_il/$File/lampshell_il.jpg
Ostracods as well as a photo of a juvenile bivalve (bottom left):
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchpods.html >
Many Thanks,
Carl.
<You’re very welcome. Keep in touch –Lynn>
Bob- I doubt
that that is the animal's foot in the pic of the "bivalve." Could you
and Lynn be thinking of "Lamp shells" (Brachiopoda)?
Best, Sara M.
<Dat's a right> | 
Oh, yeah. B.Re: Bivalve
mystery . 6/25/08
"Bob- I doubt that that is the animal's foot in the pic of the
"bivalve." Could you and Lynn be thinking of "Lamp shells"
(Brachiopoda)? Best, Sara M.<Dat's a right>"
Hi Sara and Bob,
Yes, a Brachiopod was most definitely one of the possibilities that
came up. I'm hoping that Carl will be able to determine whether he
has a mollusk or a Brachiopod by the placement, etc, of that slender
appendage. It does indeed look more like a clam siphon or a
Brachiopod pedicle to me than it does a mollusk foot, but after
seeing Charles' photo of a juvenile clam/scallop at the link
provided, I had to admit that the possibility was there (see the
photo on the bottom left:
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchpods.html ) . That still looks
like a foot to me because it's a bit broader at the base, but given
the possibility of odd positioning with Carl's creature and a bit of
a blurry photo?? I just don't know. I'd actually love for it to be a
Brachiopod. Anyway, I'm hoping to hear back from Carl so that we can
have this answered!
Take care,
-Lynn
|
A strange shell or Nudibranch? 6/21/08
Dear Bob or Lynn,
<Greetings Tineke! Lynn here today.>
Do you know what this is?
<Yes, it's pretty - hehe!>
I thought it was a shell with some
algae, but on a site
(http://www.aqualifeimages.com/Default.aspx?ShowImage=66
http://www.aqualifeimages.com/Default.aspx?ShowImage=66&QueryIs=89%20results%20for%20%22Latest%20Images%22&sqlstr=SELECT%20*%20FROM%20IMAGES%20WHERE%20INACTIEF%20=%200%20AND%20Release%20=%2048%20ORDER%20BY%20NAAM&QueryIs=89%20results%20for%20"Latest
20Images"&sqlstr=SELECT%20*%20FROM%20IMAGES%20WHERE%20INACTIEF%20=%200%20AND%20Release%20=%2048%20ORDER%20BY%20NAAM)
<Unfortunately, I couldn't get through to the link (error message),
but was able to locate the photo - yay! For anyone wanting to see
this, please go to this site: http://www.aqualifeimages.com, choose
“Nudibranch” in the drop down menu under “Aqualife subjects”. Once
the page has opened (may take awhile), go to the third row from the
bottom and see the photo on the far right. By the way, that’s a neat
site!>
..I saw almost identical picture as an unknown
Nudibranch.
<Yes, it looks like the same creature. Apparently, it
was photographed in the Red Sea so I’m guessing that yours was taken
there as well? You saw some neat things while you were there, didn’t
you! That does it, I’ve got to go!>
I hope you know this one!
<Well, at first I thought that this should be fairly easy to ID, but
after hours of searching and exhausting every resource I have, I’m
more than willing to admit that I just don’t know! The frilly
exterior reminds me of something in the genus Hydatinidae (family
Acteonidae, Order Cephalaspidea – “Head Shield” slugs and Bubble
shells). I didn’t see any however, that had their shells completely
covered/obscured. See this species, for example:
http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=hydaphys
http://www.seaslugforum.net/display.cfm?id=4463
Then I checked
various Cowries as some of these have very elaborate mantles
covering their shells. See these for example:
http://chemistry.csudh.edu/faculty/jim/cozaugo4-600/atlantic.jpg
http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=ovulids .
It’s a
shame we can’t see a bit more of the shell underneath, that would be
a big help! My recommendation to you, at this point, is to send your
photo and information along to Bill Rudman at SeaSlugForum.net and
see what he says. By the way, please let us know if/when he does ID
this neat little guy!>
Greetings from Holland,
Tineke
<Take care and good luck. I'm sorry I couldn’t ID this for you!
–Lynn> Re: A strange
shell or Nudibranch? 6/21/08
Hi Lynn,
<Hi there!>
I
will send this one also to Bill. I didn't get an answer yet on the
other Nudi I sent him...no problem. I will wait a little bit longer.
<Well, from what I read on his site earlier today, they had a
problem recently with a hacker so that might well be part of it.>
No problem that you haven't found it...still a mystery to solve!
<Thank you for understanding! I do love a good mystery and am
looking forward to seeing this one solved. I’m sure Bill Rudman will
have an answer for you soon!>
Greetings
Tineke
<Take care,
-Lynn> | 
Shell and Rhodophyte, BGA? B.
|
Help identifying 2 pics? 06/21/08
Dear wet web media,
I
have searched way too many hours on these things growing in our
saltwater aquarium (120 gal). It's been established for a couple
years now, but I am noticing these things multiplying recently. I've
attached a pic of some of them. They seem to be mostly at the bottom
of the tank on the glass. Their tentacles seem to move.
<The pics
are really too blurry to make much out... but from your description
below, I'd say they're likely harmless Spirorbis worms.>
In the
second pic I have many tubes of different shapes. They seem to be
growing larger. Some are long & skinny, where this one is kind of
boot shaped with an obvious hole in it.
<They look like sponges
to me.>
One thing I notice is white specs all over the glass at
times. If you look really close they look kind of spiral shaped. I
sort of think it looks like a snail (and I have hundreds of
different sized baby snails that just keep showing up). Cold they be
reproducing?
<Could be... are these things stationary or
mobile?>
Thank you for your help.
Kristie
<De nada,
Sara
M.> |  
|
Re: help identifying 2 pics? 6/22/08
Just to clarify, I have
two things I am trying to identify. One is the specks that show up on
the tank glass, that develop into spirals. I'm just
curious about
these. Was wondering if they were snails reproducing.
<possibly...>
The one I am most concerned with is the tentacle like things that are
multiplying on the glass near the bottom of the tank. Please let me
attach
one more pic that is a little more close up. Maybe you can
identify it better. These don't seem to move at all, although the
tentacles or arms
(like hairs) seem to be alive & moving (not just
with a current). They worry me that I should be getting rid of them. I
probably have 20-30 of
them that have developed in the last month or
two.
<Ah, now I can see them... looks like Hydroids.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hydrozoanfaqs.htm>
Thank you for your
time.
Kristie
<Best,
Sara M.> |
Ohh, Hydrozoans. B |
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