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FAQs about Non-Vertebrate Animal Identification 18
Related Articles: Marine Invertebrates,
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. ID 19, Non-Vert. ID 20,
Non-Vert. ID 21, Non-Vert. ID 22,
Non-Vert. ID 23, Non-Vert. ID 24,
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 37, 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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A Species of Serpulid Worm - 11/22/06
Greetings WWM Crew and
Happy Holidays!
<<And to you as well>>
I have a small reef
aquarium that has been set up for 8 months. I have recently found 2
unknown organisms and I am hoping you can help me clarify their
identity.
<<I shall try>>
Here is a picture of one of the
organisms, tubular shell structure attached to the LR, 2 antennae,
and it secrets a slime trail that seems to catch food particles.
<<Hmm, perhaps it is my aging eyes but I can't discern much from
this picture. But no worries, your description is enough for me to
say this is a species of Serpulid worm (calcareous-tube building
worms)>>
It doesn't seem to harm any of the corals or anemones.
<<Indeed...I have/have seen these many times...harmless if not
beneficial>>
I have perused the internet to no avail.
<<Try
a keyword search on the phrase 'Serpulid Worm'. Many species about,
but you may happen upon a description/photo of a specimen similar to
yours>>
Thanks in advance!
Mark A. Smith
MAJ, AV
United States Army Reserve Command
<<Quite welcome. Eric
Russell, MSgt, USAF (Retired)>> | 
|
Baby Sea Urchin vs. Limpet? Hitchhiker ID Help Needed....
11/20/06
Hi all-
I have looked over the website for the last
few days trying to answer my own question, but to no avail. I have also
perused Google Images (by the way, it's a great resource for those
trying to ID hitchhikers...type in the name of the animal and you get
many images). I found a creature stuck hard to the wall of my aquarium
and I didn't dare try to remove it. The foot is oval shaped, cream
colored, and about 2 cm long. Looking at it from the
side it is
about 1.5 cm tall and kind-of slopes up. The center has a hole in
it. It looks like the pictures of limpets I have seen, with one
difference. In the center there are about 15-20 retractable darker
brown spines/tentacles (only about 0.5 cm long each). There is no
apparent mouth/eyes/feelers that I can see. I was thinking that it
might be a baby sea urchin until I touched it and found that the
spines/tentacles and body are all very soft and the spines/tentacles
completely retracted into the body of the animal. My attempt at
pictures are attached. Thanks for any
help you may be able to offer
me. <Hello Melissa, Mich here. Please don't be offended, but dammmm
those pictures are terrible! When I opened the file I though I had
forgotten to put my glasses back on. Does your camera have a Marco
setting? (It is often represented by a tiny flower.) If you can find
the macro setting on the camera, you may get a better photo, which would
be helpful. Otherwise, my best guess from your written description is
it's a type of limpet of some sort. I am also assuming the critter was
found in a salt water tank. Hope that helps. It's the best I can do
with the quality provided.>
Melissa | 
|
White windy things 11/18/06
WWM - I need help. I am new
to the salt water aquariums. I have had my 75 gallon tank up for about
9 months now and I just noticed a new addition to my aquarium. I
thought it was a worm of some sort and have searched your website but
none of the pictures look like my little visitor. It is a white long
tube about 3 times as thick as a piece of hair and is very long and
winds itself up. I have 2 of these on the glass and one of these on a
rock.
Can you let me know what it is and if it is harmless??
<Mmm, is very likely harmless, but can't tell you definitively which
worm group (or even if this is a worm) for certain>
By the way you
have a great site. I have learned a ton over the last couple days
trying to research this new visitor. Any help would be appreciated.
Kristin
<I would not be worried re these... will likely "pass" in
time as conditions, predation dynamic develops in your system. Bob
Fenner>
Mystery Critter: A Sea Pen...Maybe - 11/16/06
Hi Gang :)
<<Hello Lisa>>
I've been trying to photograph this thing for
ages but because it only comes out at night and I can't get it with
a red light, I get one shot with a flash and the pics don't usually
come out.
<<Bummer>>
Tonight I got lucky.
<<Cool>>
This thing
http://www.webspecialty.com/aquarium/tankmysterything.jpg is
about 4 inches long. It is thick and doesn't look like any other
worm in the tank. It has spots.
<<I see them>>
It reaches
over and around rocks, I don't know how long it actually can get,
but when it recedes back into the rock, you can't see any trace of
it.
<<Not surprising/unusual>>
From what I've been able to
see of it using the red light, the tip does not have anything on the
end of it.
<<No head/mouth/feeding apparatus? Hmm...maybe not a
"worm">>
Do you know what it is? If so, would you please tell
me?
<<Not sure myself, but Bob seems to think this could be a
Sea Pen...many species will only venture forth at night. Have a
look/read here (http://www.wetwebmedia.com/pennatulaceans.htm),
and do also a Google search on the Net in general re 'Sea Pen'>>
Thanks so much,
Lisa
<<Happy to assist. EricR>> |
|
Re: Mystery Critter: A Sea Pen...Maybe - 11/16/06
Thanks for the
fast reply Eric.
<<Quite welcome>>
I'd agree that it could be a
Sea Pen, except it isn't coming from soft substrate, it's coming from a
rock.
<<Are you sure? You say you can't see it once it
retracts. Perhaps it is "originating" from the substrate "under" the
rock>>
It reminds me of a very long tentacle.
<<Was my first
impression as well>>
I'll keep searching.
Lisa
<<Please do
let me know what you discover. Eric Russell>> |
R2: Mystery Critter - 11/16/06
Hi Eric,
<<Lisa>>
Yup
I'm positive. I've watched it a lot. It comes out of the rock and
then spreads around the rock feeling all over it. If it senses the
light, it retracts back into the rock.
<<Curious>>
When it
starts to come back out, it starts back out from its hole in the
rock. The thicker end in the picture is the base in the rock where
it comes from :) The other end of it is not visible in this pic.
<<Ahh, ok...I had visualized it as the other-way-round. I still
don't know what to tell you, though I am back to leaning towards a
species of worm (thousands to contend with). The idea of a species
of eel has even entered my mind but you say the termination point
has no discernable "head." Have you considered placing the rock in
a tank of its own for closer inspection/observation?>>
Thanks,
Lisa
<<My interest is piqued; I hope to hear what you discover
of/more clues about this organism. Regards, Eric Russell>> |
R3: Mystery Critter - 11/16/06
Hi Eric,
<<Hey Lisa!>>
We don't have another tank - yet - but I'm sure this will certainly
drive my husband and I to purchase a Nano tank.
<<Hee-hee!>>
He really wants seahorses.
<<Wonderful creatures...but best kept
in larger systems for the increased water/system stability. If you
haven’t found it already, do start reading here (http://www.wetwebmedia.com/tube-mfi.htm)
and among the associated linked files in blue at the top of the
page>>
The problem with determining whether or not it's an eel
is getting close enough to it.
<<So it seems>>
At night I
have to use a red light to find it, but it senses that and retracts
so I only put the light on it long enough to locate it.
<<Mmm...very photosensitive indeed>>
Then I get my camera. I'll
put a 4x close-up on and see if I can get another picture of the
thing with the other end in the picture.
<<Ah, good>>
If I
am able to get any other pictures or find anything else, I'll be
sure to let you know.
<<Please do>>
Best,
Lisa
<<Regards, Eric Russell>> |
Help With
Lisa' Mystery Critter - 11/18/06
Hello,
<<Howdy>>
I read
your FAQ's almost every day and I noticed the email conversations
regarding the email I included at the bottom of this message.
<<Ok>>
Not to butt in
<<No worries>>
but it seemed like you were kind
of stumped and I thought maybe I could try to help you out since you
have helped me so much in the past!
<<Help is always welcome>>
I
saw the photo yesterday that Lisa had submitted and I am almost 99% sure
that the creature in her picture is some kind of worm.
<<Very
likely, yes>>
I have numerous worms in my tank that look exactly
like the one in her photo.
<<Really?>>
They are black (dark
gray) and white, only come out at night, and are extremely sensitive to
light.
<<Does sound very similar>>
I have had them in my tank
for over a year now and have only recently noticed (within the last
month) that if you pay close attention to them, the very end of their
Head (?) is similar in appearance to a feather duster but not feathery,
more like 5 or 6 short tentacles (don't know if this makes sense but it
is the only way of explaining it without drawing a picture).
<<Does
make sense...very interesting>>
When the worm retreats, the
tentacles retract into the body and the worm shrinks away. Obviously I
spend way too many hours gawking at my fish tank, even after the lights
go out!
<<Hee! Much to be seen even when the lights are out...>>
Unfortunately I have no idea what the name of this creature is, only
that I am quite sure it is some kind of worm.
<<Does sound as
if...>>
Also, it has never seemed to bother anything in my tank,
only beneficially scavenging around the rocks.
<<As is the case with
most>>
I hope this is helpful. I am certainly not an expert; so if
my input is in any way annoying, please let me know. I won't be
offended and will refrain from making any suggestions in the future.
<<I am no expert either...and I "thank you" for this input>>
On the
topic of worms, two quick questions while I'm writing, if you don't
mind?
<<Not at all>>
I am thinking about getting a tank raised
Pseudochromis fridmani and have read that these fish eat worms.
<<Very often true>>
I enjoy the diversity of the many different
worms in my 55gal. Do you think this fish would decimate my population
of worms or just keep them in check?
<<Mmm, hard to say...but likely
the latter>>
Also, are these guys prone to jumping out?
<<Have
heard so>>
I know that any fish can, but I am curious if these fish
are very likely to do this.
<<These fish are widely considered to be
as "jumpy" as many of the commonly kept wrasse species>>
I want to
leave my tank uncovered.
<<I would...>>
Thanks so much for all
your help!!!
-Nick
<<Quite welcome. EricR>> Re:
Nitrates, Now ID Question 11/15/06
Hi James,
<Hello Jon>
I have some creatures/ things that I need help in identifying. I am
beginning to think that a good digital camera is a must part of reef
keeping. All I have right now is my old 35 mm film based camera. I tried
taking pictures but without the zooming capability,
<Macro
capabilities are much better in this regard. Most digital cameras have
this feature.>
I will probably just end up with arrows on the
pictures and say “look James can you see it?” So I guess I will just
have to describe it as best I can for now.
I have a lot (guesstimate
probably 100+) of this tiny white spiral shell like things appearing on
my tank glass and live rocks. They are about 1 mm in size
(circumference). I tried researching for a description/name and/or
pictures at your website and other websites using keywords as described
above and came across the word “spirorbidea”. But I am still not sure
what to make of it without photos to compare it to. So I have decided to
ask you again. I feel guilty for not knowing this upfront and end up
bothering you all the time.
<No problem, I am continually learning
about creatures as you will be.>
Please accept my apology in advance
and at the same time express my utmost appreciation for your generosity
in lending us your wealth of knowledge and experience, your valuable
inputs for all of us new hopefuls.
<Thank you for the kind
words. The wealth of knowledge is spread amongst the crew, some being
more knowledgeable on some subjects than others.>
Going back, what
do you think they are?
<Without a pic, I'd say they are Spirorbid
Tubeworms (polychaeta).>
Are these spiral shell-like things the
initial stages on the life of an Aiptasia?
<Nope.>
I just hope
that this is not the dreaded Aiptasia everyone is talking about.
<Not to worry.>
How can I differentiate it between a fan worms if
they are still small. I am now confused if what I have in my tank are
fan worms, Aiptasia, or this spirorbidea.
<Use a magnifying glass to
observe, should see the very small fan of the worm.>
Also, there are
a few cocoon-like things with hairs on the tip that are mostly growing
on the low light portions of my live rocks. One of the cocoons is almost
3 cm long. I can best describe it as a wad of cotton.
<Again,
without a pic...? I've seen such, Bob would know, Oh Bob...> <<Likely
sponges, perhaps other sedentariate Polychaetes... RMF>>
In addition,
I have these small shrimp like bugs that is probably less than 5 mm
long. I have a lot of them. I mean a lot. They are all over the place
moving in and out of the live rocks and even on the sand. Even my
refugium has them. If my guess is right, I think it is called an
amphipod.
<Amphipods/Copepods, and as you say, beneficial.>
I
have seen photos of it online and it sure look like it. They are
beneficial and are detritivores right? Do some if not all types of fish
eat them?
<Yes to both, but smaller fish will dine on them more so
than larger fish.>
I ask because my fish seems to ignore them. These
critters travel all over my tank boldly. There hasn’t been a day that I
have not seen their empty shell floating around. Maybe my fish simply
like the formula 1 and 2 flakes soaked in garlic a lot better. Every
time I approach the tank, all my fishes are like dogs wiggling tail
asking for more food. My clowns and green chromis eat right off my hand.
They are so used to my hand in the tank now they are no longer afraid of
it.
<Ahh, the beginner's joys of discovery.>
What can you say
about aqua cultured fighting conch?
<Good herbivores, although they
grown quite large. As they grow, there will generally not be enough
food on the rocks to satisfy them, and supplemental feedings
of
dried seaweed will be necessary for their survival. My opinion, not
worth the effort.>
For the last fish in my tank, I will be adding a
copperband butterfly fish simply for its looks. I just love its profile
and coloration.
<Everyone does.>
I know it is a difficult fish
to keep but knowing myself, I would still end up getting it anyways as I
have already set my mind on it even before I started the tank. What
would be your advice to me for me to successfully keep it? I have not
lost a single livestock yet and I intend to keep it that way.
<Copperbands do best in large tanks with plenty of healthy live
rock. Any tubeworm population will soon be gone. Your copepod
population will quickly
diminish also. The difficulty with these
fish is acclimating them to prepared/frozen foods. Read FAQ's here re
this. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/chelmonfdgfaq.htm>
Bioload: 2 false percs, 3 green chromis, 1 purple firefish, 10 Cerith
snails, 10 margarita snails, 10 turbo snails, 20 blue legged hermit
crabs, 1 serpent star, 1 peppermint shrimp, and 1 cleaner shrimp, 1
Frogspawn, 1 Hammer Coral, 1 Yellow Fiji Leather Coral, Multi-Colored
Polyp colony and 1 green open brain.
<Yikes! Would not put a
Copperband in a tank with these corals. There will more than likely be
nipped on.>
Tank: 60 gallon tank (48” x 25” x 12”) with 28.45 gal
DIY sump/ refugium.
Equipment: 260 watt total (12k and True Actinic
03 combination), 125 Coralife Needle Wheel Super Skimmer, 18 watt 6x
Coralife Twist UV Sterilizer, 2 200 watt Jager Heater, Mag 5 return
pump, and 2 Maxijet 1200 powerhead.
Thanks again James and more
power to you and your site.
<You're welcome, Jon. James (Salty
Dog)>
Jon Glorioso
Naugatuck, CT
<Luck you, living in such a
scenic area.>
"Creeping Killer Crud" 12/16/06
First of all, I really
appreciate your forum. I’ve been a chemist for 25+
years but
find the reef keeping hobby to be a quite a challenge!
<Heeee!
Agreed>
It’s been made more enjoyable by your very helpful
information.
<Ah, good... as an aside, I taught H.S. Chemistry
for a while...>
I have:
50 gallon bow front aquarium
2
PFO pendants, each with 175W 10K halide and 2X 32W actinics
20
gallon sump
Euroreef skimmer
about 65 lbs. live rock
yellow tang
maroon clown
watchman goby
mushroom corals
bubble tip anemone (2 now)
small Acropora
various polyps,
mostly from live rock
emerald crab
“pom pom” crab
Cleaner shrimp
Nassarius, bumble bee snails
Blue & red
legged hermits (8-10)
Tank is about 4 years old, maintain
chemistry mainly with Kalkwasser in replacement water & 2 part
calcium and/or buffer when needed. Have had many lapses with water
changes (I’m guilty!) but try to keep up with regular testing for
pH, alkalinity, calcium, nitrate, etc. testing. Parameters are all
good, with some detectable phosphate (~0.1ppm) leading me to run
some phosphate scrubbing resin right now as I try to starve this
killer crud encrusting my tank!
<Mmmm>
About 6 months ago, I
began noticing some dark, brownish (purplish?) growth on live rock
that seemed to spread fairly quickly (see attachment).
<I see
it>
Figured it was just some nuisance algae
<Mmm, no>
and replenished some crabs to take care of it. However, it has grown
steadily and seems to slowly kill most things in it’s path
(Acropora, open brain coral, pulsing Xeniids), only star polyps,
Palythoas and some other polyps seem to survive. The stuff looks
shiny and feels rubbery to the touch, but when you try to scrape it
off it is fibrous, almost leathery and very tough.
<Yes...
likely a sponge, Poriferan>
I’ve taken it to a very good LFS and
marine biologist there is stumped so far. This stuff grows from rock
to rock, even grows on top of coralline on back of tank where I can
eventually break it loose, but it has glued most of my live rock
together! LFS suggests removing & scrubbing live rock, but won’t
this kill what’s left of natural flora/fauna? I’m considering
replacing the appx. ½ of my live rock but would like to know what
I’m up against first.
Any suggestions?
Many thanks,
Allen
<Well... there are a few approaches one might consider
here... I'll jump ahead at both ends/philosophies if you do/don't
mind... If this were a/my service account, I'd pull all the rock (as
in en toto) out and place it in the dark somewhere... allow/kill off
the "crud"... and use the old rock some months hence as "base" in
another set-up... At the opposite end of the spectrum, IF this were
my home tank and I was given to experimentation, had lots of
patience... I'd take a look/see under a scope to determine at least
the phylum here... and try a course of possible, probable
predators... Might take a bit of time... to seek out an expert at
family, genus, species of the organism itself... someone who could
engage you in what they have observed and/or speculate might be a
principal predator... AND I would try the biochemical warfare
route... adding another purposeful sump/refugium, macrophyte...
lighting... tied in with your main system here... Much to be gained,
enjoyed in considering, pursuing these activities. Bob Fenner> | 
|
Help! Small reef, critters 12/4/06
Hey!
<Get me
my saddle!>
I've been successfully looking after my black & white
clown in a 30 ltr aquarium for a few months now.
<Too small a
volume...>
He is in there with a few other critters too. The
setup is as follows:
I have a Mirabello 30 aquarium:
I have
replaced the carbon with a VERY good phosphate remover laid out in
wool. It has plenty of biological action on the go and I use nothing
but synthetic seawater for water changes. There is a venturi device
that is turned down very low (it causes a very small timed jet of
bubbles) and an Interpet AirVolution Mini.
I use test kits and never
have readings of nitrites, nitrates or phosphates.
I have replaced
the standard yellow lights with a blue/white actinic light bulb.
Everything mechanically and filter wise is good.
My inhabitants are:
1 x 1" black & white clownfish
1 x 3/4" emerald crab
1 x 1"
blue-legged hermit crab
1 x 1" turbo snail
1 x 1" red snail (I
picked up from the Irish Sea on holiday and brought him back - doing
great)
Lots of live rock, an anemone (the clown never leaves it!),
polyps, xenia.
<... dangerous mix in time>
Plenty of Mysid
shrimp, baby snails, worms and weird things that grow on the glass.
Here lies my problem. What are the things on the glass? I have done
lots of research and found that people often complain about pods - white
things that sit on the glass. My pest is brown and 1 - 2 mm in
size. They have a lighter part in the middle of their body. Any ideas?
<All sorts>
What can I do to get rid of them - especially in the way
of fish. I hope you will say that a neon goby will eat them up.
<Maybe... but I'm inclined to leave these be... whatever they are...
highly likely innocuous to beneficial... will pass in time...>
Also,
I have found a baby starfish - I'm pretty sure it's a brittle-star. It
is nearly all white except for it's main body part - is this normal for
babies (It's body is no more than 2mm in diameter)?
<See WWM re
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/asterinafaqs.htm>
Well, thanks for
listening, I know I've dribbled on but I am please that my first venture
into marine aquaria is doing well.
Si
<Thank you for sharing. Re
my concerns about the species listed... please do look these up
individually on WWM, read re their Compatibility, Systems... Bob Fenner>
Unidentified Egg Sacks - 12/01/06
Hello, my name is Michael.
<<Hi Michael...Eric here...>>
First off, thank you for being
such a helpful site.
<<Glad you think so>>
Your site has
stopped me from making countless mistakes and has helped me diagnose
and save the life of one of my sick clownfish =).
<<Excellent to
hear!>>
Anyways, today I noticed about twelve small white egg
sacks the size of pin heads on my tank glass. They are almost
evenly dispersed near the top of three of the walls. I sent a
drawing I made of them close up.
<<I see it>>
I know it is
not very clear and could easily be from many types of creatures but
I only have two types of creatures in my tank that I think could
possibly make them. I have a somewhat new pair of True Percula
Clownfish that seem to have paired nicely but I am not sure if
clownfish would produce 12 small egg sacks and then put them
everywhere while leaving them unguarded even if it would be their
first time having babies.
<<Mmm, no...these are definitely not
clownfish eggs>>
I also have some turbo snails in the tank but I
think that their egg pattern looks different.
<<Indeed...long
ragged-looking white strings>>
I then have crabs, a few corals,
and some other species of fish but none are in mated pairs.
<<Pairing is not always/many times unnecessary for an organism to
produce "eggs">>
So if it is possible, could you venture a guess
as what type of eggs these are?
<<Sure...if the "membrane" were
more round/symmetrical I would say these were egg-clusters from a
species of Nassarius snail. I think it likely these are from "some"
type of mollusk (probably a hitchhiker on coral/live rock), and very
likely harmless if not beneficial>>
Could they have come from
something besides the clowns or snails?
<<As just stated>>
Thanks very much for your time and any help you can give me,
Michael
<<A pleasure to assist. EricR>> | 
|
Unknown ID 11/24/06
Attached is a picture of something growing
in my salt tank. It is clear and seems to have an opening in the end.
Some of them have a small feather in the middle that seems to be
feeding. Please let me know what you think it might be and if it is
dangerous to my fish and Invertebrate.
<Hello! Mich here. I'm not
sure what you're specifically referring to in your photo. I'm guessing
the rounded mass in the crevasse of the coral skeleton toward the bottom
right. Hopefully we are both looking at the same thing! This mass
resembles a sponge. However most sponges don't have "feathers". Your
written description makes me think you may be describing barnacles or
polychaete worms. In any case, your fish and inverts should be safe.>
Thank you for your time.
Cindy Shanks | 
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