FAQs about Non-Vertebrate Animal
Identification 38
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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 37, Non-Vert ID 39, Non-Vert ID 40, Non-Vert ID 41, Non-Vert ID 42, Non-Vert ID 43, Non-Vert ID 44, Non-Vert ID 45, Non-Vert ID 46, Non-Vert ID 47, Non-Vert ID 48, Non-Vert ID 49, Non-Vert ID 50, Non-Vert ID 51, Non-Vert ID 52, Non-Vert ID 53, Non-Vert ID 54, Non-Vert ID 55, Non-Vert ID 56,
Non-Vert ID
57, Non-Vert ID 58,
Non-Vert ID 59,
Non-Vert ID 60, Non-Vert ID 61,
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Banded Tentacles ID 12/25/08 Hello Guys,
<Scott> Any idea what these things might be? <Mmm, yes.
Ophiuroids... Brittlestars. Please read here re:
http://wetwebmedia.com/brittlestars.htm> You can tell from the
bubbles that they are about 1 cm long. The tentacles are quite
active, although I have never seen any body emerge from the holes
in the rocks in which they live. They seem to be harmless. Your
thoughts? Thanks for all you guys add to the hobby. Scott
<Welcome. There are some predaceous species to be concerned
re, but I think that this species is fine with what you likely
have stocked. Cheers, Bob Fenner>
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Need an ID please 12/14/08 Hello to all WWM
crew! <Hiya Cath> Here's, in joined pieces, a picture
took from the tank of a reefer of my area. I really don't
know what this little beast is...have any idea? Best regards and
have a great Christmas time! <It's very hard to tell from
the photo... does it move? If so... might be a Scutus. If not,
could be a bivalve. Any chance you can get a better picture?>
Cath from ReefConcept
<Best,
Sara M.>
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An
Ascidian. RMF |
Re: Need an ID please 12/15/08
Hello to all WWM crew! <Hello Cath> Here's, in joined
pieces, a picture took from the tank of a reefer of my area. I
really don't know what this little beast is...have any idea?
Best regards and have a great Christmas time! Cath from ReefConcept
<Am following up to Sara's input... I do think this is very
likely a Sea Squirt... Please see our pix here et al re:
http://wetwebmedia.com/ascidians.htm Cheers, Bob Fenner> |
Mysterious Creature 12/05/08 Hi to all of you,
<http://photos.msn.com/viewing/Photos.aspx?pi_Type=SlideshowTask&Task=Download&stppData=&pi_ImagesOnly=1&Folder=nBuRgwTGIGjkVpLJ3Nc!FMsrTAxsyiotG1xZyVhKVf8%24&User=heRNVFXLFsN0qPNvXqJHHaGDzJVTKju2&pi_NoLogin=1>
I am hoping that someone might be able to help us identify this strange
but beautiful creature that came out of the live rock last night. <I
do think it might be a barnacle. If not a barnacle than a worm of some
sort-- both common hitchhikers.> I have searched high and low and
can't find anything even close. The spines are very colorful and
change colors depending on what angle you look at it. It has two long
tentacles and it looks like a bunch of short tentacles in the center.
If spooked it will retract back into the rock like a feather duster. I
am sure that's not what it is since when fully out of the rock the
spines do not sway with the current or move at all. I am attaching some
pictures I managed to take. It would be good to know if the new
addition is good or bad for our little reef tank. I read through your
site a lot, and it has helped us to identify other little hitchhikers
that made it home with us. The information you provide is outstanding.
<Thanks> Thank you for your help. Veronika <De nada, Sara
M.>
Mysterious Creature... Perhaps a Polychaete
12/5/08 Photo E-mail Play
slideshow<http://photos.msn.com/Viewing/Album.aspx?PST=8nK2AN1B!1JmZao!iR2Cw
4p77vaMrwXT0k5ggGbvCxtKz!TFaw3zIIzDFrbQ67qNGj58PnbsE4tN5Jb6!pDEgA%24%24>
| Download images http://photos.msn.com/viewing/Photos.aspx?
pi_Type=SlideshowTask&Task=Download&stppData=&pi_ImagesOnly=1&Folder=nBuRgwT
GIGjkVpLJ3Nc!FMsrTAxsyiotG1xZyVhKVf8%24&User=heRNVFXLFsN0qPNvXqJHHaGDzJVTKju
2&pi_NoLogin=1 Hi to all of you, <Hi there, Mich here.> I am
hoping that someone might be able to help us identify this strange but
beautiful creature that came out of the live rock last night. <Is
beautiful!> I have searched high and low and can't find anything
even close. The spines are very colorful and change colors depending on
what angle you look at it. <So pretty!> It has two long tentacles
and it looks like a bunch of short tentacles in the center. If spooked
it will retract back into the rock like a feather duster. <I believe
it to be in this family, some type of Polychaete perhaps.> I am sure
that's not what it is since when fully out of the rock the spines
do not sway with the current or move at all. <I have had these in my
system. Mine did not last long term, I hope yours do better.> I am
attaching some pictures I managed to take. <Very nice!> It would
be good to know if the new addition is good or bad for our little reef
tank. <In my experience they caused no harm.> I read through your
site a lot, and it has helped us to identify other little hitchhikers
that made it home with us. The information you provide is outstanding.
<Thank you for your kind words.> Thank you for your help.
Veronika <Welcome, Mich>
-invert ID-- possibly Vermetid snails-
11/27/08 Crew, <Hello, first, I'm so sorry it has taken
this long to get back to you. Sometimes some of our crew members move
emails to their folders and forget about them.> I've recently
developed some sharp spines about a quarter inch in length growing all
over my live rock. What is it? <It's difficult to say without a
photo, but they could be Vermetid snails. Please visit these links and
see if you can find something that looks like what you have growing on
your rock:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/MolluscPIX/Gastropods/Prosobranch%20PIX/Vermetids
/tubesnailidf.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/MolluscPIX/Gastropods/Prosobranch%20PIX/Vermetids
/vermetidsnails.htm > Is it harmful? If so, how do I control it? 140
gal salt under tank sump set up about 1 year ago. Fish only right now
with plans to do a reef. <If they are tube snails, they're
probably not harmful... and will likely start to die off eventually on
their own.> aqua c EV 120 1/4 HP chiller 40watt UV sterilizer Red
Sea Ozonizer (currently disconnected) Twin 150 watt metal Halides w/
twin 65 watt actinic Michael A. Grande <Best,
Sara M.>
Unidentified Growth -sponge 11/21/08 Hi Crew!
I'm attaching a picture of a white sack that is growing on
the side of my live rock. <That, my friend, is what we
fish-folk call a sponge.> I don't know what it is but it
seems to be getting bigger. <Cool... sponges are fun,
attractive, and beneficial.> It may be hard to see on the
picture, but there is a little hole with a spout near the top of
the sack. Is this a nest? Should I be concerned? I thank you for
your time and expertise. As always, you guys are the best!
<Thanks... please see here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sponges.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/spongeidfaqs.htm -OneCoolFish
Sara M.>
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Unidentified inhabitant... Microbrittle star
11/20/08
Hi everyone,
<Hi Robert, Mich here.>
I have an unidentified inhabitant in my aquarium.
<An IRI (unidentified reef inhabitant)? Heehee!>
I used to have corals in it but now only fish and live rock.
<OK.>
One of the large rocks is very porous
<Hopefully all your rocks are!>
and when the lights go out this little guy comes out to play.
<Cool!>
There are five or six, two to three inch "arms" that extend
from various holes in this large rock. They are a light color with
reddish brown rings that go the entire length. If I saw a body I would
say serpent star but then the whole rock would have to be hollow. What
would be your best guess?
<Likely a Microbrittle star, you can see images here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestaridfaqs.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/britstaridf2.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/britstaridf3.htm
Let me know if this is what you've got.>
Thanks
Robert
<Welcome,
Mich>
Re: Unidentified Inhabitant... Microbrittle star
11/21/2008
YEP!! That's him!
<YAY!>
Since he only comes out in the dark and then just the arms I
couldn't decide if he was a star or some other URI.
<They are quite common... and beneficial... enjoy your new
URI>
Thanks for the pics and info.
<Welcome!>
Robert
<Mich>
Anthias eggs, other 11/16/08 Good morning tankers,
<?> Thank you for everything thus far, your site has been of
tremendous value over the years! My question is of my Lyretail Anthias.
5 females and 1 male have been in my 125 reef for the last two months.
This last week during a water change, I noticed two 1/8" clear
balls in my socks with black granules inside. I've never seen this
in the year and a half I've had this tank. So I put them in my fuge
for safety from other fishes to see if maybe they would hatch? I want
to try to take care of these eggs. I don't think it could be eggs
from any other livestock as my tank stock is as follows; Fish 1 Green
Clown Goby - Gobiodon histrio 04.08 2 Pajama Cardinals - Sphaeramia
nematoptera 11.07 1Blue Streak Cardinal - Apogon leptacanthus 1.08
<Apogonid eggs are about a 1/16"> 2 Saddleback Clownfish -
Amphiprion polymnus 2.08 1 Dusky Jawfish - Opistognathus whitehurstii
05.08 <Eggs are about a 1/16"> 1Royal Gramma- Gramma loreto
08.08 1 Dejardin's Tang - Zebrasoma desjardinii 01.08 1 Yellow Tang
- Zebrasoma flavescens 09..08 6 Lyretail Anthias - Pseudanthias
squamipinnis 1 male/5 females, 10.02.08 1 Randall's Goby -
Amblyeleotris randalli 10.02.08 1 Midas Blenny - Ecsenius midas
10.02.08 ---------- 18 fish INVERTS 2 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp -
Lysmata amboinensis 11.07 3 Peppermint Shrimp - Lysmata wurdemanni
08.08 1 Red Banded Pistol Shrimp - Alpheus randalli 10.02.08 -------- 6
shrimp 1 Blue Linckia Starfish - Linckia Laevigata 10.02.08 1 Sand
Sifting Starfish - Astropecten Polyacanthus 11.05.08 Various Corals
Thank You! <Eighth inch in diameter? Clear? Perhaps some bail-out
material from your corals... None of the other life listed has such
large reproductive material. Bob Fenner>
White spiral creatures on glass 11/15/08 Good
Morning, <Hello.> Your site is very helpful in many ways. Thanks
for all you do. <Thank you.> My tank is a 125 with 80# of black
reef live sand with 60# of Fiji rock with more to come [?]. Fish in
tank 2 Damsels, one clown (Nemo as the daughter calls it) one pencil
urchin , one purple urchin, about 10 small blue legged hermits one
turbo snail, 5 small snails, Nitrites 0.0, nitrates 0.0 ammonia 0.0
P.H. 8.6 Salt 1.025 temp 78 controlled by a current 1/3 hp chiller,
est. 20 gal sump with med to large protein skimmer, my tank is around 5
months old. My questions. I have some small spiral looking creatures
all over my glass, most are less the 1mm in diameter so pictures are
hard to come out clear enough to send. They have on one end what
appears to be hair or something. What might these creatures be?
<Small feather dusters, no worry.> Another question is I'm
interested in trying mushrooms in my tank and in a round about way
found my answer but not clearly. Will a pencil urchin or a purple
urchin eat the mushrooms? <They can. Best to be sure the urchin is
well fed, see http://www.wetwebmedia.com/urchinfdgfaqs.htm> Thanks
again for all you do to help your site has been helpful in the setup of
my system. <Welcome, Scott V.>
Help ID Tank Spaghetti 11/14/08 Dear Crew,
<Hello Andy.> It's been a long time since I rapped at
you. I've been out of the loop because my tank crashed in
September and I haven't had much to write about <Sorry to
hear about that.> -my only inhabitants are a Kole Tang, a Sea
Hare (Aplysia californica) that I borrowed from my LFS to deal
with the incredible amount of algae that plagued my tank after
the crash from (I assume) all the nutrients that were released
when $3k worth of fish and coral disintegrated, and a bunch of
hermits and snails. I know this Sea Hare is a temperate water
species and will eventually starve in my tank, which is why I
borrowed it rather than purchased it--I needed something big to
eat an incredible amount of algae. Anyway, as I mentioned there
is very little in my tank--I am letting my tank settle/re-mature
and don't want to load it up with any fish for a few months.
Almost nothing survived the crash, so almost all life other than
the above is new that came in on a few new pieces of LR and some
bristleworms, etc. that I transferred from my other tank. So,
imagine my surprise when I found the attached on the underside of
a piece of live rock tonight. This mass looks like a handful of
spaghetti (same thickness and about 4" in diameter). It
appears to be some type of egg mass, but the only thing that
could have deposited it is the Sea Hare. Am I right on this?
<Absolutely. These are sea hare eggs. Thanks for sharing. Do
you know the National Resource for Aplysia at the University of
Miami? You'll find information on the lifecycle, larval
stages there. Rearing procedures are also briefly described on
their website http://aplysia.miami.edu.> Thanks! Andy
<Welcome. Marco.>
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Help ID Tank Spaghetti II 11/14/08 Wow, thanks
Marco. Does this mean I'm going to have 8 million Sea Hares
in my tank? <No, are they fertilized at all? I thought you
only got a single specimen.> In the normal tank, would most
get eaten by fish, corals, etc? <Even if you had two and the
eggs were fertilized, few would have a chance. Not all would be
eaten, the rest would be filtered, skimmed. If you want to raise
sea hares you need at least two, and contact the National
Resource for Aplysia and see their site for Aplysia
production.> Thanks again. Andy. <Cheers, Marco.>
Help ID Tank Spaghetti III 11/14/08 I assume
they are not fertilized--I have only one specimen, and I have had
it for 4 weeks or so. I have no interest in raising Sea Hares.
Thanks for your help. <Welcome. Marco.>
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