Hydras? Help ID please

[andrewshafran]

Woke up this morning and was peering into my tank and along side the numerous snail pods on my glass I saw a dozen or so of these little creatures. The are small (1-2mm across) with a round center and numerous arms or tendrils extending outward from the center like a bicycle wheel. Anyone have any idea what they are? If they're harmful or if I should leave em alone?

Thanks
Andrew :shock:

[steve1s]

Sounds like they could be either a type of starfish or a hydroid jelly. Having a pic would help if you could...

Is this it?
http://members.shaw.ca/steve-s/saltwater/sample02.jpg

Cheers
Steve

[andrewshafran]

I guess that sort of looks like it. If it's a hydroid is that indicative of a problem?

[steve1s]

Some hydroid jellies can have quite the powerful sting, but for the most part should not cause you concern unless they start to colonize a given area on the rock where corals are located.

Most likely they will not survive long. Jellies require huge amounts of water volume to survive and the home aquarium simpley cannot keep up with the demands they require..

Cheers
Steve

[reddood]

do yours look, more uniformed and are the tendrils a lot finer and more of them? If so i am trying to ID the same thing. if not good luck in your quest to id the UFO


thanks
D

[steve1s]

Reddood,

Do an internet search for comb jellies and see if that's what you have. It's a very common hitchicker especially with caulerpa..

Cheers
Steve

[surgeon67]

I had a similar thing in my tank that turned out to be aiptasia "larvae". I didn't figure it out until I saw one planted on the inside of my skimmer that had grown to recognizable size/shape.

[steve1s]

I had a similar thing in my tank that turned out to be aiptasia "larvae". I didn't figure it out until I saw one planted on the inside of my skimmer that had grown to recognizable size/shape.

Not to suggest that what you had was not aiptasia but more for clarification, they reproduce (http://www.seaslugforum.net/aiptasia.htm) by tissue separation. Which basically means that small pieces actually break off and grows. They do not have larvae.. :D

Cheers
Steve

[surgeon67]

...basically means that small pieces actually break off and grows. They do not have larvae.. :D


I know, that's why I put it in quotes. I couldn't think of an appropriate term (anemonites, maybe?), and "young-uns" didn't sound technical enough. :wink:

[Lahatiel]

lol....'young-uns'...that would show off too much of our southern nature. ;)

[surgeon67]

Yeah, can't let too much southern charm out.... more might move down from up north! :wink:

[phistio]

perhaps...although i moved from california to alabama...then to chicago.

so i've been influenced as "laid back"--cali style, "southern gentleman"--bama style, and "ritzy"--chi-town style...

i think it's a happy medium here...

[Lahatiel]

Thats right phistio, you did some training at Ft. McClellan didn't you? That is where I did most of mine, and had many visits to there afterwards. Of course I now live about 50 miles from the front gates...on the Georgia side though. They have now shut it down for the most part, and even moved the live nerve agent training facility.

Didn't mean to hijack the thread, but I was under the impression the problem, question, was solved. If I am wrong, sorry! I do however think this little interventions often to lead to growth of the community as it does allow us more in depth looks at each others personality traits. Hope that wasn't a problem. :)

[phistio]

well...it was i too that also went off topic...

i think a few personal comments here and there are allowed in threads...as long as the topic doesn't go off course for too long. as you said, it's a great way for us to network together, and find out a bit more about each other...