help i am so confussed

[sls0768]

Can someone tell me how to tell the difference between a feather duster and an Aiptasia worm. I understand that the aiptasia is not good, but i'm not sure what i have. I am very new to this and this thing just popped out of the rock. Help.

[amike5]

Aiptasia isn't a worm, it's an anenome. A feather duster has apparent "feathers" protruding from a hole or casing around its body. Aiptasia looks more like a zoo, it has a stem and a circular head with tenticles on the head.

[EdKruzel]

This is an Aptasia, a small brown to clear looking anemone that will spread quickly in most aquariums.




Various types of Feather Duster worms, all of which will have a mud tube around the body.

[sls0768]

Well the thing i have looks like a tiny worm when it comes out of the hole in the rock then it opens up into a circle of tiny featherlike things. Almost like a flower blooming in fast motion.
so do you think this is a feather duster?

[Randall_James]

Feather duster is a worm... Aiptasia is an Anemone (pest anemone)

Aiptasia


typical small feather duster (most common hitchhiker type)

[sls0768]

Also it is very small so it doesn't really look like it has a stemlike thing. It looks more like it is flush against the rock.

[sls0768]

I have seen only two so far. How do i get rid of them. I think it is an Aiptasia

[Sk8r]

And aiptasia, while a nuisance, are not death incarnate, just a pest for which there are several cures. You'll see all sorts of dusters [which are worms, and are sometimes called fan-worms, for the plumage on their heads.] Some are very tiny curled white tubes. Some are leathery and wandering and never grow a plume larger than half an inch. Some have fans almost as big as a daisy, cost money, and are hard to keep---at least for me.

[Mavrk]

sounds like a feather duster to me. do they come out more at night?

[sls0768]

yes

[slapshot16]

What color is it? The aptasia I have seen - - not in my tank of course - - are brown.

[reefaholic101]

bumjp

[sls0768]

it looks sort of clear with a purple tint

[EdKruzel]

Originally posted by reefaholic101
bumjp

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Ed Kruzel
RC Moderator

[rbtwo4]

Sk8r I'm now confused! I have what apparently looked to me like aiptasia and I'm here squirting and killing them. They are like u said pop out in a curly white tube but they are so small to take a pic of. When the lights are on the rock looks normal til the lights go off and these "tubes" pop out. Are these pests?