Pictures of Hitchhikers..need ID's

Sweetp · #1 08/01/2007, 06:36 PM

So I've been taking pictures of things on my rock...
We have tons of things that have been showing up.. I've taken some pictures so if anyone knows what anything is.. let me know :-)

We saw this guy last night at 4 am.. he's so gorgeous...

This thing is solid orange during the day..and only opens up at night with muted lights?
Clearish tenticals with balls at the ends...

I think this may be one of those bad anemoni?? it's reddish brown?

This is a little bubbley/nubby coral maybe?? (on the left)

Some really cool light pink flower looking things... they are on a vine along the ridge and then above it is a solid peice with flowery nubs?

Pictures of our Brittleworm.. he doesn't wait til night to come out either..

Little black and white stripped snail in the center?

Pictures of our Tank so far:

TikiDan · #2 08/01/2007, 06:39 PM

http://melevsreef.com/id/

reef2 · #3 08/01/2007, 06:45 PM

1&2-?
3- ball tip anomone or cup coral
4- aptasia
5- ?
6- daisy polyps

last one the snail maybe sundail?

Percula9 · #4 08/01/2007, 06:48 PM

It looks like you have some Aptaisa and bubble algae. Also the deep red purple algae looks like cyano-bacteria. If it brushes off then it's cyano. Bristleworm not destructive, eats detritus. If you don't like him remove him.

greenbean36191 · #5 08/01/2007, 06:49 PM

Wow, you got some amazing rock. Those are some unusual hitchhikers.

1-2 is a juvenile abalone. They're some of the coolest grazers out there IMO

The last one looks like a bumblebee snail (Engina sp.). They're often sold as scavengers, but they're actually small predatory whelks. They only feed on very small critters though and not in huge amounts so they're relatively harmless.

Paintbug · #6 08/01/2007, 06:51 PM

1&2 are an Abalone of some kind.
3- is a Ball anemone. they are actually a type of mushroom. more than likely its a Corynactis sp. they are harmless for the most part, but will spread quickly in the tank.
4 aiptasia yes its a bad anemone
5&6 couldnt tell you

Sweetp · #7 08/01/2007, 06:57 PM

We bought the rock at 2 different local shops.. both time they had been cured in their tank for quite awhile.. it was expensive..but worth it.. and is beautiful :-) We picked individual pieces!

phil519 · #8 08/01/2007, 11:15 PM

amazing rock. Well at least the LFS did you right with the rock...unlike that green fish-eating serpent star.

I really dislike posting after greenbean...by then there is like nothing left to identify.

the last pic does indeed look like a bumble-bee "snail"...

the second to last pic...and I could be totally wrong on this - but it looks like a lesser starlet coral, Siderastrea Radians.

insanefishguy · #9 08/01/2007, 11:26 PM

Can I hijack here for a moment? Greenbean, you say that bumblebees are small predatory whelks... I have these annoying little white and brown snails that come out in droves at night. They dont seem to be bothering anything but me. Do you think a bumblebee would take care of them, or since they dont seem to bother anything, should I let them go... any thoughts appreciated...

OrangeKoi · #10 08/01/2007, 11:43 PM

It looks like there is something beside (to the right and behind) the aptasia? It is a lighter color. Could it be a tiny feather duster?

sivert55 · #11 08/01/2007, 11:47 PM

Those abalone are wicked!!!

Drock169 · #12 08/02/2007, 02:56 AM

I'm pretty sure your last one is a bumble bee snail. I bought some for my tank, they dont seem to do much at all except hide a lot.

Sweetp · #13 08/02/2007, 03:18 AM

the thing (behind the now identified aiptasia) is another aiptasia haha!
there was only one..but then there were two. I'm pretty sure that snail has to be a bumble bee.. because, it does not come close to having the same texture as the sundial ones.

So abelone's huh?? I love how it looks.. i just wish i'd see it more often.. nighttime only.

looking at the rock again tonight.. there happens to be an unending supply of new things.. i'll post more pictures.. ALL your help is greatly appreciated!!!! If i had known how much fun this hobby was.. i'd have done it forever ago! :-)

greenbean36191 · #14 08/02/2007, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Can I hijack here for a moment? Greenbean, you say that bumblebees are small predatory whelks... I have these annoying little white and brown snails that come out in droves at night. They dont seem to be bothering anything but me. Do you think a bumblebee would take care of them, or since they dont seem to bother anything, should I let them go... any thoughts appreciated...

My guess would be that they're Collonista, which is a small relative of Turbo snails. They're appearing in droves because there is plenty for them to eat. I would leave them alone and let them work for you. Bumblebee snails would be unlikely to eat them anyway. They mostly stick to small worms and "pods." I don't know of anything that will eat them that would be reef safe otherwise.

OrangeKoi · #15 08/02/2007, 10:51 AM

I don't believe the critter beside the aptasia is the same.