Can I get some help on what these things are?

[Jaag]

So I saw these little dudes coming off of a zoa rock I have just the other day. Does anyone know of what they are?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Looks like a flat worm. Can you get a close pic?

 

[Jaag]

So I saw these little dudes coming off of a zoa rock I have just the other day. Does anyone know of what they are?

Sorry I originally posted the wrong pic

 

[Jaag]

They are the white worm looking things under the zoas

 

[Jaag]

Looks like a flat worm. Can you get a close pic?

that was the wrong pic. Those are flat worms. I believe they are convolutriloba.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

The little white things are hydroids.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Well at least I got one!
The others are a type of Hydroid I Belive
Don't sweat it I've had those they usually fade away.

 

[Jaag]

Will they damage anything? Do I just leave them

 

[Jaag]

The little white things are hydroids.

Could you also tell me what these tube things are and if they are bad? I never see anything coming out of them. Are they hydroids bad?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

They're probably little vermetids and I'm prone to crack those off when I see them. Not harmful, but they can get everywhere and cast these little webs for food. Corals hate that stuff being dragged over them all the time.

 

[Jaag]

They're probably little vermetids and I'm prone to crack those off when I see them. Not harmful, but they can get everywhere and cast these little webs for food. Corals hate that stuff being dragged over them all the time.

So when I see them should I just bust them off and they go away?
On the hydroids do I need to worry about them?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Cracking them off isn't a means of controlling a infestation, but if you just have a few, cracking them off will keep them under control. If someone already has a lot, you'll never keep ahead of them that way and people tend to super glue or cover them with putty. I wouldn't be a big fan of putting putty all over rock that was pretty and colorful like yours. I would see if the cracking would be enough where there's only a few.

I wouldn't do anything about the hydroids yet, but my views of such things don't seem to be "mainstream", I guess you could say, so I'll leave that to others to answer.

 

[Jaag]

Cracking them off isn't a means of controlling a infestation, but if you just have a few, cracking them off will keep them under control. If someone already has a lot, you'll never keep ahead of them that way and people tend to super glue or cover them with putty. I wouldn't be a big fan of putting putty all over rock that was pretty and colorful like yours. I would see if the cracking would be enough where there's only a few.

I wouldn't do anything about the hydroids yet, but my views of such things don't seem to be "mainstream", I guess you could say, so I'll leave that to others to answer.

Well I know you know what is up so what is your view?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

I guess that was my way of saying a lot of people medicate for hydroids, but it is not something I advocate. It is, however, something that is commonly done and I respect their advice enough to step aside. I would never be able to medicate a tank that was so obviously full of life, because there is no such thing as a medication without side effects. I've had all sorts of hydroids over the years and I medicated for them once, because it was an uncycled seahorse fry tank and they could kill them. To me that's a just reason to intervene. If they start to get everywhere and are causing a problem, that might be a reason to intervene. Medicating for something that is not yet and may never be a problem... that's where I have trouble. It's the same logic I applied to my career as a nurse. Does that make sense? I don't even know if I said that halfway right. Like, just because you cut your finger and it could turn into an infection, doesn't mean I would recommend antibiotics. I like to wait and see if it's needed instead of assuming it will be.

 

[Jaag]

I guess that was my way of saying a lot of people medicate for hydroids, but it is not something I advocate. It is, however, something that is commonly done and I respect their advice enough to step aside. I would never be able to medicate a tank that was so obviously full of life, because there is no such thing as a medication without side effects. I've had all sorts of hydroids over the years and I medicated for them once, because it was an uncycled seahorse fry tank and they could kill them. To me that's a just reason to intervene. If they start to get everywhere and are causing a problem, that might be a reason to intervene. Medicating for something that is not yet and may never be a problem... that's where I have trouble. It's the same logic I applied to my career as a nurse. Does that make sense? I don't even know if I said that halfway right.

I understand for sure. I just have one question from what you said. What problem would they cause if they spread more?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

They sting.

 

[Jaag]

They sting.

Ok thank you very much. I really mean that. Will they just go away as someone above stated?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Mine have never gotten out of control. Some people have had them go everywhere. I'm the type who kind of sit backs and watches what will happen.

 

[skybears]

Or you could be like me and read everything everybody has to say and go that's a good knowledge to know and cycle it in my brain LOL

 

[Cary]

Based on my limited experience, I agree with Lionfish regarding the hydroids...sit back and see what happens. I have read that some wrasses eat vermetid snails, though I don't know the species.
That being said, I sit back and watch the vermetid's as well.