Can someone please identify these 2 hitchhikers

FreshSaltyGuy

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Got some Australian live rock and tank has been running for 2 days now just today I noticed these 2 hitchhikers they look to be the same one is just larger but on different rocks. The larger is like a deep red.
Thanks!

PXL_20221017_023139958.jpg PXL_20221017_020012800.jpg
 

WheatToast

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Oh no for sure?? I thought Aptasia was more yellow/goldenish color? These are like a deep red.
Aiptasia and related species can be highly variable in coloration (ex. brown, white, golden), patterning (ex. striped, plain, spotted), size (tiny specks to behemoths several inches across), and shape (ex. thin, bulbous, stubby).
Why is Aptasia so bad? Should I pluck them out now?
These anemones rapidly multiply and sting their tankmates.
https://www.reefhacks.com/how-to-kill-aiptasia-anemones/
 
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FreshSaltyGuy

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Aiptasia and related species can be highly variable in coloration (ex. brown, white, golden), patterning (ex. striped, plain, spotted), size (tiny specks to behemoths several inches across), and shape (ex. thin, bulbous, stubby).

These anemones rapidly multiply and sting their tankmates.
https://www.reefhacks.com/how-to-kill-aiptasia-anemones/
Thank you for the info and help and especially the quick reply. Looks like I got some peppermint shrimp in my future :)
 

WheatToast

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Thank you for the info and help and especially the quick reply. Looks like I got some peppermint shrimp in my future :)
No problem. Not everyone has success with peppermint shrimp which may come down to the shrimps' individual preference and species differences (and some might even snack on coral). My Lysmata boggessi peppermint shrimp never touched my Aiptasia while other have had success with this same species. Usually, people have success with the Berghia nudibranchs.
 

Rtaylor

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If you only see a couple, best to manually kill them in the unlikely chance they are the only ones. If you wait for a critter to do it, they will certainly have multiplied by then. Boiling water or lemon juice injected directly into them will do the job.
 
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FreshSaltyGuy

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If you only see a couple, best to manually kill them in the unlikely chance they are the only ones. If you wait for a critter to do it, they will certainly have multiplied by then. Boiling water or lemon juice injected directly into them will do the job.
When you saybinject directly into them do I put a needle into their physical body or just from the outside?
I was thinking I can also remove the rock simce I only see 2 and burn them off and then put the rock back?
 

Rtaylor

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When you saybinject directly into them do I put a needle into their physical body or just from the outside?
I was thinking I can also remove the rock simce I only see 2 and burn them off and then put the rock back?
Ideally inject a needle into the mouth area (oral disc)
 

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Tentacles look too thick and opaque for aptasia to me. White light pics would be helpful.
 

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No clue. WheatToast is pretty good at ID's, he may be right. If you could take some white light pics we could probably confirm.
 
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FreshSaltyGuy

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No clue. WheatToast is pretty good at ID's, he may be right. If you could take some white light pics we could probably confirm.
Ok here is a much better picture with white light. It is also growing rapidly it seemed to be half the size yesterday.
 

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vetteguy53081

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Got some Australian live rock and tank has been running for 2 days now just today I noticed these 2 hitchhikers they look to be the same one is just larger but on different rocks. The larger is like a deep red.
Thanks!

PXL_20221017_023139958.jpg PXL_20221017_020012800.jpg
Aptasia anemone and a pest
Using syringe, inject either lemon juice or better yet. . kalkwasser powder mixed with tank water into a paste the consistency of toothpaste and inject into the very center core and it will melt away
 

Uncle99

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When you saybinject directly into them do I put a needle into their physical body or just from the outside?
I was thinking I can also remove the rock simce I only see 2 and burn them off and then put the rock back?
I like the remove rock idea.
You gotta make sure none enter your system.
Or they will always be there in your DT.
Burn them, sounds good.
 

hollybooc

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How about peppermint shrimp?
I actually had good luck with peppermint shrimp. I had tried Berghia nudibranchs with no luck (although for the moment I saw them before they disappeared into the rock work, they were really cool) also aptasia x injected seemed to work, but the peppermint found the ones I couldn't reach and any new ones so they actually seemed to act as preventative for any more. Haven't seen any since. Now, the vermetid snails....another story
 

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