Chaeto critters? What should i keep and what should i get rid of?

[the_chef_pierre]

I just purchased a small clump of chaeto from my lfs and it appears to have quite a lot of hitchhikers with it which is slightly shocking considering they kept their chaeto in a large mass in a separate tank. I've put mine in a quarantine tank for now since I'm still new to reefing and not sure which hitchhikers that came with it should be kept and which should be taken out before adding it to my tank. I've attached photos to this post. So far I'm pretty sure theres hydroids or some sort of fan thing. Theres a larger round thing that kind of looks like a slug or something and I have no clue what it is. Theres also some sort of bug like creature that keeps swimming around and darting about. It looks grey colored but appears to be carrying a smaller reddish colored creature with it wherever it darts. Any help identifying these and guiding me on what to keep and what to eliminate would be appreciated. Thanks again everyone

 

[the_chef_pierre]

I think the bug thing might be an amphipod but not sure. It just looks weird darting around holding something else in its grasp. For now, its all in a seperate tank with a light for the chaeto and a hob filter going (with no filter media, just to give circulation). I dont have a heater in it though, hope this wont be a problem

 

[the_chef_pierre]

Also, I'm thinking that what I thought might be hydroids are actually feather dusters (after leaving them in the quarantine tank for a bit the started sending out long feathery ends and when i brought something close to them and touched them then instantly retracted all the feather back into the tube part). Am I right to assume the featherdusters are good then?

 

[the_chef_pierre]

Also how long should I QT the chaeto for because some stuff I've been reading says like 4 to 6 weeks. I'm only using it for the back chamber of my IM nuvo 30l tank so theres not a log of space and I didnt buy a ton of chaeto

 

[the_chef_pierre]

I managed to get some better photos of some of the stuff. The weird blob thing doesnt seem to move at all so I dont make if its like a slug or an egg sac or something and the bug like thing (possibly amphipod?) Is still darting around everywhere holding the smaller redish colored bug thing (which I thought might be dead but is actually alive too since I've seen it move around while the bigger grey colored bug is holding it). Sorry that I'm still new and learning but can someone clarify this for me? I'll keep it in the quarantine tank until I know what to keep/discard

 

[NS Mike D]

I concur feather duster worms (good) and amphipods. That ball has me concerned, I've seen aptaisa (bad) look like that when disturbed.

IMO, bad practice by your LFS. Cheato for distribution should be clean of hitchhikers.

 

[the_chef_pierre]

I know. It's unfortunate but we dont have too many lfs here in canada compared to the US. And this actually came from the best place in town. Sad actually so I dont know what to do. I dont need a lot for my tank honestly since it's only going to go in the small chamber in the back of my nuvo 30l. I'll probably only need about half of the amount I bought. Will try to get the cleanest parts in. The blob thing can probably easily be removed but the feather dusters might be harder since theres quite a few. The amphipod darts out of the chaeto half the time so I can probably avoid getting him in my tank. I dont get if he's carrying another amphipod or mating or something.

 

[fishguy242]

hi i see pods good,invasive feather dusters,good in for overflows and larger sumps good filtration ,but in small tank will over take,others dont know,imo,when in doubt take it out

 

[the_chef_pierre]

Are the pods those things swimming around? I should keep those? I'm guessing I should avoid too many feather dusters getting in

 

[fishguy242]

yes

 

[fishguy242]

take small amount quick dip in freshwater qt few days ,only need a little it will grow try siphon out some pods airline tubing and a net put in fuge just my opinion

 

[the_chef_pierre]

Hmmmm yeah that would definitely help get them out. What the smaller living red thing the grey one is carrying around? Is it still a pod even though it looks different?

 

[fishguy242]

not sure grey is good 4 sure,can't tell from pics

 

[NS Mike D]

i want feather dusters in my fuge/cheato as part of my clean up crew. I pay to put the cool looking ones in my DT. They are harmless and help remove the bad stuff out of the water

 

[fishguy242]

agree but he only has a 30 gallon,spread fast

 

[the_chef_pierre]

Humm so maybe I'll keep a few of the feather dusters then? They dont look like any special kind hut if they're good I'll keep some in my fuge

 

[the_chef_pierre]

I can keep like 3 or 4 maybe or is this too much for the fuge? It will be a little hard to avoid getting any in at all probably. I think so far the main thi g of concern is that blob

 

[fishguy242]

yes that is ok,yes ditch the blob

 

[Katrina71]

I'd pull out the blob. Can't tell from the pics.

 

[Katrina71]

Lol. We all called it the blob.