Digitate Hydroids

Darth George · Mar 9, 2017

I've been doing battle with these guys for weeks now. I've got their numbers down, but they are relentless. They've been stinging my bubble coral, favia and duncans. All have been closed for a week. These are definitely the stinging kind. I've nearly eradicated them on the rock, but every morning I shine a light on the sandbed and there's a new one! People say just leave them be, but these guys are destroying my coral. Tanks been up a year and I don't have any problems with excess nutrients. It's a 20 gallon, so I can't dump in a big fish that MIGHT eat them. Any suggestions?

Darth George · Mar 9, 2017

They're not colonial, definitely digitate. I have not felt a sting from them but every time they touch a coral it retracts and stays that way for a while. I siphon them off the bed when I see them. I'd take back the bubble algae and bryopsis in a heartbeat just to get rid of these things.

KJ · Mar 9, 2017

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/here-it-is-fenbendazole-use-against-hydroids.214950/

Darth George · Mar 9, 2017

KJ said:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/here-it-is-fenbendazole-use-against-hydroids.214950/

Thanks for the link. I hadn't gotten that far yet. While that makes me a little nervous, I may have to go for it. God forbid they find their way to the scoly garden....