Featherduster-Like hitchhiker identification!

[R6REEFER]

I have never seen something resembling this other than Featherdusters and anemones. Anyone have an idea? I didn't notice it until I cut off my purple kessil. I've already found little brittle sea stars that have made their way into this new tank.

 

[R6REEFER]

The more I'm thinking, it has to be some sort of nem. It obviously moved and stuck itsself to a piece of base rock.

 

[Wiz]

Aptasia. Kill it dead. :-(

 

[cincyreef]

+1 on Aiptasia, kill it!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Commonly called the glass anemone. Its considered a pest as it can quickly take over a tank. It can sting fish, irritate corals.
kill it dead.

 

[Zinovate]

Whatever you do, don't try to remove it. It'll spawn a full outbreak. If its only on one rock remove the rock and research aptasia. Some use aptasia x. Other use pep shrimp. Nudis, file fish....
But don't touch it.

 

[furam28]

Looks like its a small rock with nothing else on it. You are lucky. Take it out and bleach the rock clean. You dont want to deal with an aiptasia outbreak.

 

[R6REEFER]

Okay thanks for the help guys. I figured out pretty quickly it was pesky aptasia. I removed the rock, scraped the nem off, and scrubbed the hell out of the rock. If I see anymore I will inject boiling vinegar. Did I screw up by not bleaching?

 

[furam28]

I would bleach it to be safe. If not, keep an eye on the rock. Scraping or scrubbing can release babies. Sometimes they have roots deep into the rock, and when you inject vinegar the mother dies and a week later babies pop up!

 

[Toadfish]

Don't bleach for one head! Aiptasia X works really well for us, and peppermint shrimp are always an option. Definitely an aiptasia though. It's best to be careful and cautious removing them. As mentioned above, they have a tendency to spawn like crazy if you try to physically remove them. If you can remove them with peps or aiptasia x (which you need to squirt directly on them, but not inject like the boiling vinegar) that's definitely for the best.

 

[jduck]

That rock is small enough I would just toss it.

 

[FarmerTy]

That rock is small enough I would just toss it.

+1 Toss it.

 

[recess62]

I had one. I put superglue over it and it has not returned

 

[matt_97055]

I like the blow torch method my self!

 

[recess62]

I never thought about taking my acetylene torch to it

 

[matt_97055]

That would definitely do it! I use either Mapp gas or propane

 

[R6REEFER]

Haha +1 on the blow torch! I have a new fire shrimp, do they punish apps?

 

[matt_97055]

My two have never touched one in my tank. I have seen one of them jump onto the nose of my sailfin tang and clean him

 

[Wiz]

Nope. Dont think fire or skunks bother with them.