Strange things at night

[Sophie"s mom]

So when the lights go out, as we all know, a whole different crew comes out. I just saw 2 new critters I can not get pics of but this will be a new mission going forward, for sure. One looks kind of nudibranch-ish, completely black, and maybe an inch long. It was in a hole in a rock, so no good photo opportunity. The other, I think is a nudibranch, also in a hole, so no picture, but moved with a fair speed. Faster than a snail, but not fast enough to think it has legs, kind of tan in color. Love seeing new critters, just hope they are not bad.

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

The black nudibranch looking thing could maybe be a black sea hare? (the ones sold in the hobby)

Edit: here's a good picture.

Sea Hare - Black

Known for their appetite for hair algae in the reef aquarium.

www.jlaquatics.com

 

[Sophie"s mom]

The black nudibranch looking thing could maybe be a black sea hare? (the ones sold in the hobby)

Edit: here a good picture.

Sea Hare - Black

Known for their appetite for hair algae in the reef aquarium.

www.jlaquatics.com

Thanks, but didn’t look like that . It is totally smooth, the center solid, but not very thick, with a smooth skirt all the way around it. The “skirt” was totally flat. Maybe some sore of worm? I did get a picture

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

Thanks, but didn’t look like that . It is totally smooth, the center solid, but not very thick, with a smooth skirt all the way around it. The “skirt” was totally flat. Maybe some sore of worm? I did get a picture

This looks very similar to what's below. I don't know much about it.

Pseudoceros velutinus black flatworm

Pseudoceros velutinusis commonly referred to as black flatworm. Difficulty in the aquarium: Not suitable for aquarium keeping. Toxicity: Toxic hazard unknown.

www.reeflex.net

 

[Sophie"s mom]

This looks very similar to this. I don't know much about it.

Pseudoceros velutinus black flatworm

Pseudoceros velutinusis commonly referred to as black flatworm. Difficulty in the aquarium: Not suitable for aquarium keeping. Toxicity: Toxic hazard unknown.

www.reeflex.net

Yes, that looks quite a bit like it. Thank you

 

[Sophie"s mom]

This looks very similar to what's below. I don't know much about it.

Pseudoceros velutinus black flatworm

Pseudoceros velutinusis commonly referred to as black flatworm. Difficulty in the aquarium: Not suitable for aquarium keeping. Toxicity: Toxic hazard unknown.

www.reeflex.net

So, apparently I have a planaria negro in my tank. This is one of my strange night critters. Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of it? Removing the rock it is in is not really a viable option. Thanks to Walker Loves the Ocean, I was able to narrow it down this with certainty.

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

So, apparently I have a planaria negro in my tank. This is one of my strange night critters. Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of it? Removing the rock it is in is not really a viable option. Thanks to Walker Loves the Ocean, I was able to narrow it down this with certainty.

I am not to sure.

Obviously, the best option would be to take the rock out and treat it with flatworm exit, but you said it will not be able to happen.

I would say the next best option would be manual removal. The best option for this would probably be to siphon it out, but in the picture it looks quite large. I am not sure if these guys release a toxin like the rest of flat worms do, so I would take that into consideration.

Maybe there's some fish or invert that eats them? I am not to sure, for some reason this worm seems to have very little research done on it.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I am not to sure.

Obviously, the best option would be to take the rock out and treat it with flatworm exit, but you said it will not be able to happen.

I would say the next best option would be manual removal. The best option for this would probably be to siphon it out, but in the picture it looks quite large. I am not sure if these guys release a toxin like the rest of flat worms do, so I would take that into consideration.

Maybe there's some fish or invert that eats them? I am not to sure, for some reason this worm seems to have very little research done on it.

I will have to keep my eyes open for it. And if I get an opportunity to get it, I will. If it does release a toxin, do you know what would trigger that? Maybe siphon is the better bet

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

I will have to keep my eyes open for it. And if I get an opportunity to get it, I will. If it does release a toxin, do you know what would trigger that? Maybe siphon is the better bet

Typically flatworms release toxins once they are dead.

 

[vetteguy53081]

So when the lights go out, as we all know, a whole different crew comes out. I just saw 2 new critters I can not get pics of but this will be a new mission going forward, for sure. One looks kind of nudibranch-ish, completely black, and maybe an inch long. It was in a hole in a rock, so no good photo opportunity. The other, I think is a nudibranch, also in a hole, so no picture, but moved with a fair speed. Faster than a snail, but not fast enough to think it has legs, kind of tan in color. Love seeing new critters, just hope they are not bad.

Looks to be elephant slug or black stomatella and please do not add flatworm treatment unless identified and verified

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Looks to be elephant slug or black stomatella and please do not add flatworm treatment unless identified and verified

No worries there I have read very bad things about flat worm treatment. Thank you for the input. I will be trying to get a better picture if I see it again

 

[Miguel.PT]

Hello Fellow reefers. Speaking on strange critters at night I’ve found a string with little tentacles on my zoas but also very little black dots running fast on them as well. Any idea?? Please find pics attached and thanks for your help in advance.

 

[Gribbles]

Hard for me to see, but I wear my sunglasses at night

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello Fellow reefers. Speaking on strange critters at night I’ve found a string with little tentacles on my zoas but also very little black dots running fast on them as well. Any idea?? Please find pics attached and thanks for your help in advance.

These may be Ostracods also referred to as grass shrimp but will need closer pics or microscope images to confirm.
The snails in the pic, Do they look like these below?

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

@Sophie"s mom, is it possible you can poke the thing?

If its an elephant slug, you will most likely notice a slit down the middle, and you will feel a shell.

If it's the flatworm I am thinking it is, it will be soft throughout the entire body.

 

[Miguel.PT]

These may be Ostracods also referred to as grass shrimp but will need closer pics or microscope images to confirm.
The snails in the pic, Do they look like these below?

Thank you vette but I was asking regarding the tentacle crossing the zoas on the first picture and the very tiny black dots that move very fast. I’m not able to post a video :/

 

[I never finish anythi]

Thank you vette but I was asking regarding the tentacle crossing the zoas on the first picture and the very tiny black dots that move very fast. I’m not able to post a video :/

Could be digitata hydroids. Hard to tell from the picture.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you vette but I was asking regarding the tentacle crossing the zoas on the first picture and the very tiny black dots that move very fast. I’m not able to post a video :/

That string either hydroids or tube from a vermetid snail or spinoid worm

 

[Sophie"s mom]

@Sophie"s mom, is it possible you can poke the thing?

If its an elephant slug, you will most likely notice a slit down the middle, and you will feel a shell.

If it's the flatworm I am thinking it is, it will be soft throughout the entire body.

I can not get it, but it absolutely looks smooth throughout. There is no shell at all. That I am sure. I am concerned if a flat worm. I just hope I see it again, and have the ability to hopefully siphon it out.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

The black nudibranch looking thing could maybe be a black sea hare? (the ones sold in the hobby)

Edit: here's a good picture.

Sea Hare - Black

Known for their appetite for hair algae in the reef aquarium.

www.jlaquatics.com

So after some research today I am relatively confident that the tan looking critter from last night is indeed a stomatella . As for the black one, after researching that, I am starting to think Vetteguy may be correct. It could easily be either an elephant slug or a black stomatella, so I will leave it alone for now. But I do love thinking the other is almost certainly a stomatella.