TB Saltwater Hitchhikers

[CuzzA]

I couldn’t get away with a wrasse- I have a 32 gallon biocube that this rock will be going in...what I might end up doing is chiseling off the cup corals and sponges that I want in my tank ASAP, then keeping the rest of the rock and watching it until I feel better putting it in my tank. Obviously not 100% effective nor ideal but at least I won’t be scared of having a hundred predatory worms....

If only I could just inject the tube with something while leaving the stuff around it unharmed, but that’s pretty unlikely

You could squirt some peroxide into the holes they are in with a syringe. For a nano I wouldn't worry too much, everything is easier in a nano in terms of removing things. It's the big systems with lots of rock that provide an environment for some of these worms to get a few feet long. Then trying to remove it is a nightmare.

 

[duberii]

You could squirt some peroxide into the holes they are in with a syringe. For a nano I wouldn't worry too much, everything is easier in a nano in terms of removing things. It's the big systems with lots of rock that provide an environment for some of these worms to get a few feet long. Then trying to remove it is a nightmare.

If I go for that method, should I worry too much about secondary losses? I have all my rock in a 10 gallon tank right now, and I'm wondering if it's worth isolating a rock, injecting the worm's lairs, then putting it back or if it's pretty safe to just go for it.

 

[CuzzA]

If I go for that method, should I worry too much about secondary losses? I have all my rock in a 10 gallon tank right now, and I'm wondering if it's worth isolating a rock, injecting the worm's lairs, then putting it back or if it's pretty safe to just go for it.

I would do it in a different holding tank, tote or just out of the water. In the holding tank you wouldn't want to exceed 1ml per ten gallons which seems to be the established safe level for peroxide dosing.

 

[duberii]

Also found tons of these guys- the way they move reminds me of how a munnid isopod scurries around. Any ideas?
(Look at the leftmost barnicle)

 

[CuzzA]

Man, I have no idea what that is, but I'll tell you, Gulf rock is seriously alive. When you observe this rock every inch is moving. I bought a pack of those kids finger led lights in red and observing Gulf liverock at night is amazing.

 

[duberii]

Man, I have no idea what that is, but I'll tell you, Gulf rock is seriously alive. When you observe this rock every inch is moving. I bought a pack of those kids finger led lights in red and observing Gulf liverock at night is amazing.

I'm gonna camp out tonight- I DIYed a red flashlight and I have at least 3 gorilla crabs to catch

 

[samnaz]

Ohmigosh I can’t wait to order some of this stuff!

 

[ScottB]

I'm gonna camp out tonight- I DIYed a red flashlight and I have at least 3 gorilla crabs to catch

This thread was a fun read. I am a huge fan of boring, boneheaded things like natural bacteria and microfauna -- my exuberance hindered only by hitchhiker consequences. A lot to learn.

 

[Iamjeff6]

I am horrible at ID’ing stuff, so I keep the below link handy for things like this. Also, @KJ can probably ID all of it.

Account Suspended

So what happens when you can’t find it in here lol.

not to highjack a thread..

Having trouble finding what this is

 

[CuzzA]

So what happens when you can’t find it in here lol.

not to highjack a thread..

Having trouble finding what this is

Will it eat if you put food on it?

 

[lmm1967]

The whelk snails were the only hitch hikers I really hated. The gorilla crabs - I had 2 that got sizable - but by the time they were large (half dollar size body) I was hand feeding them meaty foods and they were model citizens. The pretty much stayed holed up in their general area and never really hurt anything.

Eventually the toadfish that also came with the rock wound up eating them.

Tunicates and sponges only lasted a couple months - the pistol shrimps that come in are really small and harmless - at least the couple I had were. You'll hear them but rarely see them. I caught a glimpse only a couple times and was surprized at how small mine were. Less than 1/2" for sure and that was after having the rock for several months.

TBS rock is great and I wish I had the space, time & money to dedicate a large tank to a TBS package - the life that comes in with that rock is just amazing.

 

[Iamjeff6]

Will it eat if you put food on it?

don’t have any food since I have nothing in the tank yet. I only have freshwater flakes, cyclops and freeze dried bloodworms for my freshwaterfish.

 

[duberii]

This thread was a fun read. I am a huge fan of boring, boneheaded things like natural bacteria and microfauna -- my exuberance hindered only by hitchhiker consequences. A lot to learn.

I've been wanting to play the bacteria game... Been considering carbon dosing recently

 

[duberii]

The whelk snails were the only hitch hikers I really hated. The gorilla crabs - I had 2 that got sizable - but by the time they were large (half dollar size body) I was hand feeding them meaty foods and they were model citizens. The pretty much stayed holed up in their general area and never really hurt anything.

Eventually the toadfish that also came with the rock wound up eating them.

Tunicates and sponges only lasted a couple months - the pistol shrimps that come in are really small and harmless - at least the couple I had were. You'll hear them but rarely see them. I caught a glimpse only a couple times and was surprized at how small mine were. Less than 1/2" for sure and that was after having the rock for several months.

TBS rock is great and I wish I had the space, time & money to dedicate a large tank to a TBS package - the life that comes in with that rock is just amazing.

you got a toadfish????? Got any pictures of it?

 

[CuzzA]

don’t have any food since I have nothing in the tank yet. I only have freshwater flakes, cyclops and freeze dried bloodworms for my freshwaterfish.

It looks like an anemone to me. Just hasn't settled in and fully extended its tentacles.

 

[duberii]

So what happens when you can’t find it in here lol.

not to highjack a thread..

Having trouble finding what this is

Probably a baby rock flower anemone. Cute little guy

 

[Iamjeff6]

It looks like an anemone to me. Just hasn't settled in and fully extended its tentacles.

Probably a baby rock flower anemone. Cute little guy

So leave it? Or kill it?

 

[duberii]

So leave it? Or kill it?

You can leave it, but if you are unable to feed it then it may die off on its own. Like any anemone, it likes meaty foods.

 

[Iamjeff6]

You can leave it, but if you are unable to feed it then it may die off on its own. Like any anemone, it likes meaty foods.

I’ll def feed it, just wanted to make sure it wasn’t an “unwanted” hitchhiker

 

[duberii]

I’ll def feed it, just wanted to make sure it wasn’t an “unwanted” hitchhiker

Nope- I'm actually looking to buy one sometime soon, given one doesn't present itself on the rock