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"Brown hydroids"


c est ma

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Just ran across an interesting description of a scyphozoan with a sessile polyp stage that seems to somewhat resemble what we call brown hydroids.

 

See discussion on page 2 and Figure 9 on page 3 of the article "Friend or Foe? Part 3" by going to the site below, clicking on "guest articles," then clicking on "the Marine World page," then clicking on the article (sorry--couldn't figure out how to get a direct url!):

http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/zoo/1024frameset.htm

 

Some images of Nausithoe:

http://www2.eve.ucdavis.edu/mndawson/tS/Sy...punctata_i.html

http://www2.eve.ucdavis.edu/mndawson/tS/Sy...usoides1_i.html

 

--Diane

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Thanks for the post. I have these things all over my tank and have mixed, but mostly bad feelings about them.

 

If they are isolated, they do no harm and actually look pretty cool under actinic light or moon lights. However, I do have some that are in among some of my zooanthids and prevent them from fully opening.

 

I have tried putting kalk paste on these with very little effect. As stated in the article, mechanical removal is the only way to get rid of these. I used a Dremmel with a diamond bit and ground away the rock beneath them and theat worked pretty well. Pulling them of is useless. Mostly, the animal retreats to the bottom of its tube and you break off the top. 5 min later they are back! I might also try a little directed heat, like with a heat gun or maybe a soldering iron, on the pieces that are easily removed from the tank.

 

Just ran across an interesting description of a scyphozoan with a sessile polyp stage that seems to somewhat resemble what we call brown hydroids.

 

See discussion on page 2 and Figure 9 on page 3 of the article "Friend or Foe? Part 3" by going to the site below, clicking on "guest articles," then clicking on "the Marine World page," then clicking on the article (sorry--couldn't figure out how to get a direct url!):

http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/zoo/1024frameset.htm

 

--Diane

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Well, you know, given your experience and some of the other ones posted on n-r over the past several months, I'm beginning to think that what we've all been calling brown hydroids might in fact represent more than one, possibly several, different species (and even, given the above reference) different classes of organisms.

 

Mine, for instance, were not at all invasive. I did not try to remove them until I need to place a coral next to them. Then I was able to completely eradicate them by just pulling them off with forceps (took a few tries, in some cases, to get all of the tube).

 

See this thread for some more links I found about actual leathery-tubed hydroids, and a picture of my "brown hydroids." Do they look like yours?

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...topic=81306&hl=

 

--Diane

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Joe, great pics at that link! And some interesting reading, too.

 

Bobalouy, what a fantastic "portrait!" Have your hydroids presented any problems?

 

Mr. D.--thanks for the addition. I'm going to try to save this thread and the one it links to--they will be a great reference for the next person who wants to know about "brown hydroids."

 

I just thought of another positive thing about these critters--everyone originally thinks they're Aiptasia--and it's such a relief when you realize they're not!

 

--Diane

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oh wow, thank goodness i don't have aiptasia, that's exactly what mine look like.

 

I'll probably glue frags down right on top of them so they don't harm my corals. but they're starting to pop up everywhere!

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NEVER SATISFIED REFFER

we tried hyper and hypo salinity, did nothing even fresh water for a day, then put the rock in the microwave still didnt kill them!

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