What is this? Featherduster? Worm?

[Fanof49ASU]

They are a really deep, brilliant green. Very neat.

 

[dshnarw]

Hydroids

[yardboy]

Keep a very close eye on them. They can sting corals and take over a tank.

[c est ma]

Apparently some behave differently than others, or at least some reefers have trouble with invasive hydroids, others don't. I've had a few in my tank for 3 or 4 years, now, and they've not caused a problem.

 

Here's a link with a pic:

 

Colonial athecate hydroids (scroll down)

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-j...cnidarians.html

 

And a couple of old n-r threads that deal with them:

 

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

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...c=82630&st=

 

 

--Diane

[dshnarw]

Keep a very close eye on them. They can sting corals and take over a tank.

 

 

Those wont. I've had the same species (at least from physical appearance) in my tank for quite a while. They've grown in size, but not in number. Those don't even bother the zoas they hitchhiked in with.

[Fanof49ASU]

Those wont. I've had the same species (at least from physical appearance) in my tank for quite a while. They've grown in size, but not in number. Those don't even bother the zoas they hitchhiked in with.

 

Thanks for the positive id everyone.

 

I do like them. They are such a vivid green color.....but I will keep a close eye on them.

 

I found it funny in trying to research these guys.....'hydroid' applies to MANY species that look totally different.

[c est ma]

Absolutely. "Hydroids" can refer to one of the 3 classes of Cnidaria. So saying something is a Hydroid is about as helpful as saying something is a "coral."

 

Here's an article:

 

Shimek's hydroid article

http://web.archive.org/web/20020815020152/.../wb/default.asp

 

I still occasionally get one of those tiny, cool, medusa phases of the hydroids pulsing through my tank. I've never been sure which sessile form it's associated with, though.

 

--Diane