eolith Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 I found these guys today when I shut off the pumps to do my usual feeding. I have identified 3 separate individuals. They apparently get swept away when I turn my pumps on, but in still water, they are decently mobile. They're 1-2cm across when immobile. They swim kind of like a jellyfish, flexing all their little legs at once. The body is not like a jelly fish, it just swims like one. The body is kind of a dark-brown/black peg that sticks up from perpendicular to whatever surface they're sitting on. These are videos from my cell phone, pardon the quality and the file size.10MB - In the middle of the screen, you'll see one of them launch and float down.http://www.exile-guild.com/eolithics/images/aquarium/jellyswimmer/20140224-Swimmer-Middle.mp45MB - Here's the little guy falling after swimming upward:http://www.exile-guild.com/eolithics/images/aquarium/jellyswimmer/20140224-Swimmer-Falling.mp480MB - You can see him swim just to the right of the cerith snail in the foreground. He looks like a black peg until he swims at about 00:32:http://www.exile-guild.com/eolithics/images/aquarium/jellyswimmer/20140224-Swimmer-Front.mp4250MB - Right at 00:57, the swimmer is in the open white part of the snail shell in the background, you can see a small black peg launch momentarily and then land.http://www.exile-guild.com/eolithics/images/aquarium/jellyswimmer/2040224-Swimmer-Back.mp4 Youtube video of the 10mb "middle" file above (available in 720p): Another video, in 1080p: Link to comment
GHill762 Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 I can't see the pic or vids but based on description I'd place money on them being the free swimming (medusa?) stage of hydroids.. most people consider them a pest (supposedly stinging zoas and stuff), but I've never had a problem with mine and I think I have two different species.. neat creature.. Link to comment
eolith Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 The body is not like a jelly fish, it just swims like one. The body is kind of a dark-brown/black peg that sticks up from perpendicular to whatever surface they're sitting on. From what I'm seeing of the hydroid images, they're more gelatinous, with transparent shells like a jellyfish. Link to comment
eolith Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 And I just found this on the side of the aquarium, about 2mm in size. Is this guy related? Link to comment
Polarcollision Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 yep! That is the free-swimming stage of hydroid. When they establish somewhere, you'll see white hair-like strings that stretch out and then retract toward the base. They're not a huge problem, other than stinging corals. My zoas don't grow as well when they're next to them. Come to think of it, I haven't seen them since I installed a skimmer. Link to comment
eolith Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 Thank you kindly. I'll have to watch for any advanced life that grows from them. Link to comment
GHill762 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Yep hydroids. I can actually see the image and videos now.. There's many types and it's hard to find the exact species when looking for an id which is why I think some people have bad experiences with them and some don't. I've never had any real problem with them and I think it's neat to see their life cycle in your tank.. They're basically like little jellyfish.. Link to comment
eolith Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 thanks. I hope they're not going to be destructive. Absolutely curious to see how these develop; and where they came from in the first place! Nothing new has been added since my Green Chromis' 3 weeks ago Link to comment
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