Colonial hydroids

[jambon]

I think I have a few small colonies fo these. Looking at photos of them they likely are. I am not concerned if they are as they are not spreading. The real question is... do these guys retract into there tubes? I poked a colony in my tank and they all popped into there tubes. It could be some bizarre colony of tiny tube worms. 

[Joevember]

Do you have any pictures? Could also be feather dusters or vermetid snails. Hydroids are weird in terms of growth rate for a colony. I had one that popped up and expanded, then just disappear. Can't tell for sure what they'll do.

[yoshii]

Yes, the common ones look like little polyps that retract into brownish colored tubes. They usually don't spread quickly, but I would say it's better to get rid of them now before they spread.

[jambon]

I have 3 small colonies which haven't spread at all in almost a year. I will try to get a picture. There are maybe 20 or more in a little clump about an inch across, if I disturb them they retract into there tube just like tube worms. My 6 line and elongated dottyback would probably eat them if they were tube worms...

[jambon]

Here is one of the colonies. It will be interesting  when the war coral above it grows down to it.

[jservedio]

I've got a few in my 20g and they don't hurt anything. They've been there for at least 5 or 6 years. Good filter feeders and they don't hurt my acros! I like them a lot even though most consider them "pests"

 

[jservedio]

10 minutes ago, jambon said:

 It will be interesting  when the war coral above it grows down to it.

Your war coral will steamroll them like they aren't even there.

[jambon]

35 minutes ago, jservedio said:

Your war coral will steamroll them like they aren't even there.

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