Aiptasia or Feather Duster?

[PandorasChalk]

Back again with another hitchhiker question. Noticed these popping up on a frag that’s been in the tank for a month now. When you touch them they retract back into a long rigid tube. I have provided pictures of them out and in.

I’m at a loss if it’s feather dusters or aiptasia. Any ideas?

 

[sixline]

Look like feather dusters to me. The tubes are the giveaway.

 

[sixty_reefer]

They are hydroids

 

[i_am_mclovin]

They are hydroids

This

 

[shakacuz]

seems like colonial hydroids to me.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like tube worms, which emit fans to capture food. Apply water flow towards them - Not at them and they will starve.

These are colonial ntdroids and not what you have

 

[PandorasChalk]

Thanks for all the feedback! One reason I was against the hydroid diagnosis from my own research is they are not bothering the zoas at all, but this is my first tank and I'm about as much of an expert on such things as I am a capable airline pilot, so I'm not ruling it out.

My first thought was feather duster because I have another zoa frag with an actual feather duster worm on it and it kind of looks like it. But my hesitation is also because these are on all edges of the frag itself.

When the frag came in it was dipped twice over a week's span and these only started showing up over the past week and has been in the tank for a month now. My guess is most likely eggs. I may take the frag out, remove the offending parties with tweezers best I can and smother the areas with epoxy, putty, or glue.

 

[sixty_reefer]

Thanks for all the feedback! One reason I was against the hydroid diagnosis from my own research is they are not bothering the zoas at all, but this is my first tank and I'm about as much of an expert on such things as I am a capable airline pilot, so I'm not ruling it out.

My first thought was feather duster because I have another zoa frag with an actual feather duster worm on it and it kind of looks like it. But my hesitation is also because these are on all edges of the frag itself.

When the frag came in it was dipped twice over a week's span and these only started showing up over the past week and has been in the tank for a month now. My guess is most likely eggs. I may take the frag out, remove the offending parties with tweezers best I can and smother the areas with epoxy, putty, or glue.

The correct term for this ones is Hydropolyp - Tubularia sp, they not as invasive as your regular hydroids.