Anyone know what these are?

[krystinaxlea]

Can anyone help me ID these white hair looking things? I've noticed it multiple in spots only on the liverock from what I can find. Any help/information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[littlefoxx]

@ISpeakForTheSeas

 

[twentyleagues]

Look like hydroids.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Colonial hydroids. Try to pull the rock and remove the hydroids before they spread

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

As mentioned, hydroids:

Yeah, I haven't narrowed down the exact variety yet, but they're hydroids, most likely from the suborder Capitata - they might be an Asyncoryne species, but I need to do some more reading up on the families in the suborder to say for sure.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Kinda looks like digitate hydroids, harmless IMO though they can irritate corals such as zoas if they grow into them.


Though these may be different, they appear shorter. I had something similar growing on the (dead) branches of my Duncan, they disappeared after a month or two

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Though these may be different

Yeah, these are different; digitate hydroids are from the taxonomic family Zancleidae - same taxonomic suborder, Capitata, as these though.

 

[krystinaxlea]

Yeah, these are different; digitate hydroids are from the taxonomic family Zancleidae - same taxonomic suborder, Capitata, as these though.

Thank you for your answers i appreciate it. Do you think I should attempt to clean them off the rock? Or just leave it be

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Thank you for your answers i appreciate it. Do you think I should attempt to clean them off the rock? Or just leave it be

It's generally suggested to get rid of hydroids, as they (like many corals) have stings - if the species has a potent enough sting, it can cause problems for you and your tank inhabitants.

There are a few species (like at least some of the Zancleid species mentioned above) that seem potentially harmless/worth keeping, but many are problematic, so removal at this point is the safer option.

 

[krystinaxlea]

It's generally suggested to get rid of hydroids, as they (like many corals) have stings - if the species has a potent enough sting, it can cause problems for you and your tank inhabitants.

There are a few species (like at least some of the Zancleid species mentioned above) that seem potentially harmless/worth keeping, but many are problematic, so removal at this point is the safer option.

Thank you so much I appreciate all your help.