Hitchhiker ID

[tgrimsley18]

I could use some assistance in determining whether or not a coral I recently bought was carrying aiptaisia or a feather duster. I dip all of my corals before placing them, which is why I’m sort of confused. Any advice?
I will try to get a photo of them in my tank (I’ve currently found three, two on the sand and one on a rock)

 

[muzikalmatt]

Dipping is nowhere near 100% fool proof. Many things, including aiptasia, can and will make it through most coral dips including the stronger ones like Bayer. That's why most reefers recommend dipping and quarantining new corals to see if any pests make it through the dipping process.

If you can post pictures (preferably under white lighting), someone should be able to tell you if you're dealing with aiptasia.

 

[tgrimsley18]

I will try and get some photos. Do both of them retract when shaded or when you try to poke them?

 

[shakacuz]

if the tips (or "feathers") look frilly, i would assume it is a feather duster. if they look like polyps (like a duncan, anemone, torch, etc) think aiptaisia.

however, pictures would definitely increase your chances of getting a proper ID.

 

[tgrimsley18]

I don’t have the steadiest hand, but here is one of them. The other 2 are back behind the rock where I cannot snap a hood photo of them.

 

[TnFishwater98]

Did you order real Gulf Live Rock?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

I don’t have the steadiest hand, but here is one of them. The other 2 are back behind the rock where I cannot snap a hood photo of them.

Look like feather dusters, but pic is very difficult to see clearly

 

[shakacuz]

I don’t have the steadiest hand, but here is one of them. The other 2 are back behind the rock where I cannot snap a hood photo of them.

seems like a feather duster.

 

[ying yang]

Photo little blurry but looks like feather duster to me in that photo.is there a hard tube attached to it and if go poke it does it retract and if does is in tube or into the rocks ?

 

[tgrimsley18]

Photo little blurry but looks like feather duster to me in that photo.is there a hard tube attached to it and if go poke it does it retract and if does is in tube or into the rocks ?

The one showed in the photo retracts to the rock it is attached to. However, I have two in the sand bed that just retract further into the sand. I cannot visibly see a tube that a duster would be in.

 

[tgrimsley18]

Did you order real Gulf Live Rock?

No I have caribsea real reef rock

 

[ying yang]

Ummm if no tube then can it be a feather duster ?

Look up bristle cage worm ( think it's called this )
These live I. Sand sometimes and retract into Sand

Maybe dig one up in the sand and put in a clear container for photo shoot lol

 

[TnFishwater98]

Ummm if no tube then can it be a feather duster ?

Look up bristle cage worm ( think it's called this )
These live I. Sand sometimes and retract into Sand

Maybe dig one up in the sand and put in a clear container for photo shoot lol

It’s not a bristle cage worm. I vote Feather Duster or a wild anemone.

 

[ying yang]

It’s not a bristle cage worm. I vote Feather Duster or a wild anemone.

Maybe,it's hard to see in blurry picture so just giving options.

It looks like it got white segments in tentacles like aiptasia but doesn't look like typical aiptasia so yeah could be some other kind of anemone

 

[TnFishwater98]

Above is a wild anemone. Below is feather dusters and last pic has a wild anemone next to feather duster.

 

[TnFishwater98]

There are lots of wild anemones that you don’t have to worry about becoming invasive.

 

[tgrimsley18]

Above is a wild anemone. Below is feather dusters and last pic has a wild anemone next to feather duster.

I’m not exactly sure what this could be. It’s almost clear and hard to see on the sand, the one on the rock is easier to see. Also, it retract very quickly to a change in light, fish nearby, etc. like a feather duster would.

 

[TnFishwater98]

I’m not exactly sure what this could be. It’s almost clear and hard to see on the sand, the one on the rock is easier to see. Also, it retract very quickly to a change in light, fish nearby, etc. like a feather duster would.

Anemones will retract or flinch with the change of light also.

 

[tgrimsley18]

Anemones will retract or flinch with the change of light also.

I dug up one in the sand and couldn’t find any tube. Does that take out the idea of it being a feather duster?

 

[TnFishwater98]

I dug up one in the sand and couldn’t find any tube. Does that take out the idea of it being a feather duster?

Can you take a pic?