I think I’m privileged to have live barnacles!

Evas_reef · Jul 15, 2023

After some research I believe barnacles are a prized hitchhiker? I noticed them under this chalice a couple of weeks ago and have been fascinated ever since. I love it when they twitch and contract - I’ve posted videos so you can see. I’m assuming that’s when they’re feeding? Had some downs and trials in the 8 months this tank has been evolving but I must be doing something right.

Would love to know what you guys think and to learn more about these beautiful creatures. Some other little critters visible too - they seem to be managable at the moment and part of the eco system. Lots of cuc types to nibble on it. Bumblebee snails spending lots of time on the rock work.

Evas_reef · Jul 15, 2023

The video clips don’t seem to be working. I’ll post on Instagram so people can see their movements. Any advice on posting videos welcome too. I’m a newbie so still learning.

TangerineSpeedo · Jul 15, 2023

They will need Phyto. Nice!

Nano_Man · Jul 15, 2023

Evas_reef said:
The video clips don’t seem to be working. I’ll post on Instagram so people can see their movements. Any advice on posting videos welcome too. I’m a newbie so still learning.

You can do y tube video then copy and paste on your post that’s what most members do

Stephen8169301 · Jul 15, 2023

L that’s crazy I never new they moved like that

Nano_Man · Jul 15, 2023

I’ve got some mussels on the go and barnacles I had a bottle of salfert coral food says feeds filter feeders seems ok or plankton would be my first choice

Paul B · Jul 15, 2023

I can scrape many pounds of them off the bottom of my boat every year. I am not really fond of the evil little buggers but the dozens of times I put them in my tank they only live less than a year.
They are not really fully sub marine animals but intertidal creatures.

Evas_reef · Jul 15, 2023

TangerineSpeedo said:
They will need Phyto. Nice!

Thanks for the tip! I’ve got some. Held off after spiking nitrates last time I put some in.

Evas_reef · Jul 15, 2023

Paul B said:
I can scrape many pounds of them off the bottom of my boat every year. I am not really fond of the evil little buggers but the dozens of times I put them in my tank they only live less than a year.
They are not really fully sub marine animals but intertidal creatures.

This post is fab! Love this hobby and learning about peoples’ diverse experiences.

Evas_reef · Jul 15, 2023

Link to reel on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuuFzM1tN2Q/?igshid=Y2IzZGU1MTFhOQ==

Thanks to @Nman for the tip

Evas_reef · Jul 15, 2023

Nman said:
I’ve got some mussels on the go and barnacles I had a bottle of salfert coral food says feeds filter feeders seems ok or plankton would be my first choice

Thank you!

Evas_reef · Jul 15, 2023

Stephen8169301 said:
L that’s crazy I never new they moved like that

So cool. I’ve posted a link to a reel on Instagram so you can see.

Stephen8169301 · Jul 15, 2023

Evas_reef said:
So cool. I’ve posted a link to a reel on Instagram so you can see.

I was able to see your videos

kevgib67 · Jul 15, 2023

The joy of live rock, all the wonderful hitchhikers. Just ask Barnacle Boy!

Evas_reef · Jul 15, 2023

kevgib67 said:
The joy of live rock, all the wonderful hitchhikers. Just ask Barnacle Boy!

Evas_reef · Jul 15, 2023

Stephen8169301 said:
I was able to see your videos

Fab! I wasn’t sure. New to this. I think my son would call me a nooob

Paul B · Jul 15, 2023

You can see in the top photo, I had them in my tank in the 80s (I think)

Evas_reef · Jul 15, 2023

Paul B said:
You can see in the top photo, I had them in my tank in the 80s (I think)

I think I can see them. Pretty big mouths?

Stomatopods17 · Jul 15, 2023

Are we sure those are barnacles?

They kinda look like tunicates or sponges to me but hard to tell. In that first video (with the atinic lighting) the ones to the left close up as if they're soft flesh rather than hard shell.

Barnacles usually have this 'arm feather' looking thing coming out of a shell.

EDIT: Yeah in that third video that appears to me like a tunicate or potentially another coral colony.

EDIT 2: lol another thread that was made today about them, these are actually barnacles:

I have live barnacles on my live rock!

I’ve seen all the dead barnacle “shells” but just saw that there are some live ones tucked away. Barnacles filtering in my tank!

www.reef2reef.com

He got the perfect video to demonstrate how they open and close;

Barnacles Filtering in my tank!

www.youtube.com

Evas_reef · Jul 16, 2023

Stomatopods17 said:
Are we sure those are barnacles?

They kinda look like tunicates or sponges to me but hard to tell. In that first video (with the atinic lighting) the ones to the left close up as if they're soft flesh rather than hard shell.

Barnacles usually have this 'arm feather' looking thing coming out of a shell.

EDIT: Yeah in that third video that appears to me like a tunicate or potentially another coral colony.

EDIT 2: lol another thread that was made today about them, these are actually barnacles:

I have live barnacles on my live rock!

I’ve seen all the dead barnacle “shells” but just saw that there are some live ones tucked away. Barnacles filtering in my tank!

www.reef2reef.com

He got the perfect video to demonstrate how they open and close;

Barnacles Filtering in my tank!

www.youtube.com

This is so helpful! Thank you. I don’t think I’ve seen anything coming out of them. I’ll have a really close look and see. I’ll also research tunicates so interesting