Is this an Aiptasia?

[shanzfish]

Hi everyone, I have been trying to figure out what this is in my tank. It’s strange because my feather duster worm popped its crown off, regrew another one and the popped crown grew into what looks like an aptasia..? It’s very odd. I saw the crown was still alive and had wedged itself into my rocks. So it looked like a new feather duster worm was growing. But now that it’s bigger it does not look like one. It looks like a polyp or anemone. I’ve had the worm for 2 years and I’ve not introduced anything into my tank since February. Here’s a photo:

 

[SHNICI]

Yes, it's Aiptasia.
That's the way it can spread it self everywhere in your tank. Once in only with killing it can be removed, or the whole bit of rock to be taken out and to be treated somehow (FW or another treatments).
The Aiptasia can spread it self from a singe tentacle, from it can regrow completely. So cutting and leaving any of it, can regrow many, like the Hydra, cut one head, regrow 2 new.
And WELCOME TO R2R

 

[ScubaFish802]

Agreed, looks like it to me as well

 

[encrustingacro]

Looks like aiptasia to me

 

[ScubaFish802]

Is it possible you added any new coral or inverts recently? two years does seem like a long time for it to go unnoticed + not spread. But I'm not an expert by any means

Also wondering if that was annoying the worm enough to cause it to loose it's crowns multiple times

 

[SHNICI]

Is it possible you added any new coral or inverts recently? two years does seem like a long time for it to go unnoticed + not spread. But I'm not an expert by any means

Also wondering if that was annoying the worm enough to cause it to loose it's crowns multiple times

can bet the worm it's been stunned by the aiptasia. But usually it's changing the position growing the tube, which will avoid the aiptasia in that case, probably it's been another aiptasia there.

 

[shanzfish]

Yes, it's Aiptasia.
That's the way it can spread it self everywhere in your tank. Once in only with killing it can be removed, or the whole bit of rock to be taken out and to be treated somehow (FW or another treatments).
The Aiptasia can spread it self from a singe tentacle, from it can regrow completely. So cutting and leaving any of it, can regrow many, like the Hydra, cut one head, regrow 2 new.
And WELCOME TO R2R

Thanks for the response, I’ll try and get rid of it ASAP

 

[Billdogg]

I agree that it is most likely an pest anemone. Especially if you have just a few, a syringe and boiling water will allow you to cook it where it sits without damaging anything else. I find that 10ml or so do the trick just fine.