Pest Identification and Pest Control

[tmcreynolds]

Can someone help identify what this is?
Also the recommended actions to take care of the problem?

I would also ask for a recommendation on a pest control fish. I'm still new to the hobby and appear to have this issue of hydroids or something, and I also have seen aptasia. I have only seen one aptasia so far and glued it but I assume more will come soon. What is a good fish to help keep these pests in check? I would like a long finned ruby wrasse but I'm not sure it would fit the problem. Any recommendations are appreciated!

 

[Rtaylor]

Hitchhikers can be a good thing. I get excited when I see something I can’t identify. 80% of the time it’s either harmless or beneficial. What you are asking about are feather duster worms, harmless (beneficial even).

Wrasses are good options for pest control in general, but usually not aptasia. Fish that will eat aptasia are more difficult to keep like the copperband butterflyfish or may nip at other coral like aptasia eating filefish.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Can someone help identify what this is?
Also the recommended actions to take care of the problem?

Those are feather duster worms- harmless filter feeders. If you want to get rid of them, you should be able to just scrape them off.