Three new "Friends" discovered today.

G00SE · Mar 5, 2018

First post, it's long, I'm sorry.
We were pretty serious...or at least WE thought we were serious about salt water years ago with a 180, 250, and a 90 gallon. We were super careful with a great store to guide us and had beautiful tanks to show for it. Life and kids took over and we sold everything. We very recently decided to get back into the hobby with a little 46 gallon tank. We weren't nearly as careful (thought we knew it all) and the store we used to trust, changed hands. Aiptasia, algea, worms, and hitch hikers in every tank on every rock. We've found a new store with a wonderful set up, and beautiful CLEAN tanks. In the meantime however, we bought rock from our old store. Now we have all kinds of hitch hikers.
I want to learn as much as I can NOW because we just bought a 450 Gallon and are going next week for a 550 Gallon. I want those tanks done right from the start as I am not a fan of climbing into a tank to try and get rid of a pest that could have been prevented. I'm starting both with dry rock so hitch hiking crabs won't be an issue, but the parasites can come from anywhere. What are these, (in the pictures) are they bad, how do I get rid of them, and how can I prevent them?

Sipec · Mar 5, 2018

Not sure what they are, but as for prevention always dip your corals and cure your rock. Look it up. Also, welcome to r2r!

Zwogle · Mar 5, 2018

Flatworm (maybe Amphiscolops), hydroid jellyfish (good), and i'm not sure about the crab, get a good look at the end of claws and see if there are pointy (bad) or spoon like (probably good)

Maritimer · Mar 5, 2018

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

#1 - Ghost flatworm. Generally not a real problem, nor a major assist.

#2 - Hydroid medusae. Kind of like a micro-jellyfish. They're not horribly uncommon, usually in newer setups. Hydroid colonies can become a problem, these one-offs generally vanish.

#3 - Xanthid crab. If you have a sump, that'd be a good place for this guy. They start out tiny, but as they grow they tend to become hungrier and more aggressive, and then fish go missing overnight. Generally, dark, pointed claws and hairy legs are not a good sign.

~Bruce

G00SE · Mar 5, 2018

Zwogle said:
Flatworm (maybe Amphiscolops), hydroid jellyfish (good), and i'm not sure about the crab, get a good look at the end of claws and see if there are pointy (bad) or spoon like (probably good)

They are pointy and black.

G00SE · Mar 5, 2018

Maritimer said:
Welcome to Reef2Reef!

#1 - Ghost flatworm. Generally not a real problem, nor a major assist.

#2 - Hydroid medusae. Kind of like a micro-jellyfish. They're not horribly uncommon, usually in newer setups. Hydroid colonies can become a problem, these one-offs generally vanish.

#3 - Xanthid crab. If you have a sump, that'd be a good place for this guy. They start out tiny, but as they grow they tend to become hungrier and more aggressive, and then fish go missing overnight. Generally, dark, pointed claws and hairy legs are not a good sign.

~Bruce

I guess I'll keep him secluded until we get the sump for the 450 set up then. The store we used to go to told me to get him out a.s.a.p. and throw him out in the yard to die. I'm just not okay with that. I'm happy to hear that there will be a good place for him, thank you!

G00SE · Mar 5, 2018

G00SE said:
I guess I'll keep him secluded until we get the sump for the 450 set up then. The store we used to go to told me to get him out a.s.a.p. and throw him out in the yard to die. I'm just not okay with that. I'm happy to hear that there will be a good place for him, thank you!

Any advice on how to catch him? He's FAST!