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FAQs about Non-Vertebrate Animal Identification
30 Related Articles:
Marine Invertebrates, Marine
Invertebrate Systems, Marine
Invertebrate Compatibility, Marine
Invertebrate Disease, Marine
Invertebrate Reproduction,
Quarantine of Corals and Invertebrates,
Feeding Reef Invertebrates,
Lighting Marine Invertebrates,
Water Flow, How Much is Enough,
Related FAQs: Non-Vert IDs 1,
Non-Vert IDs 2, Non-Vert IDs 3,
Non-Vert IDs 4, Non-Vert IDs 5,
Non-Vert IDs 6,
Non-Vert IDs 7, Non-Vert
IDs 8,
Non-Vert IDs 9,
Non-Vert IDs 10, Non-Vert IDs 11,
Non-Vert IDs 12, Non-Vert IDs 13,
Non-Vert IDs 14, Non-Vert IDs 15,
Non-Vert IDs 16, Non-Vert IDs 17,
Non-Vert IDs 18, Non-Vert. ID 19,
Non-Vert. ID 20, Non-Vert. ID 21,
Non-Vert. ID 22, Non-Vert. ID 23,
Non-Vert. ID 25, Non-Vert ID 26,
Non-Vert ID 27, Non-Vert ID 28,
Non-Vert ID 29, Non-Vert ID 31,
Non-Vert ID 32, Non-Vert 33,
Non-Vert ID 34, Non-Vert ID 35,
Non-Vert ID 36, Non-Vert ID 37,
Non-Vert ID 38, Non-Vert ID 39,
Non-Vert ID 40, Non-Vert ID 41,
Non-Vert ID 42, & Marine Invertebrates,
Marine Invert.s 2, Marine Invert.s 3,
& FAQs about: Marine Invertebrate
Behavior, Marine Invertebrate
Compatibility, Marine Invertebrate
Selection, Marine Invertebrate
Systems, Feeding Reef Invertebrates,
Marine Invertebrate Disease,
Marine Invertebrate Reproduction, &
& LR Life
Identification, LR Hitchhiker ID 1,
Anemone Identification,
Aiptasia Identification, Aiptasia ID
2, Worm Identification,
Tubeworm ID, Polychaete
Identification, Snail Identification,
Marine Crab Identification, Marine
Invert.s 1, Marine Invert.s 2,
Marine Plankton, |
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Searched everywhere, cannot ID 12/5/07
Hello,
I have a
new tank about 4 months old and I see a lot of these critters moving
around very fast like. I started noticing these creatures about two
weeks letting my tank go fallow due to a Coral Beauty I brought home
having what I diagnosed as velvet. To make a long story short, the
two clowns that where in perfect health before I introduced the
Coral Beauty did not make it after I was able to eradicate them and
put them in quarantine. The good news is, the lawnmower blenny
survived and seems to be at good health now two weeks into
quarantine.
<That's a brittle star of some sort (likely one of
the "mini-brittle" stars). I don't see how the brittle stars and
fish disease would be related.>
Your help would be greatly
appreciated,
Michael
<Best,
Sara> | 
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Re: Searched everywhere, cannot ID -12/4/2007
Sara,
Thank you
for the response. I know the pictures had the brittle star in it.
What I am trying to id is the creature to the right of the star. My
photography is not that great and I probably added to much information
instead of getting right to the point. I have underlined the creature in
the photos with a red line. It appears to be some kind of
micro-crustacean but I was not able to identify it here
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/podidfaqs.htm
Is it some kind of Amphipod?
Or shrimp?
<Looks like it, yes. It's really hard to tell just from
the photo, but it looks like a "mysis shrimp" (not a true shrimp) of
some kind. Whatever it is, it doesn't look like any of the bad guys.>
Thanks,
Michael
<Best,
Sara> | 
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Parasites on my Pico (I have pictures)... perhaps semi-predaceous
Platyhelminths 11/30/07
Dear WetWebMedia Crew,
<Chris>
I
am a huge fan of your website, it has been invaluable to my introduction
into the world of salt water aquaria. Following the recommendations on
your site has not led me astray thus far. Onto my problem:
Roughly
six months back I set up a custom designed and constructed saltwater
pico (less than 5 gallon) tank that is stocked with various types of
mushrooms and a 'reef lobster' (not sure of the species).
<Yikes...
predaceous>
Some of the mushrooms had these small spots on them
(barely noticeable at the time as they are almost the same color as the
mushroom). Since then these 'spots' reproduced en mass, have migrated
onto the glass of my tank and spread to the other mushrooms as well. The
largest of the spots is roughly the size of a pencil eraser (the tip)
and the smallest one I can see is the size of a grain of table salt. I
couple this tank to my main reef tank by way of manual water exchange
<Well-stated>
so I am a little concerned about contamination. I have
not noticed these spots on my lobster but he is somewhat shy so I don't
have many opportunities to look closely. I have attached a link to a
picture of these 'spots' an I was hoping you could help me identify
them, determine whether or not they are harmful and how to deal with
them.
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/6338/picoparasitesyg0.jpg
<Oh! Nice pic... these are flatworms...>
Thank you,
-Chris
<Might well be deleterious to some of your other cnidarians in the main
system. I would take care to not contaminate, introduce them... Please
read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/pestflatwrmanthony.htm
and the
linked files above. Bob Fenner> |
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Worms and Nocturnal Critters... Cirratulids, Eurythoes, and Gammaridean
Shrimp Oh My! 11/30/07
Hello Crew,
<Hi Sammy, Mich here.>
Your site has been a tremendous help for me. I like to add to the many
praises your guys are getting.
<Thank you for your kind words.>
I
have a 175 gal reef tank that has been running for 6 months. I am now
finding a lot of worms and nocturnal critters that seems to be quickly
growing in numbers. I just like to know if this is something I need to
get concerned about.
<Generally, no. Usually this is all good.>
First, the number of string worms has increased greatly. There is a
bunch every inch or so on the sand. Some have moved onto the rocks as
well. Here is a photo of it. These guys send out long tentacles to pull
larger sand pebbled towards the group to form a little mount on the
sand. The fish don't bother it at all.
<This is a hairworm, a
Cirratulid species. They are beneficial scavengers and a wonderful
addition to your tank.>
Next to it is a worm that comes out only
after the lights are off. These are also increasing in number. Both of
these are really creeping my wife out.
<Well they are
creepy-crawlies, so I do understand your wife's reaction, but beneficial
and commonly found in systems with live rock.>
Here is a closer shot
of the nocturnal worm. Some are 4 inches long. I find them at the base
of every rock in my tank.
<This is a fireworm (Eurythoe sp.) and
named so with good reason. You’re not going to want to touch these guys.
The chaetae/bristles contain venom and can pack a rather painful sting.
That being said, these touch-me-nots are beneficial scavengers and
another fine additions to your system.>
It is hard to get a good
photo of these guys. As soon as I shine a flashlight on them to focus my
camera, they scurry away into hiding.
<Yes, but your photos are
decent.>
A third critter that only shows up at night is something
that looks like a shrimp, but it crawls all over the rocks like wobbly
bugs. Here is a photo.
<This is a Gammaridean amphipod, commonly
called a Scud, or your fish might call them yummy! Again their presences
in your setup is an asset.>
I really appreciate your help in
identifying them. Should I get rid of them?
<Nope! Keep'em!>
And
if so, how?
I have one more question. I have this black pearl that is
growing on one of my coral. What is it?
<It is Valonia, a nuisance
alga. Try to gently remove it, wiggle it carefully with your fingers and
hopefully it will come lose. Try not to break the bubble which contains
reproductive material that you do not want to spread around your tank!>
Is it normal to have it on this kind of coral?
<Is not uncommon but
you don't really want it there!>
That feather duster seems to be an
invader of this coral also, right?
<Yes.>
Should I leave it alone?
<Yes.>
Regards,
<Cheers, Mich>
Sammy |   | /Amphipods/image004.jpg)  |
Weird thing in my tank -11/19/07
Here's an interesting thing I
found in my tank. Well, not with a picture since my digital camera is
garbage. So I'll try and describe it.
I found it crawling on my
Zoanthid colony. It looked like a whitish/very faint green snail. But
without a shell! I'm guessing some type of hitchhiker sea slug or
something. But it was pumping white liquid into my tank for a few
minutes before I could remove it and I'm hoping it wasn't any poison or
whatnot!
<More than likely, it was spawning.>
It almost looked
like it was releasing fertilized eggs or something into the water but I
made sure to take it out. Unfortunately, I couldn't isolate it so I just
got rid of it.
<Hmm... ok.>
While I'm sure that's not nearly
enough for an ID, I'm at least hoping I could be in the right ballpark
and that I was right in removing it
since I had no idea what it was
releasing! Haha.
<I'm sorry, there are just too many
gastropods/slugs/etc. that might fit this description. There are
Zoanthid eating Nudibranchs, but they're usually bright orange and
yellow. You could browse here to see if you find it:
http://www.seaslugforum.net/>
- Jon
<Best,
Sara M.>
Re: Weird thing in my tank, invert. ID f' -11/19/07
I kind
of figured that it would be impossible to give me even close to an ID,
haha. Just a late night email to you guys with something I'd never seen
in my tank before. And yeah, it definitely was NOT a bright color. It
was a very drab white/greenish color. And hopefully it wasn't
detrimental if it was spawning! Though if I see another one, I will no
doubt take a photograph.
- Jon
<No worries, did you see anything
on the slug forum (http://www.seaslugforum.net/) that looked similar at
all? It's a fun site to look through anyway. -SM>
Re: Weird thing in my tank -11/19/07
It slightly resembled some
various Aglajid species, actually. I mean, not 100% resembled but
slightly looked like them, anyway!
<Hmm, well, all I can suggest is
that you, next time, maybe don't be in such a hurry to bump these things
off. I know we all hear the horror tales of some slug or bug destroying
whole reef tanks-- but they're mostly camp fire stories. There are very
few (if any) critters which, if you see one, you need to kill it on-spot
right away. There's almost always time for a quick ID first. ;-)
Best,
Sara M.> |
Eggs or not eggs ? lol -11/18/07
Hi I have what looks like wads
of angle hair pasta that has been deposited between crevices of the live
rock in about one inch section. Its not squiggledy its trait thin
strands woven back and fourth . I assume it is eggs of some kind it is
not clear but almost yellow.
I have a sea hair
<hare... What
species? Many sold are not tropical animals...>
in the tank and some
turbo snails. I'm betting on the sea hair. Their are no definite egg
forms you can see. It just looks like angle hair spaghetti in loops like
a shoe lace .
Thanks
mike
<... no pic? Likely a Sponge growth
of some sort... though could be... eggs, algae... Please peruse here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/marinvind1.htm
The ID files. Bob Fenner>
Yet Another ID... Yet Another Sponge... 11/17/2007
Good
morning crew.
<Good morning Chris.>
Chris here with another ID
question.
<Mich here with another ID answer.>
I've spent the
past two days looking for this critter on your site with no luck.
<It's there.>
I'm not a computer wiz but I was thinking. What if
you had pages with nothing but submitted pictures that you could
click on to be taken to the appropriate page. I don't know if that
is in the realm of possibilities but it's just an idea.
<And a
good idea at that! Will discuss with RMF.><<A good idea... but...
the real problem... It's just me who places all... seven days a
week... and I am currently just able to keep up with what I do...
RMF. IF we were more commercial, we COULD hire folks (we do this for
free) to greatly improve the sites>>
Now on to my question. This
guy is some kind of hitchhiker.
<Yup.>
It lives in my LR.
<Yup.>
Is not mobile but does have what seems to be a feeding
tube that stick out a little farther than it's tentacles <???> and
pulls it in when hit with light.
<The tentacles that pull in are
unrelated... Perhaps something else nearby, like the tiny feather
dusters off to the left in the pic.>
I've attached a picture to
help.
<Is a sponge... a Poriferan, identification to the species
level usually requires microscopic examination. Is nothing to worry
about. This is a harmless filter feeder, though an excessive amount
could indicate a nutrient problem. Some similar pictures here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/spgidf6.htm
Enjoy!
Mich> | 
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White Bugs... Likely Copepods 11/15/2007
Hello again,
<Hi
Worried Julie, Anxious Mich here>
I have a 28-gallon tank that is
about 3 months old.
<OK.>
I have a maroon clownfish, Firefish,
neon goby, cleaner shrimp (who molted this morning) and some snails &
crabs.. I added about 10 pounds of live rock last week. Everything seems
to be fine until now.
<Quarantining new purchases will save you
time, money and emotional tolls in the long run. Please consider doing
this in the future. More here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/quaranti.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_3/cav3i4/quarantine/Quarantine.htm
>
I'm seeing a ton of what look like white bugs all over the back and
side glass. They are too small to gather a description. I can see them
moving about the glass. They are about the size of a pinhead, maybe
smaller. What do you think they are?
<My guess would be Harpacticoid
copepods. More here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_2/cav2i1/Pods/pods.htm >
How
could I have gotten them?
<Likely came in on your newly acquired
live rock.>
Are they going to cause any problems?
<Actually these
are quite desirable. They are an excellent food source for your fish.
The population will likely wax and wane.>
What should I do.
<Watch
and enjoy.>
Worried Julie
<No worries here Julie, Mich.>
Hairy turbo snail... Hydrozoans
Hi,
<Hello there>
I
love your website--it has been a lifesaver for a newbie like myself.
<It is for you we generate it>
I have searched and searched but
cannot find out what this is attached to my turbo snail. They look
like tentacles, are in pairs and about 4 sets hanging out on
him/her.
Thanks in advance!
Amber
<I see these... small,
"fuzzy" hair-like projections... They're likely hydropolyps...
Hydrozoans... stinging, yes, but not likely a real problem here.
Please read: http://wetwebmedia.com/hyzoanidfaq.htm
Bob Fenner> | .jpg)
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