ID: Oddity in 20H tank - Aptasia??

[KenFitz]

I have a perhaps 1cm disc, grayish center, brown ring with what look like spines on the perimeter perhaps 2 or 3mm in length. It stands proud of the rock surface by 3mm or so, attached to the rock with a 2mm tube. All of this is a brownish colour and so are the spines.

Not taken a photo yet - it's in a hard to get to place. I have seen it close its 'disc' part into a ball with spines sticking out and then open them again.

Any Idea as to what it is - do I need to remove it, kill it with Elimini-Aptas or similar.. Or just leave and see what it does.... :?

Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

It sounds more like a Button Polyp to me like a Zoanthid called Protopalythoa (this is a guess). They are a good hitchhiker for most tanks although they can grow large mats sometimes.

One obvious difference between an Aiptasia and a Zoanthid is speed. Feed the animal a small meaty piece of seafood. An Aiptasia will typically grab the meat as soon as it touches any of the tentacles and quickly pull it into it's mouth. Sometimes with lightning speed.

A Zoanthid will either ignore the food or very slowly curl around the food to eat it, the tentacles will not be sticky.

 

[KenFitz]

.. Zoanthid... Of course... [noob alert]

Checked out some pics and it does look similar to one.. After having several small Aptasia in the tank - and no 'good' hitchhikers I immediatly assumed it was a bad guy...

Thanks - I dont think i'll remove this one - i'll leave it to see what it does when it grows up a bit.

 

[sandmantis64]

look for your "parasite" at reefcentral cause thats what i think-know it is. i had them, they are cyo---- i dont remember, i just know how i got rid of mine was a 6line wrasse, he loved them...lol they burrow under the scales and eat your fish from inside until they die then move to another fish etc.....you could trap them as described in RS or let nature do its wonder. my wrasse didnt eat food for a week...lol

 

[jdeets]

Once you get a little experience, you'll know the difference readily between aiptasia and zooanthind polyps. However, for now, here is a little test that will tell you for sure whether it's good or bad.

Take your tongs or whatever you use to work in the aquarium, and touch it. If it retracts instantaneously and seems to disappear into a crevice or hole in the rock, then it's aiptasia. If it closes more slowly and otherwise stays visible after closing--then it's probably zooanthid or another type of polyp.

Also, aiptasia will have a somewhat translucent look, while polyps will be opaque.

 

[jdeets]

look for your "parasite" at reefcentral cause thats what i think-know it is. i had them, they are cyo---- i dont remember, i just know how i got rid of mine was a 6line wrasse, he loved them...lol they burrow under the scales and eat your fish from inside until they die then move to another fish etc.....you could trap them as described in RS or let nature do its wonder. my wrasse didnt eat food for a week...lol

Not sure what this is all about, but apparently someone is confused about what you are describing, KenFitz... no worries...