My first hitchhiker

What is that and where did it come from?

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Ironcage
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My first hitchhiker

Post by Ironcage »

The 30 gal I picked up from SaltnLime is up and running thanks to Amy and Snoop's help this past weekend. I picked up a chunk of rock and a few crabs today and this evening I found a new guest in the tank.

I'm not really sure what it is, and I'd like some help ID'ing it or suggestions on what to do with or about it.

I would say the whole thing is maybe 3 inches tall and with the tentacles? stretched out it maybe reaches a max diameter of 2 inches. Its light brown, maybe pink in color, has a stem that’s attached down into a hole in the rock and what looks like hairs with white bumps or dots on them coming off of the head and the tube looks sorta hollow. At first I thought it was just a plant or something, but I can hit it with a flashlight and it will sorta gyrate towards the beam. Should I get some food or something to feed it or just leave it be?
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tbmoore
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Post by tbmoore »

Would like to see a picture but sounds like it might be a fether duster worm....

http://www.northwestdiver.com/gallery/s ... p?photo=63
http://www.picsbase.com/james/?catID=111
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snoopdog
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Post by snoopdog »

Sand Mason Worm, they construct there homes from sand. A feather duster uses it's own body shell for the exterior. A Sand Mason worms will glue grains of sand together and then pull food in.

Here is a nice article about most sand worms, sometimes they get on the rockwork though.

http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/main_p ... q_sand.htm
"When they was no meat we ate fowl, when there was no fowl we ate crawdad. And when there was no crawdad to be found, we ate sand."--Cellmate
"You ate what?"--H.I.
"We ate sand."--Cellmate
"You ate sand?"--H.I.
"That's right."--Cellmate
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tbmoore
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Post by tbmoore »

still would like to see a picture
Ironcage
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Post by Ironcage »

Wow, nice info. Using those pictures, if I were to guess from the pictures on those sites I'd call it a type of feather duster. I'm working on a camera of sorts for a photo album detailing my progress. With luck I'll get a picture or 2 up here soon.

They say they sell those things in pet stores and its a common hitchhiker so I'm good to just leave it be?
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snoopdog
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Post by snoopdog »

Unless you find a crab, or maybe a mantis shrimp let it be. Any very furry crab could be a problem, certain slugs can cause havoc. Sundial snails are not desireable. And hearing any loud popping sounding like glass breaking will be a non friendly Mantis Shrimp
"When they was no meat we ate fowl, when there was no fowl we ate crawdad. And when there was no crawdad to be found, we ate sand."--Cellmate
"You ate what?"--H.I.
"We ate sand."--Cellmate
"You ate sand?"--H.I.
"That's right."--Cellmate
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snoopdog
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Post by snoopdog »

When you have reading time hit this link, since you are on dial-up it should not be horrible, pictures are a minimum mostly text. This information is incredible in the amount of information packed in.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/past.htm
"When they was no meat we ate fowl, when there was no fowl we ate crawdad. And when there was no crawdad to be found, we ate sand."--Cellmate
"You ate what?"--H.I.
"We ate sand."--Cellmate
"You ate sand?"--H.I.
"That's right."--Cellmate
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