Hitchhiker Identification

yacobito

yacobito

Member
Ok, I’ve got something new growing on my live rock that I can’t identify. Of course it is tucked away in the back corner, on a rock that is at the base of a pile, so I can’t get a picture of it and can’t move the rock to see it better without rearranging the whole tank. I will try to describe it the best I can and see if anyone has any suggestions that I might be able to do an image search on.
I know what aiptasia looks like (had it before and the peppermint shrimp ate it). I have a large feather duster and have had small hitchhiker feather dusters, but it looks different from all of those things.
Here is a poor paint drawing of what it looks like. The whole thing is bright orange and has branches like a tree. It is maybe an inch in height now. Anyone have any ideas?
 
reefnut

reefnut

Active Member
I think of myself as a pretty good guesser when it comes to hitchhikers but I'm at a loss. I have seen something similar on the bottom side of rocks... is it in the light at all?? or in a dark spot??
 
yacobito

yacobito

Member
Hey ReefNut,
It is near the sandbed of my tank on top of a rock, which does get direct light. It doesn't look like any of the pictures you posted. I will see if I can somehow get a picture of it tonight. I frequently look at what people post on here anytime there is a hitchhiker identification picture and I have never seen one like what I have. I will let you know if I can get a picture. Thanks.
 
str

str

Member
i could be mistaken, but i believe it is a wooden ship used during the civil war
 
colorteck

colorteck

Member
I have the same thing on one rock. Sticks up like a small tree. looks like light brown branches.
here you go maybe this is it what ever it is???
 
yacobito

yacobito

Member
colorteck, thanks for the pic. I don't think that is what I have. I got a closer look at it and I don't think they are branching off of each other, but maybe a cluster of some type of feather dusters. The odd thing is that the entire thing is bright orange. They don't seem be doing any harm. They are near where my clown likes to hang out and he doesn't seem to be concerned.
I will see if they continue to grow and spread. If they do I will have to move the rock to get a good picture and ID them. Thanks for all the help. :thinking:
 
stanlalee

stanlalee

Active Member
what is this and how do I get rid of it if need be(or should I not worry). I've always had a few small limbs of this stuff on a rock or two but never bothered with it because it has never grown large or caused any problems
 
aufishman

aufishman

Member
Originally Posted by Yacobito
Ok, I’ve got something new growing on my live rock that I can’t identify. Of course it is tucked away in the back corner, on a rock that is at the base of a pile, so I can’t get a picture of it and can’t move the rock to see it better without rearranging the whole tank. I will try to describe it the best I can and see if anyone has any suggestions that I might be able to do an image search on.
I know what aiptasia looks like (had it before and the peppermint shrimp ate it). I have a large feather duster and have had small hitchhiker feather dusters, but it looks different from all of those things.
Here is a poor paint drawing of what it looks like. The whole thing is bright orange and has branches like a tree. It is maybe an inch in height now. Anyone have any ideas?

My guess is it is some species of branching bryozoan. It would be hard to say for sure without a close up pic, but bryozoans would be a pretty common hitchhiker suspect based on your description.
 
celacanthr

celacanthr

Active Member
Originally Posted by Stanlalee
what is this and how do I get rid of it if need be(or should I not worry). I've always had a few small limbs of this stuff on a rock or two but never bothered with it because it has never grown large or caused any problems

I believe that that is a foram, harmless if I recall correctly. Maybe someone else can chime in.
 
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