I got this freebie and don't know what it is. Help please.

[ant]

I went to the LFS yesterday to buy some more crabs and snails. Came home with crabs, snails, a feather duster and xenias. I have a few questions. On one of the extra shells they gave me, I found something very cool this morning on it. Can someone help ID? Also, I read on a previous thread that the xenias are fairly hardy. Does it matter where in the tank it goes? I wedged it in a rock crevice and put an empty shell on top. This morning the shell was off and it looks well attached. Question #3, the feather duster seems to have two pieces cut off of it. Does it do that by itself or did something in my tank do that? I have 13 hermits, pistol shrimp, peppermint shrimp, cleaner shrimp, 2 clowns, 6 line, and a gobi. Thanks, Ant.

 

[stuckinfla]

First pic is a brown polyp, will attach if not already, and grow new ones - cool hitchiker. Feather duster looks good and xenia - if conditions are right, will over run your tank!!

 

[ant]

Stuckinfla, thanks for the response. I really appreciate it. Glad to know the brown polyp is a very good thing. I will watch the xenia. I hope it does well. Ant.

 

[ant]

BTW, do I need to feed the xenias or the polyp or do they just filter the water for nutrients?

 

[jb rekit]

I have both and don't feed either one. They grow plenty fast for me

 

[wax32]

Its hard to tell from that angle if picture 1 is your common type zoanthid, Zoanthus sp. which most ppl call "zoos" or zoas" or if it is another kind of zoanthid, Protopalythoa sp. Either way, "brown polyp" is as good a decription as another. And yes, it gets nutrients via its zooxanthellae and also by absorption from the water.

 

[ant]

JB and Wax, thanks for the info. I really appreciate it. It looks like something is still cutting down my feather duster. I think it's the pistol shrimp. I moved it further away and burried it some more except for the head. He chopped a big chunk off. Do I need to worry? The feather is still alright. It sucked back in but I saw it come out.

 

[wax32]

I have no experience with dusters other than the tiny ones that hitch in on rocks. Nothing seems to bother those. Seems LOTS of ppl have problems with the big ones like yours tho. It could be the shrimp I guess, but what you could do about the situation besides removing one or the other is beyond me.

 

[wax32]

Set up a video camera to record whatever is doing it!

 

[ant]

Wax, thanks for the input. I didn't realize people had problems with them. I came home from dinner and the pistol drug the shell with the polyp over to his den. Didn't hurt the polyp but he sure makes it hard to keep extra shells in the tank without him hording them in his cave. Video is a good idea. Ant.

 

[wax32]

Ah. I forgot that pistols like to use shells for their den. He probably doesnt mean to hurt the duster at all. Maybe load him up with some extra shells? Buy a bag of plain (unpainted) shells from walmart and rinse them good and give him some. Try to get a bag with a lot of small ones.

 

[pitbull01]

That "hitchhiker" of yours is a brown button polyp- it is in the family of the zoo polyps. They are completely harmless- I have them everywhere in my tank, just wait until they start to split!!! hehehe.

 

[wax32]

Originally Posted by pitbull01
That "hitchhiker" of yours is a brown button polyp- it is in the family of the zoo polyps. They are completely harmless- I have them everywhere in my tank, just wait until they start to split!!! hehehe.

Ya think?

 

[pitbull01]

What's that supposed to mean? Huh? Huh? JK!!!!!!!!!

 

[wax32]

I know ant is kinda new ( I remember reading some of his noob threads ) but I'm not sure what kind of lights he has... under strong lights that lowly zoo will spread and color up to be his favorite thing in the tank!

 

[ant]

Wax, great idea about the shells. I didn't know Walmart sold them. Yea! I just bought new lights, satelite with atinics, blue lights and moon light. I hope that helps both the polyp and the xenia. I moved the shell with the polyp to a top rock. Hope no other crabs decide they want the shell.
pitbull, thanks for the info and support! I appreciate it and the humor!
PS-Ant is short for Antoinette...I'm a girl!

 

[wax32]

Originally Posted by Ant
PS-Ant is short for Antoinette...I'm a girl!
Doh. Sorry!
The shells were in the crafts/home furnishing department when I found them I think?Maybe around gifts? They move crap around too much!
I put some in my tank and some of my hermits are living in them! Check this guy out. The last pic is him sporting his wal-mart attire. He is still wearing that one.

 

[ant]

Wax, not to worry. For some reason most people on the board think I'm a guy. :thinking: Maybe it's the horse picture. :joy: No big deal. I make corrections as I go.
Thanks for the pics. What kind of crabs are those? They look nothing like mine.

 

[pitbull01]

N/P Ant. Good luck with your duster.