Trippin' me out, new hobbiest needs help!

fretfreak13

Active Member
Hi, my name is Kali, I'm fifteen, and I just started my first saltwater tank. I got my first tiny peice of live rock (1.35 lbs) yesterday to kick off my cycle, and to my surprise and excitement (was tired of looking at a lifeless tank), I found some feather dusters. There is also a small shrimp(?) of some kind. It curls into a ball and rolls with the current, hides in holes in the rock, then comes back out. All the things on this rock are much too small for my camera to pick up, and it doesntt work well through the glass in the aquarium anyways. I also found something else. The first one was black, and I went upstairs happily thinking it was an annenome or urchin while I found my camera. It was big enough that I may have gotten a picture, maybe quarter sized. I wasn't gone for more than a minute and a half, and it was gone! I thought annenomies and urchins moved slow. I found another one that hasn't moved, but its much smaller, maybe dime sized, and the camera wont pick it up.
They look like they have a circle as a body with many legs/tenticles sticking out, but more like legs cause they resemble daddy long leg spiders. The first one was black with vibrant white tips on its legs, the second, smaller one is pink with the same tips. Looks somewhat like this. (Done on photoshop 6)
 

gypsana

Active Member
Originally Posted by Fretfreak13
http:///forum/post/3098091
Crud, I think that "shrimp" is a copepod or isopod. What do I dooo? Anyone?
Yes that is more than likely what that was. As for the other critter does it move or suck up into the rock? If you are cycling you should try to get as much rock as you are going to want and only have to cycle once. If you try to cycle then add livestock then future LR will have to be cured before putting it in your DT. Are you planning a reef set up?
 

fretfreak13

Active Member
Yes. I'm not planning on getting livestock for a long time. Maybe two or three months. Any idea on the pink and black thingys? The pink one seems attached and has a wide bass. It shrinks when startled kinda like the feather dusters, but looks pretty different. Still no sign of the black one.
 

meowzer

Moderator
Could be aptasia....a pest anemone...they will sting, and you do not want them...you can remove them by injecting them with boiling water...or lemon juice...or stuff called Joe's juice
google aptasia and see if any of the pics match what you saw
 

fretfreak13

Active Member
I don't think it's an aptasia, since they all seem to have semi-long stems. These almost look like they're right on the rock, and I wouldn't be able to tell it had a thick bass if it wasn't so translucent. The "black" one is back right where I saw it in the first place. Now it looks a bit more clear. If they're baby aptastia, I'll let them grow for awhile so I can be sure before I kill them. I've already read a few threads about getting rid of them. There is nothing in the tank for them to sting yet, so I can't see the harm right?
I'll try to get a friends camera to maybe get a good picture.
 

alix2.0

Active Member
google orange ball anemone. that might be it. and yeah, sounds like pods, congrats. theyre good.
 
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