what could this be ?

[bwmichael21]

I have a smaller piece of live rock with a hole maybe 1cm in diameter. There are these 3 tenicles that will come out of this hole. They are smaller, maybe an inch or so long. White with black striped bands.

 

[aarone]

could be small aptasia. or it could be a worm of some sort. can you post a pic, that would help out alot more.

 

[beth]

Brittlestars. Very common LR inhabitant.

 

[bwmichael21]

will in when i get back from vacation. Its not a glass anemone, that i know. THe tenticles remind me of a serpent star

 

[bwmichael21]

Yes looks like that except the colours are reversed, what should i know about these ?

 

[aarone]

they are great to have in the tank, They are reef safe. Good guys, and cool lookin when they move. I had one for a month, then he lost his arms, sad day Just watch h im and take care of him. I fed mine brine shrimp he also ate some of my snails.

 

[the claw]

There are probably alot more of them in your tank than you know. Check it when the lights go down. They will do just fine on their own. They are great friends.

 

[bwmichael21]

I have a green brittle, much much bigger. This does look alot like it would be a type of brittle, but would it live in the rock ?

 

[bwmichael21]

He is in my refuge and i assume should probably be put in the main tank if at all possible ?

 

[aarone]

yeah, they are nocturnal. They like to stay hidden in the rockwork, then come out at night or when its food time.

 

[the claw]

You'll see them wherever they can slither into. I had a tubipora musica skeleton in my tank for a shorttime, and it housed about 50 of the little things(or maybe it was 10 of them with 5 arms each). Wish I had a camera at the time.

 

[bwmichael21]

I should move that rock out of the refuge though ? I wouldn't keep my green brittle up

 

[the claw]

He will be fine in your refugium. You actually want some detrivores in there.

 

[bwmichael21]

thank you for the help

 

[dsa_mom]

We didn't know we had several of these until moving some rock around and one fell off the underside--since then they have grown enormously! We never see the whole critter, just the arms, and then only at night. Ours reach out and grab any small bits of flake food--its neat to see how they move something up the arm to the mouth, sort of a wave motion. Enjoy!