Who wants to play a round of "identify this creature"

[Kait]

I have a new reef tank, and have received a hitchhiker on my live rock. Can you please identify it?

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3800/10829070816_cedf6809bb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59267997@N00/10829070816/)
anemone? (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59267997@N00/10829070816/) by [Kait] (http://www.flickr.com/people/59267997@N00/), on Flickr

I'm sorry for the crummy picture. It's the round thing in the middle. I'm thinking it's an aiptasia anemone, but wanted someone with more experience to confirm it (or tell me I'm completely wrong! Because I'm new… seriously… check the post count! ;) ).

Thanks in advance!

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

Welcome to canreef,...you are right its an Aptasia and to be exact I think its Aiptasia mutabilis eradicate the little bugger and see if you have more as they will take over your tank,...

[spit.fire]

Majano anemone

[Madreefer]

Majano anemone

I agree

[Flash]

Yup majano

[Taipan]

Majano Anemone.

[byee]

ditto.

my tank was infested with them. difficult to get rid of!

[Kait]

Looks like I know what I'm doing today. I probably have 5 or so, all attached to my new live rock. So time to nip that in the bud!

[hfp75]

syringe and lemon juice

[byee]

Need to be careful with mojano.

When threatened, they will let off spores which result in more mojano.

I tried using Aptasia X simply because it encourages the mojano to feed and as its feeding it seal the mouth causing it to implode to miminize the spores. Didn't help!

Good luck.

[Kait]

Just in general (as in, they will spread through the tank) or specifically when trying to get rid of them?

I was going to try calcium hydroxide, but couldn't find it in the grocery store (legs isn't open yet today). Does lemon juice really work? Also, won't that affect the rest of the tank?

[michika]

Just in general (as in, they will spread through the tank) or specifically when trying to get rid of them?

I was going to try calcium hydroxide, but couldn't find it in the grocery store (legs isn't open yet today). Does lemon juice really work? Also, won't that affect the rest of the tank?

Yes, it works. The caution is that you don't do too much of it at once in a smaller tank. As you're adding an acid to your tank. You can also try white vinegar, or kalk paste. You know you've hit the thing (if you're using a syringe) if the stalk starts to swell and turn purple!

[Madreefer]

The little amount of lemon juice it'll take won't effect your tank. Why not go to your LFS and use kalkwasser instead?

[Kait]

Yeah, I think I'm going to go to the store and get the kalk. Then it's here. Right now, they only seem to be in a couple small pieces of new live rock. So I'm going to quarantine while I treat them. Hopefully there hasn't been too much spread in the mean time. :)

Thanks for the advice!

[Taipan]

If they are only on a few small pieces of live rock; it may be worth while to take the rock out and either boil it or toss it out. Less of 'work' and effort required. ;)

[byee]

If they are only on a few small pieces of live rock; it may be worth while to take the rock out and either boil it or toss it out. Less of 'work' and effort required. ;)

Totally agree with Taipan's suggestion!

Better to get of the rocks before it spreads.

[Kait]

I ended up using lemon juice and a pair or tweezers. I'm not sure if the lemon juice really did anything other than made it ball up hard. Then I dug them out with tweezers and a toothbrush. It was gross, but I think I got them. I'll let you all know if they come back.

Went and picked up some more rock for my tank... Found out after that now I have some new aphasia now... Lol. If it's not one thing...

[hfp75]

Get a pepermint shrimp and don't feed it!! It'll eat up your aptasia

[Kait]

That's my plan! Maybe in a few days - I've done a lot of mucking about today (new rock! Emerald crab! Nessarius snails!), and I think it needs a day or 5 to just relax. Or maybe that's just me ;)