Got a hitchhiker or unknown critter?? Check here for an ID

ManOfSalt · Feb 28, 2014

Hey all,
Apologies if this has been Id'd already but my LR just arrived and I found this interesting hitchhiker and was wondering if I should add it to the tank or not. It's a very long star fish looking thing lol.

Mike J. · Mar 1, 2014

Amphipholis Squamata or Long Armed Brittle Sea Star. Should be a good tank addition.

saltyhog · Mar 1, 2014

Here's a few of the hitch hikers I've encounterd in the first few months of my tank.

never did figure out what this thing that turned up in a filter sock was.

some kind of pistol shrimp

Polyclad flatworm

Eucinid worm

Nudibranch, came in on some zoas

saltyhog · Mar 1, 2014

Gorrilla crab (still have a few of these to catch)

Whelk

ManOfSalt · Mar 2, 2014

Thanks a bunch Mike!

ManOfSalt · Mar 3, 2014

Found another critter from my LR scouting the tank at night. Any ideas?

Mike J. · Mar 3, 2014

Really need to see the other side of it. But judging by the snout and antennae it's an algae eater. I'm thinking a Scutus (Limpet).

ManOfSalt · Mar 3, 2014

Mike what would I do without you! I googled that name and based off the images that looks spot on to me. You're a legend!

Mike J. · Mar 3, 2014

I'm going to show this to my wife. She said, "Oh, good Lord."

ManOfSalt · Mar 3, 2014

ROFL! I hope that was a good thing.

Mike J. · Mar 3, 2014

Yeah, we both got a good laugh. Which we needed since we're semi snowed in.

ManOfSalt · Mar 3, 2014

In March?! Ouch. The groundhog must've skipped Kentucky.

ManOfSalt · Mar 4, 2014

Mike I require your genius yet again. Found some interesting ones when the lights were out

Hoping this worm isn't dangerous.
[video=youtube_share;c_SBlsu-d6Y]http://youtu.be/c_SBlsu-d6Y[/video]

A zippy critter.
[video=youtube_share;JhvK-AWE7Cw]http://youtu.be/JhvK-AWE7Cw[/video]

Mike J. · Mar 4, 2014

Cool, I like videos! The second one caught me off guard, thought it was the start to a horror film at first.

I think your first worm is a Eunice. I studied that video several times. It is a worm you'll want to get out of your tank. There's nightmares built around that worm.

In the second video you have what's called a free swimming Epitoke or swarmer. It is a worm reproducing. What kind of worm I can't tell, but likely harmless.

Here's a link for you: Worm Hitch Hikers

ManOfSalt · Mar 4, 2014

Oh goodness... Looks like the hunt is on tonight. Thanks Mike!

Mike J. · Mar 4, 2014

They are veracious eaters and shouldn't be that hard to trap. (hopefully) Put it in a specimen container and post a pic when you do. Good luck!

vlangel · Mar 4, 2014

ManOfSalt said:
Oh goodness... Looks like the hunt is on tonight. Thanks Mike!

Looks like I let you down, sorry I thought the first worm was more or less harmless. Now I am wondering about my tank because I have similar worms, (only lots and lots of them! ).