Live Rock Hitchhiker Identification

[Apayson]

Hi there,

Does anyone recognize what this critter is?
The biggest one I've noticed is about the size of the tip of a pencil,
its body is similar to the shape of a lightbulb with 8 arms
when it's suspended in the water it kind of swims like a jelly fish.
The image attached is how it looks when chilling on the glass

I added live rock months ago that came with amphipods & copepods...any idea what this one is?

 

[Mikedawg]

Hi there,

Does anyone recognize what this critter is?
The biggest one I've noticed is about the size of the tip of a pencil,
its body is similar to the shape of a lightbulb with 8 arms
when it's suspended in the water it kind of swims like a jelly fish.
The image attached is how it looks when chilling on the glass

I added live rock months ago that came with amphipods & copepods...any idea what this one is?

View attachment 2759838 View attachment 2759839

May be ephyra stage of a jelly or some species of hydroid. Any pics under white light?

 

[Casket_Case]

Hi there,

Does anyone recognize what this critter is?
The biggest one I've noticed is about the size of the tip of a pencil,
its body is similar to the shape of a lightbulb with 8 arms
when it's suspended in the water it kind of swims like a jelly fish.
The image attached is how it looks when chilling on the glass

I added live rock months ago that came with amphipods & copepods...any idea what this one is?

View attachment 2759838 View attachment 2759839

It probably is a young jellyfish. I had the same come in on live rock from the Gulf and I believe they are young Cassieopeia Upside-Down Jellyfish. They are everywhere in the Gulf and will free swim then stick to surfaces, they like to stick to the sandbed tentacles-upward... hence the name 'Upside-Down'

Mine all passed. Probably consumed all food or due to early tank parameter swings.

@Eagle_Steve

 

[fishface NJ]

looks like hydroid. New tank setup?

 

[Apayson]

May be ephyra stage of a jelly or some species of hydroid. Any pics under white light?

This tank is under a good amount of white light, my phone is making it look extra blue.

I'm wondering if this is a larva stage of copepods...or something in that category.

 

[Casket_Case]

This tank is under a good amount of white light, my phone is making it look extra blue.

I'm wondering if this is a larva stage of copepods...or something in that category.

They do have a blue coloration in the little tentacles. The ones I found were the same way, I got to check them out under a microscope but couldn't keep them in place long enough to photograph.

Not a Naupli... something else

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Leaning more towards a hydroid, as an upside down jelly does not look like this after it transitions for being a strombilation.

More than likely Cladonema or Hydromedusae and they usually go away (starve out) in a short amount of time, as our tanks cannot support them, especially when new.

 

[Apayson]

Leaning more towards a hydroid, as an upside down jelly does not look like this after it transitions for being a strombilation.

More than likely Cladonema or Hydromedusae and they usually go away (starve out) in a short amount of time, as our tanks cannot support them, especially when new.

That's interesting...I wonder if my nutrient levels will elevate after they starve out.

For additional context this tank has been set up for about 6 months.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

That's interesting...I wonder if my nutrient levels will elevate after they starve out.

For additional context this tank has been set up for about 6 months.

Nutrients will only go up if you have a crap ton. And even then, it should not be much.

What rocks are int he tank? was it started dry, with lfs live rock or live rock like KP rock or Tampa Bay rock?

 

[Apayson]

Nutrients will only go up if you have a crap ton. And even then, it should not be much.

What rocks are int he tank? was it started dry, with lfs live rock or live rock like KP rock or Tampa Bay rock?

Honestly this rock is a total mystery to me...I added it from someone else's established tank to help with the cycle.

So there's a mix of this ugly mystery rock & Real Reel Life Rock (dry rock)

This mystery live rock was added about 3-4 months into my set up.
My tanks are about 6+ months old....Image attached of the ugly rock

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Honestly this rock is a total mystery to me...I added it from someone else's established tank to help with the cycle.

So there's a mix of this ugly mystery rock & Real Reel Life Rock (dry rock)

This mystery live rock was added about 3-4 months into my set up.
My tanks are about 6+ months old.

Sounds like a little hydroid hatch. I would just watch them for a bit (no need to change anything) and see if they go away. If they do not go away in about a month, then may need to look for a cause. They are typical in new tanks or tanks that get "newer" stuff added. usually they end up being harmless and you only need to worry if they explode and you see them all over the glass and rocks.