Weird sump critter

[MDReefguy]

Hey all, anyone know what these guys are by chance? Exploded in my sump over night after adding some chaeto.

They seem like they can swim, but have anchored place. Best photos I can get with their tiny size, but they have tentacles or sweepers, and seemed mobile but are now on the walls.

Thanks!

 

[AlyciaMarie]

Are you able to get pictures under some neutral or white light?

 

[MDReefguy]

Almost impossible to get a clear shot, but trying again!

 

[AlyciaMarie]

Weird. I have no idea. Maybe @ISpeakForTheSeas can help you ID!

 

[DDenny]

Could be a hydroid pictures are a little fuzzy for me.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Could be a hydroid pictures are a little fuzzy for me.

Agreed - clearer pics would be helpful if possible, but the description sounds like polyp-stage hydroids possibly about to undergo strobilation (i.e. to release free-swimming ephyrae that morph into medusae - basically tiny jellyfish).

 

[MDReefguy]

I'll try with better photos, but they are so darn tiny. Thanks all.

 

[MDReefguy]

Here's one in the Chaeto

 

[bradleym]

Oh boy... Swimming aiptasia. Not technically aiptasia though, if I remember right.

 

[bradleym]

Thread 'Swimming anemone?'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/swimming-anemone.1059467/

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Thread 'Swimming anemone?'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/swimming-anemone.1059467/

Yeah, as mentioned in that thread:

Yeah, there are a few different species of nems that swim - the most common in the hobby is Boloceroides mcmurrichi, so that's the most likely.

Looks like it may be a very small Swimming Anemone, Boloceroides mcmurrichi. For a fairly similarly sized specimen to compare with:

The Biodiversity of Singapore

 

[MDReefguy]

Sure looks like it. Anything I should do? I have a peppermint in the sump where they all are.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Sure looks like it. Anything I should do? I have a peppermint in the sump where they all are.

I'm honestly not sure what the best way to deal with them would be, especially with them hidden in the chaeto still. My first thought would be to just regularly suction them out with a turkey baster or something until they're gone, but I'm not sure how effective that would be.

As a note, these are photosynthetic and reproduce asexually, so you may basically need to go through the chaeto with a fine-tooth comb or just pull off parts that are confirmedly clean to keep.