What’s this hiding in my rock?

[albie]

We added 30lbs of base rock from Tampa Bay Seawater a week ago and just noticed a couple of these living in our rock. The “arms” (maybe around 8 of them?) are white/clear with brown bands, coming from a cream-colored center edged in red. When touched with tongs, it quickly retracted back into the rock. We would really appreciate an ID, and how to get rid of it if necessary. The tank is currently empty other than the live rock and Carib Sea sand, and it is not an issue for us to remove the rock to treat it, if that is better.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Looks like an anemone of some kind - probably not a keeper for the average tank.

 

[NonstopSoda]

looks kinda like aiptasia? but i cannot really tell

 

[LiverockRocks]

We added 30lbs of base rock from Tampa Bay Seawater a week ago and just noticed a couple of these living in our rock. The “arms” (maybe around 8 of them?) are white/clear with brown bands, coming from a cream-colored center edged in red. When touched with tongs, it quickly retracted back into the rock. We would really appreciate an ID, and how to get rid of it if necessary. The tank is currently empty other than the live rock and Carib Sea sand, and it is not an issue for us to remove the rock to treat it, if that is better.

Have you checked out TBS Hitchhikers ?

The banding is very pronounced, and you mentioned red edging, so I’d guess the lightbulb nem.

A peppermint shrimp or Copperband will eat them.

Difficult to see this critter, it’s not a micro star, or is it?

 

[albie]

Looks like an anemone of some kind - probably not a keeper for the average tank.

Thanks for the info. Should I do something to remove it?

 

[DanyL]

it’s not a micro brittle star, is it?

That was my first guess, but it's also hard to determine the scale here.

@albie is it attached to something?
Can you pick it up with tweezers and get a better photo?

 

[LiverockRocks]

That was my first guess, but it's also hard to determine the scale here.

@albie is it attached to something?
Can you pick it up with tweezers and get a better photo?

If there are many of them in the rocks, it’s micro starfish. Beneficial hikers.

 

[albie]

Have you checked out TBS Hitchhikers ?

The banding is very pronounced, and you mentioned red edging, so I’d guess the lightbulb nem.

A peppermint shrimp or Copperband will eat them.

We did look, but could not identify it originally from the list, but now, looking more closely, the lightbulb anemone seems likely. I see that peppermint shrimp are listed out of stock on your site, but do you have any you could throw in my order of premium rock going out soon if we make arrangements for payment? Thanks so much for the help.

 

[albie]

Sorry, accidental double post!

 

[PharmrJohn]

Looks like a dead cricket to me! Yeah, I'm definitely having difficulty visualizing!

 

[albie]

If there are many of them in the rocks, it’s micro starfish. Beneficial hikers.

We have found two. We can’t pick them up as they retract into a hole in the rock when we get close. I don’t think they look like the micro stars though and seem to have too many arms!

 

[LiverockRocks]

We did look, but could not identify it originally from the list, but now, looking more closely, the lightbulb anemone seems likely. I see that peppermint shrimp are listed out of stock on your site, but do you have any you could throw in my order of premium rock going out soon if we make arrangements for payment? Thanks so much for the help.

We do have peppermints, I’ll update the website and yes, let’s add a pair to the next shipment.