What are these? Cannot figure it out. Hitchhiker ID

[vaguelyreeflike]

Small roundish soft thing sitting on a “nest” of tentacles similar to that of a nudibranch or bubble tip anemone, however they do not move freely and are stationed where they are, have not moved an inch in almost a week. I think Nudibranch is ruled out

When I touch them they react and “extend”, moving similar to a coral or anemone, and then shrinking back down.
The zoas seem unaffected by them so far? Im hesitant to remove stuff if Im not certain its harmful.

White light pics attached as well as a video of it reacting to being touched.

 

[Timfish]

Fascinating! I'd guess some kind of worm. At the base can you tell if there's a spiral shaped tube? I'm thinking a vermitid worm that had the tube broken but is still able to retract into the spiral base. But that's just a guess, could be some kind of polyp if it's fixed to a spot.

 

[Pkunk35]

That’s a weird one, maybe a tunicate of some kind

 

[Goaway]

Looks like they move?

A nudibranch if the do. Get rid of them is my opinion.
Usually they eat things you want to keep.

 

[Goaway]

Seen video just now. Odd creature.
@ISpeakForTheSeas. What do you think?

 

[bradleym]

I don't have an answer, but I am tagging along because I think they are awesome! Whatever they are, lol

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

Fascinating! I'd guess some kind of worm. At the base can you tell if there's a spiral shaped tube? I'm thinking a vermitid worm that had the tube broken but is still able to retract into the spiral base. But that's just a guess, could be some kind of polyp if it's fixed to a spot.

Definitely not a vermetid worm or nudibranch, theyre fixed to a spot and there is multiple so its not a one off thing

 

[Goaway]

Small roundish soft thing sitting on a “nest” of tentacles similar to that of a nudibranch or bubble tip anemone, however they do not move freely and are stationed where they are, have not moved an inch in almost a week. I think Nudibranch is ruled out

When I touch them they react and “extend”, moving similar to a coral or anemone, and then shrinking back down.
The zoas seem unaffected by them so far? Im hesitant to remove stuff if Im not certain its harmful.

White light pics attached as well as a video of it reacting to being touched.

This could very well be boltenia villosa Spiny head tunicate.

Only issue is, the tube extends and not the head...

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Just guessing but Could it be some kind of tube worm or fan worm? , very strange, it appears to have a snout/trunk like a conch, also nest like a anomene
Following

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

I don't have an answer, but I am tagging along because I think they are awesome! Whatever they are, lol

I think theyre pretty neat as well! Im thinking of trying to remove and isolate one in a breeder box or something

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

Just guessing but Could it be some kind of tube worm or fan worm? , very strange, it appears to have a snout/trunk like a conch, also nest like a anomene
Following

Anything is possible I guess but really doesnt look like any kind of fan/tube worm Ive seen, none of them are building tubes and none of them have filter fans

 

[bradleym]

I think theyre pretty neat as well! Im thinking of trying to remove and isolate one in a breeder box or something

If you do please take more pictures! I'm very curious about these creatures.

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

This could very well be boltenia villosa Spiny head tunicate.

Only issue is, the tube extends and not the head...

This could very well be boltenia villosa Spiny head tunicate.

Only issue is, the tube extends and not the head...

I dont think its that specific one, but I think Tunicate is really possible, it has a lot of similar features

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

If you do please take more pictures! I'm very curious about these creatures.

I definitely will! If theyre a tunicate theyre probably harmless so I may just move them all onto their own rock in a breeder or something

 

[Fishy888]

If you do please take more pictures! I'm very curious about these creatures.

Me too. I think they may be tunicates. I'd love to get tunicates on rock or on a frag eventually. Keep us posted!

 

[Goaway]

I definitely will! If theyre a tunicate theyre probably harmless so I may just move them all onto their own rock in a breeder or something

There is a sponge on there you need to evict. It will smother your polyps and tunicate. I'd keep the tunicates.
In the yellow.

 

[Wasabiroot]

Keep an eye for two openings. If there's only one it might not be a tunicate. Super cool though. Hope someone has an idea!

It could be colonial though- can't quite tell from the pictures.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Small roundish soft thing sitting on a “nest” of tentacles similar to that of a nudibranch or bubble tip anemone, however they do not move freely and are stationed where they are, have not moved an inch in almost a week. I think Nudibranch is ruled out

When I touch them they react and “extend”, moving similar to a coral or anemone, and then shrinking back down.
The zoas seem unaffected by them so far? Im hesitant to remove stuff if Im not certain its harmful.

White light pics attached as well as a video of it reacting to being touched.

Your photos are already good considering the size of the specimen involved, but if you could get some that are a little more clear/focused with the black part and the "nest" both together and separate that might help. I know this might not be possible though.

Beyond that, you mentioned that the specimen is stationary other than retracting and extending, but do the tentacles in the "nest" move at all? In other words, are they stationary, or do they sway in the flow? Do they react separately from the from the black part? Basically, I'm wondering if the black part and the nest are the same specimen, or if they're actually separate specimens (seems like a long shot with 2-3 specimens all having the nest around them, but I figured I’d ask anyway).

I’m all in favor of growing this thing out and seeing what happens with it. Currently I’m leaning toward some kind of tunicate too (there are plenty of black tunicates that look similar enough), but the “nest” really throws me. Beautiful find!

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Yellow circle looks like a BTA of some kind, but unsure of center (red). This is a crazy cross/spiecies lol

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Sorry again just guessing/ throwing ideas out