Aiptasia?

[AABatteries]

I've had this hitchhiker in my tank for 5 days now. It looks like an aptasia, but has yet to reproduce. And it has moved. Just want to confirm my suspicion before I go out and buy anything to combat it.

Here's ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.]) a few pics of it, not that great though. No clue what the white thing is in the last pic, or how it got there, probably just an error when the pic was taken.

[cocoa_pleco]

too blury to see anything but if its moved its not aiptasia

[AABatteries]

Unless rock can move on there own, its not aiptasia, which is a good thing. Any coral that resembles aiptasia? Also, sorry about the horrible pics, I CANNOT take good pics.

[cocoa_pleco]

some brown polyps with long "arms" can resemble aiptasia

[AABatteries]

I was thinking some kind of polyp, but polyps usually don't have "stems", if I'm correct.

EDIT: Just looked did some research. Sorta looks like a brown start polyp.

[cocoa_pleco]

polyps will get "arms" if they are kept in lower light

[AABatteries]

Okay, that makes total sense. Since I only have .75wpg. I won't be getting a new light till June though. Guess I'll just a have to see what happens.

[kaybee]

I think it is aiptasia. Try to disturb it. If it completely retracts out of sight then it is aiptasia (or some other sort of nuisance anemone). If it just closes up, then it may be something else, but not a zoathus/palythoa type of 'polyp'. If it isn't sprouting out of encrusting purple matting then it isn't a star polyp.

Aiptasia are indeed mobile, they can move faster than xenia (i.e. can 'crawl' faster than an inch a week). One of their reproductive methods is that when they move they leave a trail of cellular remnants behind (which eventually develop into new aiptasia).

Recommedation: get rid of it. Seems to be localized on a small piece of rubble (easy to get rid of the aiptasia, just drop that rubble in a glass of fresh water and keep in there for 2 or 3 days, then return).

[osomxl]

in order to better determine what you have, we need better pics.

If your camera has different scene settings, then change the setting to close up.

stand back a few feet, 1-2 feet and gradually get closer while pressing the shutter button half ways down.

Normally the camera will show you a target box letting you know where the focal point of the lens is at.

Keep getting closer and only slightly pressing the button until you have found the best distance from the object that is the clearest.

HTH -Eric

[travie]

I would lean towards it being Aiptasia. It is very possible it is reproducing, and you haven't notice it yet. The smaller they are, the more they tend to blend into the LR.

[labnjab]

I agree, looks like an Aiptasia to me, its your first, but it won't be your last, lol

[AABatteries]

Whenever I moved the rock it almost fully retracted. I guess I'll have to give a freshwater dip. Although, that will kill any bacteria I had on the rock, correct?

[labnjab]

Whenever I moved the rock it almost fully retracted. I guess I'll have to give a freshwater dip. Although, that will kill any bacteria I had on the rock, correct?

It will, but if the rock is small it won't really have an affect on your filtration and wouldn't take long to be full of bacteria again

[AABatteries]

Okay. I'll put it in the water soon.