What in the world is this this?

[Scutterborn]

I found this in the tank this morning and was curious if anyone knew what it might be. I have a good idea of what it might be but thought this may make for and engaging thread.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/01/yda7ydam.jpg


- Ben -

[reefreak]

To me it looks something similar to a basket starfish

[Mike]

Looks like a feather starfish

[Kristy]

Nah, there's too much of it to be a feather star. I could use another pic for proportion / comparison but my vote is that feathery caulerpa.

[Scutterborn]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/01/4ydubuhe.jpg

The only other pic i could get.


-Ben-

[ramsey]

No idea. I thought maybe a starfish too but it does look like there's too much of it. My vote would be some type of worm, similar to a feather duster or tube worm.

[ramsey]

Does it move? Does it retract when you touch it?

[Scutterborn]

It doesn't retract to touch that I could tell. It has, however, moved deeper into the the crevice I created in an effort to get pics.


- Ben -

[Mike]

Still thinking feather star. Any idea where it came from?

[Scutterborn]

Still thinking feather star. Any idea where it came from?

I have no clue. I didn't knowingly add it and haven't added anything big enough to conceal it in quite awhile.


-Ben-

[Kristy]

The second pic is much more telling: +1 to feather star. Was it alive and spreading out? Or is it dead?

[ramsey]

After googling for pictures of the feather star, that's what it looks like to me as well.

[rrasco]

So...if it's a feather star, that's not a 'star fish', is it? I did a little reading and they are part of the Crinoid family while stars are in the Asteroidea family. So, I guess what I am trying to figure out..."what is it?" A sea lily it appears. Does that just make it another invert?

[Scutterborn]

Everywhere I read, it says they are extremely difficult to keep alive. So here's my question. How in the world did I and up with this in my tank and why is it still alive despite a lack of direct feedings?

I just found another yesterday as well.


-Ben-

[ramsey]

Everywhere I read, it says they are extremely difficult to keep alive. So here's my question. How in the world did I and up with this in my tank and why is it still alive despite a lack of direct feedings?

I just found another yesterday as well.


-Ben-

What do you feed your tank with? It certainly is strange that they would just appear like that. If your feeding something with small enough plankton, that might be why they're still alive (and thriving it seems). Very strange though!

[Scutterborn]

Whenever I think about it I feed phytoplankton and zooplankton. That's only about once every week or two. I also drop about a half pinch of reef roids.


-Ben-

[Kristy]

Two of them?!? Crazy!! They tend to unfurl their arms and catch their own food at night after lights' out. Just have to make sure there is some fine particle sized food in your water stream and they will catch their own food. Keep us posted - this is fascinating!

[Kristy]

They are described as expert only because some do better than others at accepting prepared foods (vs live food only).

[Scutterborn]

I've got several "Expert only" critters in my tank and it's only by dumb luck that they are still with me. 😜 I'm no expert.

Does anyone in the area have/had one of these? I'm wondering how it was transferred to my tank. I started with dry rock and have been fairly vigilant about everything I've put into the tank.


-Ben-

[Flyride95]

That looks like a feather star. I actually had one of those but it died. And the same here Ben I have no clue where it came from other then the live rock that I originally put in my aquarium but you put dry so....

[Southern Flame]

Cool critter looks like a feather star

[Flyride95]

Here you go if you want to read up on it. http://tolweb.org/Crinoidea

[rrasco]

And that's why I'm scared to put my hands in my tank. Never know what might be lurking.

[msmith619]

Post it on Reef Central. There is a much bigger pool of members there. I am sure someone will not only ID it but, also give you a link to read about what type of hitchhiker you have there.