feather duster

[zkt]

Bought some rock from Aquatica ( Louisville KY) and noticed there are two baby feather dusters about 3/16 tall on a piece . How fast do they grow ?

[Reefscape]

the small ones dont grow overly fast...their growth rate will vary depending on nutrients available to them....over time, you will be notincing a lot more of them no doubt...

Niko

[Germanman]

migth you have a picture? its always neat to see the freebies people get:)

[zkt]

Good idea http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa221/zkt_photo/P7070066.jpg
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa221/zkt_photo/P7070065.jpg
Seems there are three of them. I think I can see a little arowth over two days. Cool :)
Maybe there are two species here ?

[Catpicklesdog]

In the first picture 2 of them are little feathers but the big one to the right looks a little bit like Aiptasia to me.

[Grins]

I thought the same Cat.

[Tikidude]

it sure looks like the little buggers I have been killing in my tank. The feather dusters are really nice looking though.

Would it be safe to kill the Aiptasia that close to the dusters? I would be afraid of killing them as well since they are so small and fragile.

[Grins]

I'd still risk it Tiki. I found that the little feather dusters come and go anyhow. No assuring that they'll stay around but lots of guaranteeing the aiptasia will.

[Gildurath]

I was blasting my manajo amenones with boiling water, and I have a lot of tiny feather dusters and they all survived just fine. They seemed to be pretty tolerant of the hot water.

[Reefscape]

yes, just get them blasted....the dusters will retract back into their tubes anyway when they feel a water disturbance near them.....

Niko

[zkt]

Whats undesirable about Aiptasia ?

[clown-lover]

If left unchecked they will take over your tank.. I've seen it in Fish Stores that don't take care of their tanks. Its amazing how fast these puppies propagate.

[Grins]

Whats undesirable about Aiptasia ?

They multiple and sting other life forms.

[zkt]

Since its the first one I`ve ever seen and I dont believe in killing things needlessly, I wait and see what happens. looks like anemone but when I touched it witha a probe it went inside it`s tube.

[Germanman]

Since its the first one I`ve ever seen and I dont believe in killing things needlessly, I wait and see what happens. looks like anemone but when I touched it witha a probe it went inside it`s tube. first off thx for the pics!:) some nice little dusters u got there.
i would have to agree with the others that you need to remove that aiptasia right away. they rapidly asexually reproduce and can produce 50+ in one day if conditions are right. they are truly a plague and i have tried to just keep a few but one big one then became 30....and so on. its up to you but for the future health of stationary organisms in your aquarium ull want to rid your tank of the rapidly growing, potent stinging plague before it starts.

[clown-lover]

first off thx for the pics!:) some nice little dusters u got there.
i would have to agree with the others that you need to remove that aiptasia right away. they rapidly asexually reproduce and can produce 50+ in one day if conditions are right. they are truly a plague and i have tried to just keep a few but one big one then became 30....and so on. its up to you but for the future health of stationary organisms in your aquarium ull want to rid your tank of the rapidly growing, potent stinging plague before it starts.

I had found one in my tank and got rid of it with Boiling Hot Water, or so I thought. What I found out is that you have to get rid of everything.. You have to keep hitting it until the last bit of Apastia floats away. This one had a foot into a little hole in my live rock and was able to regenerate within a little over a week.

I found a second one as well and blasted them both.. Next time I think I'll try lemon juice.

[Germanman]

I had found one in my tank and got rid of it with Boiling Hot Water, or so I thought. What I found out is that you have to get rid of everything.. You have to keep hitting it until the last bit of Apastia floats away. This one had a foot into a little hole in my live rock and was able to regenerate within a little over a week.

I found a second one as well and blasted them both.. Next time I think I'll try lemon juice.
i use aiptasia control form Blue Med it works very well only takes one shot, they melt before ur eyes and then get encapsulated to prevent regrowth. its reef/invert safe, doesnt mess with ph or alk and i have used it for a while

[Grins]

Since its the first one I`ve ever seen and I dont believe in killing things needlessly, I wait and see what happens. looks like anemone but when I touched it witha a probe it went inside it`s tube.


Aiptasia retracts, remember that it won't "think" twice about stinging/killing other life forms in your tank. What you do is up to you of course but in your shoes I'd probably remove it from the tank.

[Grins]

i use aiptasia control form Blue Med it works very well only takes one shot, they melt before ur eyes and then get encapsulated to prevent regrowth. its reef/invert safe, doesnt mess with ph or alk and i have used it for a while


I'll have to remember that in case I have to battle them in the furture. Thanks German.

[zkt]

Thanks from here too. Since theyre easily gotten rid of, I`ll definitely leave it and watch what develops.Doesnt seem to bother the crabs or snails. I`ll check with you all befor I add any more life to the tank.
I thought all anemonies could sting and the fish know it and leave them alone. ?

[Grins]

By the way, some good reading for you on aiptasia http://wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/aiptasia/aiptasia.htm

[Germanman]

Thanks from here too. Since theyre easily gotten rid of, I`ll definitely leave it and watch what develops.Doesnt seem to bother the crabs or snails. I`ll check with you all befor I add any more life to the tank.
I thought all anemonies could sting and the fish know it and leave them alone. ?
one anemone is fine and fish can avoid it but when there are dozens the chance of a brush or encounter are increased.

[Tikidude]

I have a tiny one that is on the side of the hermit crabs favorite grazing rock. He walked up to it yesterday and suddenly he backed off. I guess the tiny little sucker gave him a jolt. He stears clear now and the danged hair algae is taking over that part of the rock.

[DannyB]

hi just want to ask i have some of the aiptasia. when you say you blast them with hot water how do u go about it.

[Grins]

Use a syringe. Some use a regular old kitchen turkey baster.

[wferr337]

I also have some feather duster hitch hikers. Will they every develop into full size with their own shell and move around the sand freely. Or will they be rock bound all their lives?

[Grins]

There are different kinds, some stay very small. Not sure which kind you have.