View Full Version : hitch-hiker, please help identify!
This one appeared about a day after I introduced a new live rock. Can anyone offer any information? (Check the links)....
I noticed there is another hitch-hiker in the same rock. At first glance I thought it was the starfish in question. It was white/light grey in color, so I tohught maybe teh starfish had gotten itseld stuck in the rock....
Of course, it turns out to be something else... It has never come all the way out of the rock, it stretches it's arm out about 2.5 inches when the lights are out, but that's about it... The arm looks identical to the starfish, with the exception of the color...... Could it be another starfish? Maybe some sort of worm??
http://decz_k.tripod.com/101_0402.JPG
http://decz_k.tripod.com/101_0405.JPG
http://decz_k.tripod.com/101_0406.JPG
http://decz_k.tripod.com/101_0416.JPG
Thanks!
Decz :)
Oakley
02-05-2004, 3:44 AM
im just getting image hosted by tripod, no picture :(
mogurnda
02-05-2004, 7:54 AM
Try posting on Aquatic Photos (http://www.aquaticphotos.com/index.php).
From your description, it could be a starfish. I have legs that appear from crannies and under rocks.
Try this link to view the starfish that I can't name...
http://nemiero.mypicgallery.com/
petcrazy213
02-05-2004, 12:52 PM
That looks like a brittle star. Very cool and a good member of the cleaning crew. I use to have one and LOVED it but for some reason it got attacked and dismembered terribly by one or more of my fish. It was fine one night and in the morning when I got up and turned on the light it looked like the start had EXPLODED all over the tank. There were arms and pieces everywhere, I was so sad. I'd like to get another one. I think I figured out who the culprit was (got 4 peppermint shrimp before I figured it out) and have since gotten rid of that fish. (I think it was my wrasse)
It's neat that you got it as a hitch-hiker as I have to pay $15-$17 for one here. I actually got the one I had for $7 because the lady who sold it isn't into the SW stuff and she gave it to me for the mismarked price.
I'd like to see the pictures of the hiding hitch-hiker. Is that possible?
Rucca,
I will try to get a picture of the hidden hitch-hiker -- well, at least a picture of PART of the hidden hitch-hiker...... :)
Thank you.
You are one of the many fine male specimen on this forum, brandishing proud & mature awareness. Let that always keep you safe.
I suggest tying a shrimp and hanging it from the top of your aquarium just out of reach from the hitchhikers cavern.
if you have other fish that will nibble at it, protect it in wire mesh, simply so the smell will attract an arm or more.
Your marine expert in training,
Rucca
Rucca,
I wonder if this hidden creature has already died in that rock. I had a shrimp danngling for a few hours (until the brittle star devoured it), then I put a piece of squid in and I didn't see it comes out once. Normally it would have reached out within minutes of the food being there.
If I see him again, I'll do what I can do get a picture and track you down!
Thanks for your help!
_Decz
Decz, I've noticed with my brittle stars that if they get a good feed it might take them a few days to respond to a feeding. They'll just kind of wave their arms around half heartedly if they aren't really hungry. I target feed mine about once every three days and they seem to be fine. BTW he looks like an ornate brittle star to me. does he have little nobs hat stick up all over his arms? If so that's prbly what he is or what they are advertised as around here anyway. Sorry don't know the Latin name.
Warm Regards
Chris
:)
Makaiveli
02-07-2004, 6:28 PM
I will come up with what I come up with!
I am very curious. How long is the arm?
room temperature with one ice cube regards,
Makaiveli the great
Makaiveli,
The arm stretched out to about 2 inches. At one point i saw two arms sticking out of the rock.
Like I said before, because oif what it looked like, my first reaction was "oh s***, my brittle star is stuck in the rock and possibly dying (because it was white/greyish)....."
Hope this helps... would be cool if it's another star.. but i'm worried it's long gone.....
Makaiveli
02-08-2004, 10:29 PM
http://www.rshimek.com/odd_critters.htm#Regular%20Hydroid%20Jellyfish
like one of the lower-page pictured worms.
I didn't look like anything on that web page. I did some surfing on my own, and it slightly resembled a bristleworm. Only the end was more pointy and it was the color white/greyish.
Does that help suggest anything?
mogurnda
02-09-2004, 9:12 AM
Really sounds like a brittle star to me. As I mentioned above, I have stars, some quite large, from which I have only seen the legs. Long, tapered, bristly, sounds like star legs to me. Brittle stars naturally live under stuff, so yours is/are probably quite happy.
I shot some photos at one point, and will have to post them.