Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: invertebrate with arms protruding from rock

  1. #1
    Curious Reefer
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    San Francisco/Hillsborough
    Posts
    14
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    invertebrate with arms protruding from rock

    I have a few of these critters with black and white alternating striped "arms" that stick out of holes in the rocks. They seem to be increasing and do not move altho the arms remind me of brittle stars. There is one in the center of the pic and one on the upper right. They are about 1/2 inch with multiple arms protruding from the rock Anyone have an idea of what they might be? BTW have been enjoying the podcasts catching up with old ones and appreciate all the great stuff on TR. Thanks. Steve
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
    Grand Master Reefer JustDavidP's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Marlborough, MA - USA
    Posts
    2,387
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    tiny brittle stars.. neat critters
    Last edited by JustDavidP; 04-21-2008 at 12:00 PM.
    ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>
    ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. >((((º>

    "Fins to the left...Fins to the Right, I'm going home to play with my reef tonight..."

    If you're looking for me, and I'm MIA from the board, email me at JustDavidP (at) gmail (dot) com.

    Experience in aquaria, 37 years. Experience in marine, 22+ years. Experience in Reef Keeping, 8 years. Always a newbie!

  3. #3
    Curious Reefer
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    San Francisco/Hillsborough
    Posts
    14
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    they look like stars (at least the arms) but they never move from the same hole in the rock day or night that I can see and the arms wave in the current like they are filter feeders. Wouldn't they move at some point if serpent stars?

  4. #4
    Grand Master Reefer JustDavidP's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Marlborough, MA - USA
    Posts
    2,387
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Not necessarily. Looking at your picture, I'm about 99.9&#37; sure that they are the tiny brittle stars that many of us get as hitch hikers in our system. To be more specific, they are Ophiactis spp.

    They are great scavengers BECAUSE of the fact that they can get into these little holes in the rock and help clean them out of debris. If, in fact, a Ophiactis finds that one nook or cranny is the perfect "real estate", they may not leave at all, or just leave during dark (they are subject to predation) to roam just inches away. They tend to keep their little townhouses within view so they don't get any "squatters" taking it away from them.

    When I say "prime real estate", I mean that the size of the hole, system water flow, YOUR feeding patterns, etc. all come together for them. If it is this good a spot, they may just stick their legs out and "fish" when there is food in the column.

    Dave
    ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>
    ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. >((((º>

    "Fins to the left...Fins to the Right, I'm going home to play with my reef tonight..."

    If you're looking for me, and I'm MIA from the board, email me at JustDavidP (at) gmail (dot) com.

    Experience in aquaria, 37 years. Experience in marine, 22+ years. Experience in Reef Keeping, 8 years. Always a newbie!

  5. #5
    SPS Reefer / TR Admin lReef lKeeper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Louisville, Ky
    Posts
    4,687
    Blog Entries
    6
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts
    i agree with Dave, i believe they are in the micro star genre.
    lReef lKeeper (Bobby) Admin and Reefer

    Water ...
    Custom 4x2x1 60 gallon, 40B sump

    Equipment ...
    6x54w HO T5 fixture, 300+g rated Frankenskimmer, ATO, 3 Media Reactors (1 p04, 1 N03, 1 Carbon)

    www.lmas.org





    Show people you appreciate their advice! Click the star icon under their name to add to their reputation.



  6. #6
    Curious Reefer
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    San Francisco/Hillsborough
    Posts
    14
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    thanks for the info. very helpful

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. JustDavidP's Clam Tank Project
    By JustDavidP in forum Member Tank Projects
    Replies: 106
    Last Post: 10-03-2009, 03:12 AM
  2. Jim's(bubbletip) 156g SPS Dominant Tank
    By bubbletip in forum Member Tank Projects
    Replies: 79
    Last Post: 11-07-2007, 10:06 AM
  3. Marco rock, (re) cycling, and when to put on the lights?
    By irishmarine in forum General Marine Discussions
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 10-12-2007, 10:39 PM
  4. add "old" rock while upgrading tank????
    By chazlightning in forum Podcast Follow-ups
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 03-01-2006, 05:12 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •