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WTF is in my tank!!!

Brando457

Brando457

I just got home from work while my blue light was on I looked at my tank and I see these like 3 or 4 small, but not very small blue legs coming out of hole that is on the bottom of my LR on the bottom of the tank. I could only get a quick view of it before it went back in the rocks. The legs look kind of like what a spider's would be, but a darkish/almost navy blue. I haven't added anything to my tank besides snails, a red hermit, 2 fish, cleaner shrimp.

What IS THIS THING!
 
D

duijver

Here is a picture of one of the reef spiders I had before I "relocated" it. The body is somewhat translucent from the side, so I guess it could look blue under atinics.

CRW_0559spider-vi.jpg
 
Brando457

Brando457

It kind of looked like that, how am I going to get this POS out of my tank? It is on the very bottom rock on the bottom of teh tank so taking out all the rock is going to be very difficult.

Anyone want to come by and help lol I'll buy them a 6 pack
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Brando457 said:
It kind of looked like that, how am I going to get this POS out of my tank? It is on the very bottom rock on the bottom of teh tank so taking out all the rock is going to be very difficult.

Anyone want to come by and help lol I'll buy them a 6 pack
Click to expand...

My suggestion is do your best to get the rock out and drop it in a bucket of saltwater at an SG of 1.035. Whatever it is, it should come running out of the rock and you won't completely kill the rock this way.

If you need help...let me know.
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Brando457 said:
Steve the only issue with that is I have alot of corals on all my rocks....
Click to expand...

I know how that is LOL!!! I'd try getting a look at it at night. I'd say its nocturnal...make sure all the lights are off...including lights in the room. Then if you can get some red plastic, use it on a flashlight about 1-2 hours after all the lights are out and see if you can see it.

Plus, like I said before...put a nice piece of meatty food in there and see if that gets him to come out.
 
D

Dave

Is it possible this is just a mini brittle star?  I have had navy blue looking legs sticking out of my rock that were just brittle hitchhikers.
 
Brando457

Brando457

only saw it's legs for a few seconds so spearing is going to be kind of difficult. I'm thinking of draining some water and putting the rocks with coral in a bucket then emptying the tank til I find it and make hiker soup
 
Brando457

Brando457

Nickjr000 said:
Try lookin after lights out with a light, it prob nocturnal. PITA either way
Click to expand...

I just came home and the lights were off for 2 hours, could not see the damn thing at all.

I've had my tank running 4 months, never saw it til today then it had to poke a leg out POS.

Steve I think I might need you to come by and help me. I'm going to buy a fish trap tmrw and see if I can bait it in at night, but we'll see.
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Brando457 said:
Nickjr000 said:
Try lookin after lights out with a light, it prob nocturnal. PITA either way
Click to expand...

I just came home and the lights were off for 2 hours, could not see the **** thing at all.

I've had my tank running 4 months, never saw it til today then it had to poke a leg out POS.

Steve I think I might need you to come by and help me. I'm going to buy a fish trap tmrw and see if I can bait it in at night, but we'll see.
Click to expand...

Let me know!! Good luck with the trap....from what I hear they don't work very well LOL.

Still the best way would probably be to take out the rock it is in...I know it's a PITA, I've been there and put it in a bucket of high SG water...It should come running out.
 
Brando457

Brando457

Let me know when you are free Steve I think I'm going to end up having to do that.

I'm off all day tomorrow except 3:30 - 5:30 going to go get my skimmer.

Might need you to bring some RO, but I'll compensate you for that.

Sooner is better than later:).
 
Baxreefs

Baxreefs

What is the size of that thing? Is that a super macro shot or is it as big as it looks?

If it is very small, search sea spiders for a recommended treatment if it on the larger side it may be a young crab of some sort and should probabaly still come out. If it's a crustacean, Interceptor will probably do the trick without pulling the whole tank apart.

Good luck with it!
 
dnov99

dnov99

FRAG SWAP VENDOR
I would really encourage you to be patient and wait before you go tearing your tank apart or making a spear or trap, etc. It could be nothing more than a harmless brittle star, like somebody else said, that would be my first guess.

Wait and try to get a better look at it so you can get a definite ID on it, before you freak out and wreck your tank over a harmless hitchhiker. ;)
 
mikem

mikem

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Heres a pic of a mini brittle star. Did the legs look anything like this?

MiniSerpentStars.jpg
 
jimroth

jimroth

That's definitely a sea spider (pycnogonid). There are a lot of different ones, people's experiences have been different. Some eat things you don't care about. I know of at least one infestation of sps-eating sea spiders that required a tank teardown. Another guy had sea spiders that ate zoos. You might wait until you see a second, he might be a "loner."
I agree that interceptor might be a good way to go if it becomes a problem..
 
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