Basket star?

BubblesandSqueak

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
May 8, 2023
Messages
1,346
Reaction score
2,095
Location
Maine
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
On my TBS rock this morning I noticed some weird looking tentacles sticking out. Thought it was just plant life/algae but they retracted as it caught stuff going by. They are white and not uniform. Think this is a basket star? Or possibly cucumber? I don’t have a YouTube but posted a couple videos as well as pics. Doesn’t look like feather dusters.

IMG_1353.jpeg IMG_1349.jpeg IMG_1352.jpeg IMG_1355.jpeg IMG_1356.jpeg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1357.mov
    15.1 MB
  • IMG_1350.mov
    23.7 MB
OP
OP
BubblesandSqueak

BubblesandSqueak

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
May 8, 2023
Messages
1,346
Reaction score
2,095
Location
Maine
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The coloration would be very unique for a basket, so I'm thinking those are sea cucumber oral tentacles.
The hole is slightly smaller than 1/4”. Probably 1/2” diameter tentacles and 3/4” long. So if it’s a cucumber, that would probably be 2-3” inside of there? Originally I thought plant life until it retracted that way. I’ll try to get better pictures. Think that would be safe in there for the octopus?
 

ISpeakForTheSeas

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 22, 2021
Messages
6,599
Reaction score
7,938
Location
United States
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Think that would be safe in there for the octopus?
Possibly, though it really depends on the octopus. If the octopus leaves it alone, then I'd say yes, otherwise, I'd pull it.

For a discussion on octo tankmates:
 

LiverockRocks

Gulf of Mexico Living Rock Farmers
View Badges
Joined
Apr 6, 2021
Messages
713
Reaction score
1,473
Location
Tampa
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
The coloration would be very unique for a basket, so I'm thinking those are sea cucumber oral tentacles.
Agree, probably a cucumber.
Never had a basket hitchhiker, J specifically leaves those rocks in the sea. (They tend to be yellows, orange or black.)
 
OP
OP
BubblesandSqueak

BubblesandSqueak

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
May 8, 2023
Messages
1,346
Reaction score
2,095
Location
Maine
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Possibly, though it really depends on the octopus. If the octopus leaves it alone, then I'd say yes, otherwise, I'd pull it.

For a discussion on octo tankmates:
So I actually have several of those. Not so sure it’s a cucumber. Then as I was looking in there, I saw this guy “finally” which I believe is a mantis shrimp. It’s under blue lights but in the blink of an eye it just disappeared! Hope you can view the video as to how fast it disappears at the end.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1385.png
    IMG_1385.png
    666.4 KB · Views: 19
  • IMG_1384.mov
    40.1 MB

Set it and forget it: Do you change your aquascape as your corals grow?

  • I regularly change something in my aquascape.

    Votes: 14 9.5%
  • I occasionally change something in my aquascape.

    Votes: 42 28.4%
  • I rarely change something in my aquascape.

    Votes: 70 47.3%
  • I never change something in my aquascape.

    Votes: 19 12.8%
  • Other.

    Votes: 3 2.0%
Back
Top