First Coral Aiptasia?

[CSteve]

Hello. I setup my first saltwater tank around 3 months ago, and today decided to take the jump and add my first coral. After acclimation, and dipping my zoa I added it to my tank. A few hours later I notice these little stalks peeking out like the one at the bottom. Is this aiptasia?

 

[krissiRLT]

Doesn’t look like aiptasia. Looks like something like a clove polyp or waving hand. Could be some kind of worm I’m not familiar with. But not aiptasia.

 

[CSteve]

Doesn’t look like aiptasia. Looks like something like a clove polyp or waving hand. Could be some kind of worm I’m not familiar with. But not aiptasia.

Do you think it is safe to leave in the tank, or should I attempt to remove?

 

[TardWrangler]

Looks like some sort of polychaete worm/duster. When you touch it do the feathery appendages suck in?

Nothing to worry about

 

[CSteve]

Looks like some sort of polychaete worm/duster. When you touch it do the feathery appendages suck in?

Nothing to worry about

Yep it will peek out of the coral, and if I move anything near it it retracts.

 

[TardWrangler]

Yeah, some sort of tube worm duster. They’re desirables and no issue for you whatsoever

 

[CSteve]

I also noticed these tendrils which in another thread I posted was suggested as aiptasia (same frag).

 

[TardWrangler]

That looks like aiptasia

 

[TokenReefer]

I also noticed these tendrils which in another thread I posted was suggested as aiptasia (same frag).

I agree. Aiptasia (~4)

 

[TardWrangler]

Yeah you got several on that piece

 

[CSteve]

Thank you for all the help! Frag has been removed from tank and currently in a QT tank. Trying to decided if I should toss the frag (was $8) or if I would be able to remove some of the zoas from the plug, and re-adding them directly.

 

[stinkydavis]

From the pics I think is a manjano which is a form of pest similar to aiptasia.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Where did you get the frag?

When you buy frags they should look like these. Pics taken right after acclimation and removing from the bag.

IMH0 If there's anything else on them I would not purchase.

 

[CSteve]

Where did you get the frag?

When you buy frags they should look like these. Pics taken right after acclimation and removing from the bag.

IMH0 If there's anything else on them I would not purchase.

Purchased from a LFS. Lesson learned for next time. Appreciate the tip!

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Purchased from a LFS. Lesson learned for next time. Appreciate the tip!

It's possible it was traded in, or given to them and they wanted it gone. There are plenty of 10-20 dollar coral in the discount section in my local stores. WWC has a discount section now and all of the coral I just posted were 5.00-20.00 from them. And beginner coral .

 

[sfin52]

Hello. I setup my first saltwater tank around 3 months ago, and today decided to take the jump and add my first coral. After acclimation, and dipping my zoa I added it to my tank. A few hours later I notice these little stalks peeking out like the one at the bottom. Is this aiptasia?

Feather duster. Harmless filter feeder

 

[Floyd-]

Agreed. That frag is dirty and loaded with junk. I would have done a coral dip then used an exacto blade and dug out everything but the zoas.

 

[CSteve]

Aiptasia?

 

[tbrown]

Looks like I, yep.