What on earth is this free swimming creature?!

TravelinGal

Turbo Snail
M.A.S.C Club Member
#1
Saw this dot floating around in my tank and then realized it was moving on its own - not just something caught in a current.

Video shot with iPhone with creature in a "pee cup"

(here's hoping the video attaches right! LOL)

[video=facebook;10204370786178325]https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10204370786178325&l=110967793038017899 0[/video]
 

halmus

Registered Users
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ex-officio
#4
That's pretty cool. I've been around the hobby for a while and haven't personally seen this before. Or maybe I have, but not as a juvenile?

Almost looks like a jelly? But that just sounds ridiculous.
 

TravelinGal

Turbo Snail
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#6
Munch;320346 said:
Become a member and you can edit :)
Saturday, Munch, Saturday! (meeting #2!)


This thing actually moves itself around though - very active pulsating motion. Don't jellies just float in the current?

If it is jelly related, should I remove it? (sting risk to others in tank?)
 

halmus

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#8
My personal philosophy: when in doubt, isolate it. But I would hang on to it if possible. It might be some cute cuddly thing.

Hopefully someone more knowledgable than me can give some insight.
 

Jeremiah

Tang
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#10
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchodds.html


JELLYFISH - and their Schyphostome reproductive
polyps which will bud off small jellyfish. The polyps are reported to able to
inflict a very nasty sting with their nematocysts, so be careful in handling
them. They are also extremely difficult to eradicate. Most hobbyist confuse the
structures for hydroids when in fact there are numerous species of jellyfish
which reproduce in this anchored polyp form.

Jellyfish reproduction shown in the below series of six
photos, which results in a free swimming
Cassiopeia andromeda





 

zombie

Dolphin
M.A.S.C Club Member
#11
That would definately be jellyfish. I had some appear in my tank once. Their numbers got real big for a week or so and then they just kinda died off on their own. I couldn't find any possible way to get rid of them when I had them, but read that our tanks dont have the type of food sources needed to sustain them long term. Siphon out any you see, and they should just go away.
 

halmus

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#12
What on earth is this free swimming creature?!

Huh. Never heard of these making it into a tank before on purpose. I always thought they were too fragile.

(Edit: making it into a tank when NOT on purpose)
 
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zombie

Dolphin
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#13
halmus;320355 said:
Huh. Never heard of these making it into a tank before on purpose. I always thought they were too fragile.

(Edit: making it into a tank when NOT on purpose)
I noticed them in mine shortly after buying a maricultured acropora. Must have been resistant to a 10 min dip.
 

TravelinGal

Turbo Snail
M.A.S.C Club Member
#14
Thanks everyone. I guess it certainly is a jellyfish. Cassiopea andromea - aka upside down jellyfish.

I put it in my QT to see what happens. (most likely it will get sucked into the filter but maybe it will grow...)
 

Miah2bzy

Nurse Shark
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#17
I think I hear the start of another tank build...'hangin w the jellies!'
 

SynDen

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#18
Ya looks like a jelly. Very kewl, haven't seen that hitchhiker before. I would certainly keep it isolated but might be really kewl to see it grow
 

scchase

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#20
Most likely a hydroid many species alternate life stags between the attached version you have seen on rocks and a free floating jellyfish stage.
 
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