My Salty Obsession

SNAILS

Pyramid Snail

If you see little white snails on your Turbo Snail, Astraea, or Clam, you may have these parasites. They suck the blood from their host until they die! If you have them, pick them off their hosts until you can't see them anymore. They can be pretty difficult to get rid of but "I believe in you!"

Sundial Snail

Ah, look at that pretty shell! Does that shell have a door flap thing? This is a good sign that this is a Sundial Snail. Although this guy may look pretty he is bad news. They will eat Zoanthids. Remove these guys! 

Columbellid Snails

Great algae eaters, hardy and breed quickly. Good to have as any part of a cleanup crew.

Peppermint Snails

Smooth looking and to the touch these little guys eat off other dead snails. Not "live ones" dead ones. So don't be alarmed if you see one eating away at another snail,. its one that has perished.

Cerith Snail

These snails are also great algae-eating scavengers. Don’t be alarmed if you see them burring themselves in the sand!

Nerite Snail

These little guys are just that, small! They don’t grow big in size and they do their job. They also tolerate warmer conditions in reef tanks.

Conch

These guys are also reef safe. Some choose detritus and others prefer film algae.  This particular Conch is a Queen Conch, they get very large in size and I would not recommend them for smaller tanks.

Stomatella Snail

This is another common hitchhiker that can reproduce often in captivity. They have also been known to eat film algae.

Chiton

If you find one of these guys scooting along then Congratulations. They are great workers and they too eat film algae.

Vermetid Snail 

These guys encrust a tight little coil on substrate. They have a feather looking strand that comes out for a bite on detritus.

WORMS

Spirorbid Worms

These guys live in calcareous shells and filter feed. If you see small white spiral things with tiny little feather looking things sticking out it is indeed a Spirobid Worm. It’s amazing how many different things you can find on those rocks when you get to looking real close.

Bristle worms

These scavengers pick up leftover food and stir up those sand beds. They resemble a centipede.

Peanut Worms

These guys like to come out at night. They are long, stripped guys that will retract quickly when spooked.

Feather Dusters

This is another common thing you'll find as a hitchhiker. They live in tube looking structures and use there "feathers" to catch particles in the water. They are beneficial filter feeders.  They too come in different colors and when you spoke them they will retract right back into their tubes.

ANEMONES

Majano Anemones

These Anemones reproduce quickly and are not good for reef tanks. They will sting anything that comes in contact with it. Most reefers choose to eradicate them.

Aiptasia Anemone

These guys also reproduce quickly and are not good for reef tanks. They too will sting all surrounding life. They are also common hitchhikers!

STAR FISH

SPS- Eating Starfish 

Mini Brittle Starfish

If fed these little guys will reproduce. They normally don't come out from their hiding places but from time to time you may see an arm here or there waving about in the water.  They stay very small and make great scavengers.

URCHINS

Black Longspine Urchin (Use Caution)

This scary looking guy feeds mostly on Algae, including Calcerous coralline Algae. These Urchins can also cause damage to SPS Corals by not distinguishing them from Coralline Algae.

Rock Boring Urchin

This Urchin feeds mostly on Coralline Algae but has been known to eat other types of algae as well.

OTHER SPECIES

Amphipods

Did you happen to see little "bugs" on your Live Rock? These itty bitty guys are normally pretty common to hitch a ride on your Live Rock. They are beneficial scavengers. They come out most often when the lights are turned off!

Copepods

Ah, one of the first things I noticed right away from my Live Rock. Without knowing too much about these guys I thought to myself, "white ants?" "What are they, why are they all over my glass?" These guys are indeed good. They are very common hitchhikers. They are great supplemental fish food.

Aeolid Nudibranchs

There are a lot of Aeolid's but the most common is the Aeolid Nudibranches. Ugly right? It is said that if you do not get rid of these guys they will they will get rid of your Zoanthids. Don't want to lose your Zoanthids? Then try to get rid of these pesky little buggers!

If you see something in your aquarium that resembles a feather duster but not really then it’s probably a Colonial Hydroid. They come in different colors like brown, pink and white. If you see these guys you may want to remove them. They can harm your Coral with their fierce sting.

Zoanthids

Lucky enough to have this guy sneak up on your Live Rock? If so congratulations. The rest of us have to buy these expensive Corals. Most Zoanthids come in brown but every once and awhile some colorful ones will sneak their way into Live Rock. So keep your eyes open.

Button Polyps

Another common hitchhiker, this coral normally comes in brown and green but do come in many other colors as well. A pretty cool addition to your tank.

Sponges 

Sponges come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, soft and squishy these guys are cool to have.  Although few aquarists have success with these animals.

Barnacles

Little raised holes on your rock with feathers quickly going in and out? Well then it might be a Barnacle. They are shrimp like creatures that live in those holes!

Mysid Shrimp 

Mysids are small shrimps and common. They hold great purpose for more food in your aquariums.

Tunicates

Tunicates are another filter-feeding hitchhiker. They come in all different types of colors, shapes and sizes.