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08-16-2003, 10:46 PM
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#1
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 187
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The creature within (my euphillia)
Tonight I noticed something living inside my hammer coral.
As a piece of plankton from feeding landed on the polyps, I saw a feathery appendage emerge from the tissue and looked to be grasping for the plankton!
The feathery appendage looked much like the filter-feeding behavior of a porcelain crab - but trust me... I haven't purchased a crab, and if one is in there, its living inside of my coral.
It appeared to be retracting into a tube, which makes me think its a worm of some sort.
Is this thing harmful to the coral that it is living in? Any cause for alarm?
I captured a video, but unfortunately it ended up being 4.1MB, so I can't post it. If you are interested (and have a fast connection), I can email it to you.
thanks!
JJ
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08-17-2003, 08:00 AM
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#2
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Good boy
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Marietta, GA, USA
Posts: 7,889
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^^
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08-17-2003, 09:22 AM
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#3
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831mark
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 206
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I'd like to see the video. I probably couldn't answer your question, but I like to see pics and videos. LOL
__________________
Mark
80gal hex (soon) (getting closer)
20gal hex currently
2x barnacle blennies, 1x ocellaris clown, LTA, cleaner shrimp, misc hermits and snails, 2x cowries, 2x branching hammer, purple frogspawn, green frogspawn, 1 large and 1 small umbrella leather, small metallic green star polyps, yellow polyps, countless mushrooms and zoes, 2x hydnophora frags 3" each, red fromia star
2 - 36watt PC 50/50
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08-17-2003, 10:58 AM
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#4
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senior member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Walnut Grove, SC, USA
Posts: 15,183
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There are species of crabs/shrimp that live in tubes (sorry, I don't remember a name this morning) within several species of corals, although I am not faminliar with this particular one in Euphyliids. Some are parasitic, some are not, but the behavior yours demonstrates sounds like it should not be a problem.
Congratulate yourself for having commensural biodiversity!
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Tom <"))))>(
(TDWyatt)
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -Plato
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08-17-2003, 11:06 AM
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#5
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 187
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WHOOOO-HOOOOO FOR ME! I have "commensural Biodiversity"!!!
Whatever that is... hehehe 
Thanks for your help Tom.
I've only had this coral for a few months, but so far it hasn't shown any signs of decay. I'll definately keep an eye on it.
JJ |
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08-17-2003, 02:53 PM
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#6
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Banggai Mommy
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 2,342
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I had a hammer for a long time with a similar critter. This was a hand-like extention that grasped the water column. We tried to ID it, but it never caused any problems for the hammer, so we didn't worry too much.
Danielle
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BRW and Proud of it!
 230g Softie Reef with 3 x 250W MH + actinics
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08-17-2003, 06:17 PM
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#7
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senior member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Walnut Grove, SC, USA
Posts: 15,183
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and it could be a barnacle of some sort... Although I am not familiar with one that lives like this. guess I need to research it a bit...
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Tom <"))))>(
(TDWyatt)
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -Plato
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08-17-2003, 07:43 PM
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#8
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 187
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Tom,
now that you mention it, the "feathers" do look like those on a barnacle. I may have to spend some time trying to get a clear pic.
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08-18-2003, 01:02 AM
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#9
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Reefless Reefer
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 20,559
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i've got some kind of barnacle type critter in a couple of my acro's. i can see how these work, but i never would have thought of some inside a hammer.
G~
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Think Tanker
Friends Don't Let Friends Use Refugiums!
Reef Knowledge Impaired
"J" crowd member.
My Build Thread
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08-18-2003, 06:56 AM
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#10
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 187
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I was watching again last night, and noticed something new.
With Tom's suggestion of a tube-dwelling crab/shrimp in mind, I noticed the feathers seemed to be pulling whatever they could out of the water into the mouth of the tube where shorter "arms" would reach and then retract into the tube. The whole thing is a milky-translucent color, and not very big, so I could be way off with calling those arms.
Anyway, I watched it till I went crosseyed... those bowfront tanks can really twist your brain if you stare for too long!
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