Digitate Hydroids

[rharlow]

Anyone know a good way to get rid of digitate hydroids? I seem to have a nice population going, and from my research, it seems they have the potential to do some damage. Since I can only see them at night, very thin stranded, and they're extremely sensative and tend to retract, I would think it hard to zap them with kalk paste. Has anyone had experience with these guys and success in removing them? Thanks

Chip

 

[Mrs Fish]

Are they those things that look like flowers with a pink centre, clear straight tentacles and a feint white dot on the end? Reminds me of those fiber optic flower things that were popular when lava lamps first came out? I saw this in my tank last night, generally in holes in the rock, measuring about 1/2 - 3/4 inch across - quite beautiful, really. Wondering from your post is these are Hydroids?

 

[rharlow]

Possibly a type of hydroid, but the digitate hydroids I have a a single strand, very thin, with "hairs along it's legnth, whitish in color, with a very small whitish "head" at the end. Normally attached to rocks and corals, and will wave around in current, and also as it searches around. I have one in my tank that extend upwards up 6 inches, but when it retracts, it's almost invisible. That's the best description I can give. Melevs site has a picture and brief description as well.

Chip

 

[Greg Hiller]

FWIW, the one tank where I have seen these never seemed to have much problem with them. I have very limited experience with them though.

 

[maurod]

Melev states they dont bother much. I have had them and do not believe they bother fish/corals significantly.

M.