Hitchhiker Project

[NaH2O]

Hey everyone!

I am starting a hitchhiker project for the board. We have such a great ID Gallery, that I thought adding on a specific section for common hitchhikers would be a nice supplement. I do need your help to complete this task. If you have a good quality photo of a hitchhiker (in focus, clear, and obvious) I would love to use it. I will do a little research and add information to the photo, as well. You can send the photos [email protected]. I think this will be another great resource for us. By compiling photos from many reefers I think we will get a nice hitchhiker gallery going.

Thanks!

 

[Macbeth417]

Fantastic idea Nikki. I will see if I can't snap a picture or two when I get home.

-Erik

 

[MtnDewMan]

I took this one and it is currently on the reefs.org Hitchhiker faq ... Anemonia Majano

http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/picture_pages/faq_anemonia.html

 

[Curtswearing]

I'm gonna snap a few....hopefully I can get some good ones.

 

[MzWeazelle]

Can you copy from a member photo gallery? If so, I have a picture in mine titled "Unknown Hitchhiker" that might be a candidate for your new project.

 

[mojoreef]

Great Idea Nikki this one should be another great add to the content of the site.


Mike

 

[NaH2O]

MzWeazelle - I'll take a look. I should be able to download it and transfer it over.

I appreciate the help everyone. Chuck - I had no idea that picture was yours. Most certainly will be an awesome addition.

 

[NaH2O]

MzWeazelle - good picture. I would like you to take a look at this link and see if these look familiar. I have a similar hitchhiker on my live rock.

Paracyathus stearnsi - I believe these are only in California region, so probably not yours, unless your rock is from there?

More likely it would be a Balanophyllia sp..

Here are the photos I was presented for my hitchhiker:

Let me know what you think and I can include it in the gallery.

 

[MzWeazelle]

Nikki -

Definately on the right track, but not quite. I did find a good match once, but now I can't remember where! (arghhhhh)

I'm sure it must be from the group you've identified, but all the pictures I found under those names have some sort of color (I swear, mine has no color at all, other than the fact that the tentacles have those lacy white spots.) And as it has grown it has much longer tentacles than any in the pictures, too.

It came in on a rock from Florida, I believe.

I'll keep looking and see if I can find that site again.

 

[NaH2O]

Alright everyone - I made a pseudo list of things I'd like to add to the Hitchhiker gallery. If you could take a good picture of some of these things - it would be a help. I'm not going to list them all out, but I'll give you a few ideas as a spark: Aiptasia, spaghettti worms, heliacus snail, vermatid snails, tunicates, nudibranchs, limpet, chiton, hitchhiking feather dusters, hydroids, etc.

I currently have a picture of flatworms I'm working on getting up, a coral with red bugs, and a couple of people have let me know some hitchhikers they are getting photos of.

Even if you don't know what your hitchhiker is, that's ok....I'll try to get it identified and post it.

 

[TDEVIL]

Nikki, i dont have time right now to send any to you or take new pics (tanks not doing good right now), sorry, but if you want to use some of mine from RS, you are more than welcome, if they are worthy

Jay

 

[NaH2O]

Jay - thanks! I'll go and raid your gallery

Sorry to hear your tank is not doing so well right now.

 

[kylem]

Hey I found a picture of the flatworm I found in my tank...couldn't get a pic of it..lost track of it. The book said they are very hard to photograph. It blends right in with the enviroment. The only reason I saw it was because it was moving. If I find it again I will try and die it a little so it wont be so transparent.

 

[wrightme43]

Nikki I dont know if this qualifies, I bought a used set up didn't know it was attached to live rock and here it is. Was hiding with a chunk of cabbage leather rock I guess. Its got zoos attached and it picks the nori and attaches it as well. I think I will trade it to LFS, for something. I don't like the idea of it picking zoos. God only knows what else it will decide to pluck off.

 

[wrightme43]

its perched top center on branch rock sticking straight up. I have full size image if you want it. Steve

 

[wrightme43]

I will try to get a pic of my scotus that came with my old figi rock. I gave one away and still have the smaller one. Beautiful critter. Of course that thing in the photo is a decorator crab.

 

[wrightme43]

Hey Nikki heres that scotus, it came free with my first figi rock, I had two but gave one away. Its dead center black with the cream split up its back. It eats algae, any algae, even coraline I think, but I don't care cause its so cool. Sprungs book says they are easy to breed, but I never see them for sale, I think I may put mine in with the one I gave to Mitch, and see what happens. Steve

 

[NaH2O]

Thanks for the pics everyone! I was able to get a picture of flatworms at the Children's Museum here in town, so put those up. Steve - thanks for the pics. When my eyes wake up I will give them a look, I can't see anything right now. What I do after I get the pictures is check out the information I know on them, and write a description to go along with the photo. I really hope the gallery will be a useful tool in helping people decide what that "thing" is in their tank, whether it is good or bad, and what to do about it.

Keep sending the pics. I have quite a long list of critters I'm looking for. Anyone have good Red Foraminiferans specimen they could send me? I have a really good pic of white ones and would like to post the red ones at the same time.

 

[NaH2O]

Steve, any chance of putting your Scutus in a container for a better pic of the whole thing? That is really cool!

 

[wrightme43]

Sure Nikki, if I can catch him on the glass. He/She is very hard to find and I rarely see it. Just give me some time and I will be glad to. It just will not come off or a rock, those little buggers are strong. Steve