[bugaboo]

First off does anyone know a good website to go to identify things? I have had my rock for about 3 weeks now 70 lbs in 50 gal tank. It is very interesting to see what comes out at night. First off I have some small flea looking creatures running around I thought it could be some kind of shrimp but LFS told me they were probably anthropods. Second I have a good bit of worms running around some I think are bristle worms pinkish in color look like centipedes. Also I have these white tentacles sticking out from rock look like thread but retract in rock if anything gets close, and also a purple spiny worm that looks like a catipilar. Finally I have something that looks like a feather duster but its tentacles are thicker with some small green bands could this be an anenome if so how do I tell. Sorry for being so lengthy I would take pictures but most of these items are very small and doesn't come out well the others hide alot. Am I in trouble or what?

[ncdiablo]

The one with green bands is more than likely an anenome pest. I think I have one or two very very small ones just like you. Mine tend to be very light sensitive when lights come on they retract and wait for night which is something I haven't read about aptasia. Hoping these two don't grow to be aptasia but probably still will be a pest.

The worms that stick things out like string are probably spaghetti worms which are nice to have and beneficial.

The bristleworms are tough to identify. Pink ones can be fireworms which can be good and bad. If it has bristles on it's head then it is a coral eating fireworm.

The purple one I would love to see a pic of.

The flea like things are definately pods and are good to have.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

The shrimp looking things are pods of different sorts,they are good,fish food.Bristle worms are good (debateable)The thread things are spagetti worms and good,detritus eaters.That feather duster might be aptasia (glass anemone)these are bad,bad,bad.i am not positive so keep a close eye on them and do not attempt to remove them from the tank by grabbing them with anything.They will break into many parts and each part becomes a new anemone.when they get bigger get a pic for positive id.

[bugaboo]

thanks for your help I think the purple guy is a cucumber went online and saw some that kind of looked like what I have a spiny little catipilar. Although I did not see any purple colored ones. The redish pink worms have a lighter color at the tip and the entire body has little legs but I don't see any bristle type structure to just its head. i haven't looked up fireworms but if that is what I have how do I get rid of them?