Here are just some of the strange things one might find showing up all the sudden in a saltwater aquarium.
- Algae
- Arthropodas - Crustaceans
- Cnidarians - Anthozoans - Hexacorallians
- Cnidarians - Anthozoans - Octocorallians
- Cnidarians - Hydrozoans
- Bryozoans (or Ectoprocta)
- Chordata - Urocordata (or Tunicata)
- Echinoderms
- Marine Worms
- Molluscs - Bivalves
- Molluscs - Gastropods
- Porifera
- All Types - Micro, Macro, and Coraline
- Copepods
& Amphipods, Barnacles, Crabs, Hermit Crabs & Shrimps,
including the unwanted Mantis
Shrimp; Stomatopod species.
- The Order
Actiniaria
in this taxonomy line contains Suborders and Families of Sea Anemones,
which includes the unwanted Aiptasia
species. The Subclass Hexacorallia also contains Tube Anemones
(Order Ceriantharia), Stony Corals (Order Scleractinia),
Zoanthids (Order Zoanthinaria), and even Black and Wire Corals (Order
Antipatharia)
which are rarely found in saltwater aquariums.
- The Subclass Octocorallia taxonomy line contains Soft Corals & Gorgonians.
- The Class Hydrozoa contains Hydroids. The typical Hydroid is a polyp colony on a flexible featherlike or fernlike skeleton consisting of a main stem and numerous side branches.
- Tiny colonial animals. Some species
look like algae, while others resemble small branching or encrusting corals.
- Tunicates
& Sea Squirts
- Flat (Platyhelminthes), Ribbon
(Nemertina), Acorn (Hemichordata - Enteropneusta) and many other types of worms, including the unwanted Annelida - Polycheata -
Bristle
& Fire (Amphinomidae), but desired Feather Duster (Sabellidae) and Christmas Tree (Serpulidae) species.
- Clams, Mussels, Oysters & Scallops
- Snails,
Sea Slugs/Hares & Nudibranches
- Sponges
Not having purposely put some of these things in your aquarium, the first question you ask yourself when you see something new is, "What the heck is that?", and the second, "Is it safe for my aquarium?" You won't know the answers to these questions until you have properly identified whatever it is, and this is most times easier said than done.
