What is this?

**Scout** · 08-07-2011, 07:17 PM

Hey, I bought this rock two months ago. This hitchhiker started out real small like could not see it small and is now three quarters of an inch wide. Can anyone tell me what this little hitchhiker is? Also is it good, bad, or just ho hum. The colors arent great but its interesting how fast it has grown. I would think mushroom but with the fringe I don't think so. But I am new to reefing so could be wrong.

what - What is this?

Any thoughts?

**dlhirst** · 08-07-2011, 07:26 PM

Looks like an aiptasia anemone to me. Tentacles are kinda short, but maybe he is not in the current?
One shouldn't be a big deal, but they can spread to be a problem. There are a number of solutions to an aiptasia assault. Search the forum postings, you'll find plenty.

**bigbill** · 08-07-2011, 07:30 PM

my first guess would be a Aiptasia Anemones Profile of them thousands of different ones our could just be a play of some short just watch it as if it s the first it can split and get out of hand very fast

**Jarred1** · 08-07-2011, 07:43 PM

That actually looks like a palythoa to me because you can see sand particles in its structure.

**FlynnFish** · 08-07-2011, 08:25 PM

looks like a button polyp, come in a few different colors but mostly green or greenish brown.
Here is a picture of mine, there's the ok-looking greenish brown but then there's nice bright green ones near the bottom of the bunch.

**Heidi** · 08-07-2011, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by FlynnFish

looks like a button polyp, come in a few different colors but mostly green or greenish brown.
Here is a picture of mine, there's the ok-looking greenish brown but then there's nice bright green ones near the bottom of the bunch.

+1 looks more like a paly then a nem

IMO

**jimsflies** · 08-07-2011, 10:34 PM

I also agree that it looks more like a green button polyp.

The only thing that is a little off is the where it is growing is more aptaisia like. Was the liverock fresh or had it been in someone's system previously? Wondering if that was in someone's tank before and maybe they stuck the paly in that hole.

**Scout** · 08-08-2011, 08:15 AM

I have 4 aptasias that look nothing like this one. I am going after assassinating them this week. I ordered aptasia X to use on them, guy at a local store showed me how it is done. This one is very different from your traditional aptasia.

It does look alot like the Button. I got the Live Rock from a store. Not sure if it was in a persons tank before hand. It may have been because it also has a small coral like thing on the bottom that is slowly growing. Thought that was apt originally too but now that it has grown a bit and looks more like a flowery polypy thingy (that is the scientific name).