White dots with what seems to be legs all over my tank

[kaycay6971]

I am new to this wonderful hobby and my tank has only been up and running for a couple months. This morning I noticed alot of white dots on my tank walls and they seem to have legs all the way around the dot...looks soinda like a tiny white star just with extra legs. Can anyone help identify these. Should I be worried or not.
thanks in advance.

[weez1959]

I was told they were hydroids and nothing to worry about...
Louise

[kaycay6971]

Thanks

[Ninong]

Do they look like this?

Those are tiny hydroid jellyfish (hydromedusae) and nothing to be concerned about.

However, colonial hydroids that plague some hobbyists' tanks are definitely something to worry about. You obviously don't have colonial hydroids. I'm just making the point that what we commonly call "hydroid jellyfish" is definitely not the same as what most people think of when someone says they have "hydroids."

[kaycay6971]

yes, they look alot like the pic....my tank is fairly new and I am not sure of alot of this stuff...learning as I go...but, how do the jellies get in my tank and will they go away?

[Ninong]

It's just a larval stage. They'll die off. They came in as hitchhikers.

[weez1959]

they usually hitch a ride with the rocks, I don't know if they go away or just die or hide but I figure they probably become food...

[weez1959]

oops, looks like we answered at the same time !