tiny green spider-like creature

[dananelson]

First off I would like to say that I am not a beginner, i Have had my saltwater tank for about 3 years..And Learned a LOT
Last night my boyfriend turned on the light in my tank and saw a green creature aprox the size of a dime. We could not get a picture but he said it looked like a clump of algae at first glance but then it moved, he said it looked like a "underwater tarantula" hairy and fast (and green) somewhat resembled a tiny octopus in the way it moved with its feet under it like it was sliding effortlessley...Then of course, it dissapeared into the rock. ANY IDEAS ANYONE?! I know the picture would help , but as you also know, its hard to get a picture of something so small in the middle of the night in the tank!
THANKS SO MUCH

 

[Swiftler]

Perhaps it was a pycnogonid, also called a sea spider. I can usually find them when I'm out doing research out on the tide pool areas in Northern California. Just a guess Do a search on google images and see if that's what you saw

 

[dananelson]

Definetley too large of a creature to be living in the live rock of my 30gal aquarium. lol.
Thanks for the idea tho this thing was really small...like dime sized.

Perhaps it was a pycnogonid, also called a sea spider. I can usually find them when I'm out doing research out on the tide pool areas in Northern California. Just a guess Do a search on google images and see if that's what you saw

 

[Swiftler]

I was confused by what you said until I did the search on google. The specimens that I found on my trips were about the size of a dime

 

[TLTGF]

How about a squat lobster?

Galathea squamifera

 

[dananelson]

Nope this thing had no pinchers or anthing. It looked like a clump of algae and he said that if it hadnt moved he would never have seen it. I have no idea but in the mean time we are on the lookout for it again and hopefullly we see it again and then maybe we can get a better look.

 

[Richy35]

Have you searched for brittle starfish

 

[Fish-guy]

Have you searched for brittle starfish

That would be my guess

 

[dananelson]

No it definately was not a brittle starfish. I have a few of those and it was nothing like those that i have.