ID Please?

very cool!
thanks!
I wonder how they got there!? hitch hikers?
I haven't added any new rock or coral in awhile
Well, at least I don't have to buy any now :)
 

hefner413

Active Member
Every rock that I've ever bought has had some hitch hiker sponges on it. You've probably got a bunch more, but don't realize it. They are tons of different colors... brown, red, yellow, green.. you name it. They are interesting creatures. The name fits them well - just sponges. The two holes are their digestive system - mouth and butt. Most of mine are on the shady areas of my rock.
 
What's interesting...we started, lat week, making the switch from CC to LS - we have done 40lbs so far and need to do at LEAST another 30lbs but since we've done that, we have noticed, just in the last couple days, all sorts of little creatures (sponges, pods, etc..) coming out.
And...I think we have finally gotten ahead of our algae problem!
Do they also come in white? I noticed a large patch that is almost clear - not sur eif they are sponges or if it's the spawning of a some new coral - my toadstool used to be attached to that very rock.
Anyway - thanks for the replies!!
 

mushroomss

Member
that is not a sponge it is a tunicate or sea squirt whichever name you pefer.They need lots of phytoplankton supplemant.
 

reefforbrains

Active Member
Originally Posted by mushroomss
that is not a sponge it is a tunicate or sea squirt whichever name you pefer.They need lots of phytoplankton supplemant.


Dangit. Stole my thunder..Yes I agree Tunicates.
 
Cool!
Other than the phyto - do I need to do anything else 'special' to/for them?
There isn't a whole lot of info on the net, that I've found so far, on them
 

mushroomss

Member
reef for brains
lol
and no there really isent anything you can do for them besides add phytoplankton supplement.
 

mushroomss

Member
i know,there are many different kids of turnicates and sponges,but from his pictures you can clearly see 2 tubes,which unsually indicates one is for syphoning and one is for excreting unused particles.
 
So, after it being said they were tunicates, I did some research - not a lot out there btw...and looked closer...these things are clustered together but on each tube, there is only the top 'hole' - they don't have a second hole attached to large tube
 

hefner413

Active Member
So the ones in my tank - I thought for certain that they were sponges... but they have 2 holes - so sponges have 1 and tunicates have 2 ??? Do all sponges have 1 ?
Of the 2 pictures posted in post #12, mine look nothing like the first pic, but much more like the second with many different colors, but with 2 holes. One hole going outward like a volcano and the other just flush with the body.
So anybody here have more insight on differentiating b/w these two????
 

mushroomss

Member
turnicates usually have 2 syphons that are clearly visable.One to vacuum in particles and one to excrete unused ones.That is why i said yours was a turnicate.
 

reefforbrains

Active Member
just ignore all of us for a few weeks and it will be clear when it grows out a bit more.
The pronounced snoot leans me towards Tunicate so I stand by my original statement but like I often say...Who knows. keep in mind I am an idiot.
I think when it grows out a little more. (Both sponges and Tunicates grow rapidly) It will show its true nature more clear.
 
ha - no way...if I was going to ignore you guys, I wouldn't ask!!
I sure as hell didn't/don't know which ones they are - I know what they 'LOOK' like but we all know that can be wrong, especially in the beginning
Not an idiot reffforbrains, I've seen your other posts...
but...I will watch for a couple weeks and let you know what they turn out to be
 
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