Whoa, ID on this please
- Thread starter tunze
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greatfullreefer
Active Member
Not sure what it is but i want one
tunze
Member
Originally posted by nicky1.8t
deffently looks like a sponge of some type?
Thanks for the replys you guys. I agree Nicky It looks alot like a sponge but lacks the porus structure. This animal is very tuff feels like leather to the touch and also seems to be an encrusting on the rock around it. :notsure:
simsimbalabim
Member
Orange paddle sponge...at least that's what the lfs guy told me when I bought one. Nice color, but it doesn't do much. It does attract red slime like.. well, a sponge! He did warn about not taking it out of water.
It does attract red slime like.. well, a sponge! He did warn about not taking it out of water.
phreakemup
Member
Def 100% a sponge.. They are photosynthetic filter feeders.. As simsimbalabim said, they can not be taken outta water, air will get trapped in there cells, and that's the end of that.. They require good flow, (and dont "attract" red slime algae) the flow will keep debris off them, and bring food to them.. Good luck!
Phreak
Phreak
simsimbalabim
Member
Sorry, I guess 'attract' was the wrong word. I just meant that cyno seems to stick to it. If it's not blown off, it damages the sponge. Here's a pic of mine---the circled part is where the cyno sat for a couple days. I'm going to move it into more flow--that should help.
clarkiiboi
Active Member
That wasn't a HH right, if so what a beautiful find! If not, what did your LFS have it listed as?
simsimbalabim yours looks identical, so I will agree on your ID . I never seen one before, is it like most sponges and need a shaded area?
simsimbalabim yours looks identical, so I will agree on your ID
. I never seen one before, is it like most sponges and need a shaded area?
simsimbalabim
Member
The LFS guy recommended keeping it in the shade, but if what PhreakEmUp said is true---that they are photosythetic, then perhaps I have it in the wrong spot. It was in the same spot (bottom of a VHO-lit 80 gallon tank) for a couple months before I bought it (obviously no one else wanted it). I've had it for three months or so in the shade of a toadstool leather and haven't noticed any growth. My tank is covered in little sponges on the underside of the rock, so I assumed this sponge wouldn't be any different. Does anyone know what conditions these need?
sammystingray
Active Member
I wouldn't think that it's photosynthetic. I was just reminded of something I was researching about two years ago, but never got too far before I was sidetracked. I was reading about the fact that sponges DO have symbiotic microscopic organisms living on them, and this would mean they need "some" light..........not for themselves, but for their symbiotic friends. The animal itself doesn't need light though.
Anyone have info on these symbiotic organisms that ARE photosynthetic? An algae of some sort perhaps? Since algaes clog their pores and cause death, I really don't know, but I do remember reading about it briefly.....:notsure: :notsure: Info please?
Anyone have info on these symbiotic organisms that ARE photosynthetic? An algae of some sort perhaps? Since algaes clog their pores and cause death, I really don't know, but I do remember reading about it briefly.....:notsure: :notsure: Info please?
dburr
Active Member
Anyone have info on these symbiotic organisms that ARE photosynthetic? An algae of some sort perhaps? Since algaes clog their pores and cause death, I really don't know, but I do remember reading about it briefly..... Info please?
According to the book Reef Invertebrates By Calfo/Fenner: Most sponges are variable photosynthetic, utilizing symbionic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) to provide sugars and sustenance directly to the colony. That makes many Porifera mixotrophic, and not wholly dependant on hetertrophic feeding, although they are still generally so.
According to the book Reef Invertebrates By Calfo/Fenner: Most sponges are variable photosynthetic, utilizing symbionic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) to provide sugars and sustenance directly to the colony. That makes many Porifera mixotrophic, and not wholly dependant on hetertrophic feeding, although they are still generally so.
tunze
Member
So once again I'd like to thank you guys for your insight.
Well after living with this thing for two months i'm still not convinced its a sponge. This thing is solid no porus body like sponges have. I've observed this animal (thing) sloughing off a mucus membrane alot like leather corals do. Light does not seem to affect this thing at all. Zooxanthellae does not seem present in this organisim or if it does it is not visible. As well it hasnt changed colors under various lights like most organisms that use zooxanthellae.
For the most part I am happy with the color that this animal brings to my tank and its ease of care . I would just like to know more about it .
Well after living with this thing for two months i'm still not convinced its a sponge. This thing is solid no porus body like sponges have. I've observed this animal (thing) sloughing off a mucus membrane alot like leather corals do. Light does not seem to affect this thing at all. Zooxanthellae does not seem present in this organisim or if it does it is not visible. As well it hasnt changed colors under various lights like most organisms that use zooxanthellae.
For the most part I am happy with the color that this animal brings to my tank and its ease of care . I would just like to know more about it .
shoreliner11
Active Member
Its a sponge...keep in mind not all sponges are soft or squishy to the touch.
