what is this???? found it on my living rock

[astra2]

i have a jelly like ball pink in colour about 3inch in diameter between 2 of my living rocks it has tentacles can anybody tell me if it is safe in my tank ? i have a picture but unfortunately it is too big too post on this site . be greatly appreciated if anyone can help me discover what this is

 

[Juck]

email the pic to me at [email protected] and I'll post it for you.

 

[Juck]

Here ya go,,,, ummm,, 3" in diameter? wow,,, I haven't a clue.

 

[supergiantrobot]

It looks like a Seed of Destruction from Hellboy...

 

[Anonymous]

Looks like a ball sponge to me.

 

[ChrisRD]

Sorta looks like a ball of that red cotton algae but the white tentacles things I'm not sure about...

I'll move a copy of this into the main discussion forum to see if we can't get other opinions.

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

Juck :lol: at your file name.

Put me down for a type of ball sponge as well.

 

[Anonymous]

That's a motile species of sponge. It can crawl around, and can reproduce in your tank.

 

[Anonymous]

That's a motile species of sponge. It can crawl around, and can reproduce in your tank.

Beat me to it. I think Dr. Ron gave a description of the species or genus somewhere out on the web. Not sure if it can be toxic to corals if it contacts them directly or not...

 

[Anonymous]

How large is this thing?
~wings~

 

[Anonymous]

David Saxby says he has so many in his 6000 gallon reef that they are becoming a problem. Generally, I don't think its anything to worry about, and is pretty cool.

 

[dubbin1]

Looks like the tumor that I had removed from my chin today :?

 

[Anonymous]

Looks like a sponge to me.

 

[SnowManSnow]

Looks like snot

 

[ricky1414]

How are they moblie, exactly???

 

[Anonymous]

I think their cells can migrate independently of one another, sort of like a giant amoeba. Sponges have some truly bizarre life strategies. Here is a pic of carnivorous sponges, Asbestopluma sp. They catch comparatively large shrimp with the little extensions, and then their cells migrate over the prey and digest it. They possess no stinging cells like anemones.

 

[Anonymous]

I think their cells can migrate independently of one another, sort of like a giant amoeba. Sponges have some truly bizarre life strategies. Here is a pic of carnivorous sponges, Asbestopluma sp. They catch comparatively large shrimp with the little extensions, and then their cells migrate over the prey and digest it. They possess no stinging cells like anemones.

Are you sure that picture is Asbestopluma sp.? I have a few groupings of this stuff which is doing very well just on feedings of suspended flake foods that the other critters don't eat. It hasn't bothered any of the shrimp.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry if I wasn't clear. The pic first posted is NOT Asbestopluma. Asbestopluma comes from deep, cold water IIRC. But I believe they both have similar mechanisms to move by migrating cells.

 

[Anonymous]

I have one of those sponges the size of a golf ball in my tank. It hangs out in a cave, and it's kind of scary honestly.

Jim

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry if I wasn't clear. The pic first posted is NOT Asbestopluma. Asbestopluma comes from deep, cold water IIRC. But I believe they both have similar mechanisms to move by migrating cells.

Nope you were clear, I'm talking about the picture that you posted.


Here's a picture of Asbestopluma sp:

Of course I believe there are 9 known species ( correction 27 known species ) of Asbestopluma and pictures of all are hard to come by.

Regards,
David Mohr