Blue Skeleton

[~~Ashley~~]

I have found a small blue 'skeleton/head' like structure on my sandbed all other animals accounted for (1 diamond goby, 2 cleaner shrimp, 1 emerald crab, and several snails) except my six line wrasse. Is this his skeleton or do you think he could be hiding really well? The structure is hard, symmetrical, bright blue, no flesh attached.

I am very curious as to why it is such a bright color blue. Anyone have some insight as to why? Aren't calcium based structures primarily whitish? I know that calcium is essential for muscle contractions and nerve conductions in action potentials (my prof. would be so proud!!) If not calcium what is the it composed of that can take calciums place? Is there a chemical morphilogical reason for the pigment?

 

[Anonymous]

Take a picture of it and post it!

 

[cindre2000]

Blue Ridge Coral (trade name) is my guess, depending on the size, etc. They are known for their blue skeletons.

 

[~~Ashley~~]

Some Pictures of 'it'...

I'm a first time reef.org user so I hope these attach ok!

 

[shavo]

the pic is kinda blurry, i can't tell it looks like an invert molted to me, can you retake the pics and get them clearer? i guess it could be a skull of a fish, why is it blue? every skeleton of dead fish freshwater or saltwater has been white. how big is it? an inch maybe? how big was your six line?

 

[~~Ashley~~]

I took 'it' to my local pet store and during transportation in my purse it broke up into several peices so these are the only pictures I have. It was about the size of a med/lrg green pea. The six line wrasse was approximately 1 and 1/2 inches.

 

[Snowboarda42]

could it have come with your substrate?

Is your wrasse still missing too?