Another stumper, at least for me.

I first discovered this critter approximately 5 weeks ago. It is residing on the back glass of the tank, behind EVERYTHING. It is actually very difficult to see, it's a wierd shot through the cave under my large frogspawn. I actually probably never would have seen it but for the fact that it is white, and as a diver, that is one of the colors I am trained to look for when spotting critters.

So one wierd thing is that it hasn't moved much, if any, in those five weeks.

It's in a spot that is early impossible to access without a complete break down of the tank. I mean it is WAY back there. So the first time I saw it I was like... "WTF?" but I had to get back to the hospital, so theere was no time to investigate. I expected I would probably not see it again for some time.

My first guess was some sort of nudibranch (a dorid, specifically) but the lack of movement makes me question that guess. A dorid moves around to eat. This dude hasn't moved. So, I have to lean more in the direction of some kind of sea cucumber or something similar that filter feeds, and the appendages at the bottom support that theory.

Anyhow, here's the photo I took tonight. Not great, but decent. I would love to know what everyone thinks.

What is this invertebrate?

it looks like a pineapple to me. i could be wrong though. pineapple is a type of algea ... its good. they commonly grow in mature tanks.

if it moves, that will rule the pineapple out.

OK... wierd... I need to find out more about this.

Funny, because that is how I described it to someone before I was soundly mocked by my wife. She started singing the Spongebob Squarepants theme song... ;)

Seriously.

well at least now you can tell her that there really is such a thing. i cant remember the scientific name but i will search for it real quick ... do a search on q-tip sponge.

It's calcareous sponge from the class calcarea. It's spicules are made up of calcium carbonate. It's more than likely a scypha ciliata,

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o292/critters_album/synoidsponge.jpg

Harmless critter. Consumes small particulate matter suspended in the water. Only down side is if your tank has enough food they can become quite abundant.

Renee, didn't we go through this on another site ?? i couldnt check it out last night (cuz i got banned).

Renee, didn't we go through this on another site ?? i couldnt check it out last night (cuz i got banned).

ya got me curious- what website?? I've been there, done that, btw. :D

Here's another pic I took of one last night.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o292/critters_album/sponge3.jpg

YOU got banned? Why, you're so polite here... ;)

Renee, didn't we go through this on another site ?? i couldnt check it out last night (cuz i got banned).

Whatccha talkin' about? I don't recall the topic? Give the ole brain a hint.

Nice scypha... makes me want Polynesian now :)

D

HAHAHAH! I am SO glad somebody asked this question, I have HUNDREDS of these in my tanks and when I decribe the "little white pineapple lookin things" to people they ALWAYS ask me what I'm smoking.

Ragga....

The population numbers will wax and wane with the nutrient load of your system. Basically, if you have a lot, that means they are fed well. As the water gets more "pristine", the numbers will drop off.

When I first started my current tanks, I had a population bloom for a couple months. Now I have a few, here and there, in the sump, under rocks and other low flow, nutrient rich areas.

Dave

Aye, there are maybe 20-30 scattered around my display the rest are in my overflow and fuge.

wow thanx 4 the info

My understanding is that these are also called Urn Sponges.

My understanding is that these are also called Urn Sponges.
i have not heard this, but very possible, thanks for jumping in..

and of course a big :welcome: to Talkingreef.. :)

*peeking in* *waving* Hi Carrie!

Whatccha talkin' about? I don't recall the topic? Give the ole brain a hint.

i think we went through this on the CR that i am no longer welcome at. BTW ... this is bobby (from captive reefing), in case you forgot or didn't know.

LOL, I know who you are... I did a peek over there and really couldn't remember the thread. But it seems like this sponge is always on the top 10 of popular hitchhikers so I always see this thread.

Hi Carrie and :welcome: to TR.

I had those in my tank for a while. They have all but dissappeared!

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/9b2244a2.jpg (http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/?action=view&current=9b2244a2.jpg)

They must have been outcompeted for food.

Or ya introduced a sponge eating critter/fish.

Thanks for the welcome!:D

I have the white ones in my skimmer on one tank, and in my seahorse tank there are a few in the display. When I was trying to figure out what they were I tried to get some fish to eat them and no one was interested. I wonder is certain starfish might like them? They don't bother me much unless the population gets crazy, but they seem to wax and wane, probably with nutrient levels... I added another skimmer to the previously mentioned tank and the pop went down in the other skimmer.

Now that I see those photos, I had two that came in on a piece of LR when I first fired up the tank as well as two small ones on a mushroom rock. The mushroom rock now has 8-10, the original two are the size of nickels and then there's the pineapple shaped one back in the netheregions of my tank. :)

i think we went through this on the CR that i am no longer welcome at...

I would love to know what kind of conversation gets you booted from an online forum... :jester: God knows I keep trying... :D

Funny thing... and that last picture reminded me of this...I upgraded my skimmimg and bought a Euroreef. I had it in the sump for a month or so and said.. okay, time to check and clean the Sedra. When I took it apart, the entire bottom of the skimmer was COVERED in these sponges...

And I thought the extra skimming would reduce their numbers... go figure..all I did was give them a cryptic spot to hide and flourish.

Dave