Is this a type of Aiptasia?

[m8298]

I noticed this in my tank a couple days ago, and I have no clue what it is or where it came from. I haven't added anything to the tank in quite a while. It is about 3/8" tall. Can anyone tell me what it is?

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o211/m8298/DSC07862.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o211/m8298/DSC07863.jpg

[m8298]

I should also mention that it is about two inches below a good-sized, Toad Stool. If that helps...

[Seahorsedreams]

Nope, not an appy... polyps from some sort of soft coral. Doesn't look like a toadstool.

[Phurst]

I don't know what it is, but I'm pretty sure it's not aptasia. It looks like it has multiple heads.

[doctorthompson]

Definitely an octocoral but not a Sarcophyton sp. (toadstool).

Maybe some type of encrusting gorgonian (no idea what sp.)? Or perhaps a weird Clavularia sp. (clove polyp) morph - do the polyps retract when you disturb them?

[lReef lKeeper]

looks like an Anthelia to me. or some sort of clove type polyp.

[m8298]

Hey Guys, it's been a while since my last post. This actually turned out to be a Toadstool. Weird, at the time I first posted this, it just had polyps, no canopy. It has since grown a little canopy.

[Phurst]

Nice score. Throw up a pic!

[Pinecone_Jeff]

Wow, what a nice find! I'd love to see a pic of it now.
Was it a hitch hiker? A coral that settled from it's free swimming state? How cool is that!!! Or do you think it's a clone of some sort from the sarco you already have?

[doctorthompson]

I still say the polyps don't look like Sarcophyton (Lobophytum or "Devil's Hand" perhaps). Please do upload a new pic, though. In this hobby I'm always happy to be proven wrong! a free coral (especially one hardy enough to withstand the stress of what most live rock goes through) is always good news to hear about in any case.

[m8298]

Check it out... Nevermind my hair algae bloom, I don't wanna talk about it.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o211/m8298/DSC08126.jpg

[doctorthompson]

Weird, polyps look different in this shot, less "frilly" for lack of a better term. The first pic looked more like Cespitularia, or Anthellia, or one of the longer/frillier polyped Alcyonids ... but, yeah, based on this new photo I'd have to agree it looks like your large toadstool had some offspring! Congrats, and remember not to smoke the celebratory cigar anywhere near the tank or your skimmer will stop producing foam for a good 4 hours. :)

PS. hair algae is a total wimp compared to bubble algae, IMHO

[m8298]

In this last photo the polyps weren't open all the way. The weird thing is this was a voluntary growth completey. The same Toadstool voluntarily "dropped" a small piece of it's canopy, a little over a year ago. I glued that to a piece of LR and it has since grown it's own stem.

[CarmieJo]

I'd hang onto that coral! You have to love free frags to keep and trade!