Aussie Sponges!!!!

jeremym420

jeremym420

In Memoriam
Hey everyone, just thought i'd share these pictures. I got a shipment of Australian sponges for a few on my service tanks. They are stunning to say the least! From what i've been told from the distributor and other wholesalers, they are very hardy and do well on phyto or oyster eggs a couple times a week. The white striation all over them are zooanthids!


http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee6/jdam123/PB060235.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee6/jdam123/PB070237.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee6/jdam123/PB070287.jpg
 
Re: Aussie Sponges!!!!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11143737#post11143737 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeremym420
Hey everyone, just thought i'd share these pictures. I got a shipment of Australian sponges for a few on my service tanks. They are stunning to say the least! From what i've been told from the distributor and other wholesalers, they are very hardy and do well on phyto or oyster eggs a couple times a week. The white striation all over them are zooanthids!
Click to expand...
I don't believe everything the distributors or wholesalers say. Let us know how these sponges do long term.
 
Gary, i don't believe everything they say either. In this case, the sources are reliable. I hae spoken to Quality Marine about them and they have a very good reputation. The business i got these from had them in captivity over a month before he shipped them to me. Hopefully they do well. I will post an update in a few weeks.
 
It's obvious from those aquarium pix that you're not a novice reefkeeper, Jeremy (nice tanks!). To this day I have yet to find anybody keeping sponges such as those long term. They definitely remain animals for the truly advanced hobbyist and they would probably fare better in a biotope aquarium.
(Don't forget- most sponges are highly toxic. Especially orange or red colored sponges.)
Without mincing words, if a reefkeeper is considering purchasing such sponges and you know only a little bit about sponges you'd be better off saving your money.
A search of RC for anybody keeping such sponges alive for very long will prove out my post here and I certainly welcome anyone keeping these types of sponges alive for several years to post their experience/advice.
 
Unfortunately, Gary has a way of being correct:(:(:( Still keep us posted. The hobby changes, I have kept goniapora alive for years now, once thought to be impossible to keep.
If you get into trouble with them (recession ect) I have an unskimmed SH tank that is very high in nutrient load, and would be happy to toss one in there..
good luck keep us posted..
MK
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11144303#post11144303 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MarkKlier
Unfortunately, Gary has a way of being correct:(:(:( Still keep us posted. The hobby changes, I have kept goniapora alive for years now, once thought to be impossible to keep.
If you get into trouble with them (recession ect) I have an unskimmed SH tank that is very high in nutrient load, and would be happy to toss one in there..
good luck keep us posted..
MK
Click to expand...
your unskimmed SH tank immediately came to my mind as a more appropriate environment for those types of sponges, Mark. The only problem I see is the fact that those sponges need water currents that would be detrimental to your 'horses.
 
Again correct!!! You must be kind of hard to live with:):):) That is why you generally don't see many horses hanging onto these things.
MK
 
Mark- I'm soooo bummed. I used to have a "yellow finger tree sponge" that I know would have done well in your 'horsey tank. It was very "fraggable". I lost it in my move last year. I've never seen one offered for sale anywhere. I can only pray someone out there still has it growing in their system...
 
All the tanks the sponges were put in have very high water flow. I know sponges in general are hard to keep, and i hope these do well. It seems most of the stuff comming out of australia is hardier and healthier. There should be other hobbiest out there keeping these sponges. Most of the west coast wholesalers have been getting them in on a regular basis and they sell out immediately. Hopefully others will post and let us know how they do long term.
 
Gary...ouch..that yellow sponge would be perfect for the SH tank....they tend to change colors(SH's) based on their surroundings...
You need to stop by, I have some cool things to show you...MK
MK
 
sonofagun I finally found an early pic of my yellow sponge growing from some liverock!

1449spongeandstar1.jpg
 
I would be careful with those sponges.

The fact that the zoanthids are on the sponge makes me think they are parasites, feeding on the sponge. That fact that they are white makes me think they are non-photosynthetic.


Found this after digging a little.

Here's a passage from Julian Sprung.

"Parazoanthus and Epizoanthus:
Members of these genera are epizootic, meaning they live on other animals. Parazoanthus and Epizoanthus are almost exclusively found associated with sponges and hydroids, though they may also grow on gorgonian skeletons and even freely. They do not harbor zooxanthellae and thus must be fed zooplankton regularly in order to thrive. They occur where there are strong currents that carry plankton, so the water motion in the aquarium housing them should be swift and laminar. The association with sponges is believed to protect the sponges from predators. These zoanthid polyps are toxic and may also sting sponge eaters such as large angelfish."

Taken from Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/invert.htm


In my opinion a poor choice for a service tank.
 
Hey Randy, all the tanks the sponges went into have high water flow and are fed regularly with phyto and oyster eggs. I had a feeling the zoos might be parasitic, but am not sure. Thanks for the info. It's too early to tell if they were a "poor choice" for my service tanks. I hope to prove you wrong and keep them healthy and happy.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11146760#post11146760 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeremym420
Hey Randy, all the tanks the sponges went into have high water flow and are fed regularly with phyto and oyster eggs. I had a feeling the zoos might be parasitic, but am not sure. Thanks for the info. It's too early to tell if they were a "poor choice" for my service tanks. I hope to prove you wrong and keep them healthy and happy.
Click to expand...

Hey Jeremy,
I wasn't trying to blast you with that poor choice thing. Because sponges can be poisonous and have special feeding requirements, they are probably best kept with an experienced aquarist. Most service tanks get less experienced people watching the tank in between your visits. It's a greater chance for something to go wrong.

Sorry if it sounded harsh. :)
 
Hey Randy, no worries. I agree with you on every point you made. I am lucky enough that the service tanks belong to people that are advanced hobbiests like you and I. Its great when people get that into it. It makes the job a pleasure to do. So far the sponges are doing great. I got a call from one of the tanks today and they said it had all of its polyps out and got target fed some oyster eggs. If the sponges do well long term, i hope to propagate them.
 
Just wondering how the sponges are doing?

I'm from australia and have yet to meet anyone who has had long term success with these sponges.

If theres anyone who frequents this board and has kept them alive for more than a year? please shoot me a pm.

cheers
angie
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11145125#post11145125 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak
sonofagun I finally found an early pic of my yellow sponge growing from some liverock!

1449spongeandstar1.jpg
Click to expand...
:) Hey Gary, That's the one I have in my tank. Again if we get together some day I'll snip apiece for you.
 
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