ID a coral or algae or ???

[Steverino]

Here is a photo of a little clump of growth I have on some live rock. It is a brownish color, sorry about the poor quality photo.!! I know, it gives me a headache looking at the photo too!

It is interesing in that all of the stems are connected to a single root that is almost like an Ivy that grows on a building. This little clump is only about 1.5" across in diameter, it has about 20 stems, each stem has the frilly little umbrella on the top. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[AngeloM3]

ummm need a better picture.

but looks like xenia coral or some kind of polyp coral.

 

[Steverino]

But does Xenia have stems that all come off the same main root? I have a samll batch of Xenia and I hoped the same thing, but I don't see the similarity when I examine them both.

 

[Reeses]

I'm thinking hydroids. Myrionema. Can you possibly get a clearer picture?

 

[Steverino]

Thanks Reeses, nice call, you might be right. I started googling with that name and Here is a link with a photo that might be them, they look pretty similar. They say they kinda sting!

http://www.nano-reef.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=17643&cat=500&ppuser=13010

I'm not 100% sure, but I think I will just not take a chance and take out the rock and scrub them off with an old toothbrush.

 

[newtanksmell]

If they are hydroids, you may want to pull em now. Setting aside that they can act as an irritant (versus all out chem warfare stone cold killers), they are a giant pain to remove once established.

I have a poor frag of zooanthids donated to me because the original keeper got tired of plucking.

As a matter fact, that reminds me. I need to buy a new pair of tweezers on the way home. :lol:

 

[Samala]

If the algae/invertebrate in the photo reacts at all to water movement and/or shadows by closing up the little umbrellas, it could very well be a hydroid.

Is it possible to get a better photo at all? Maybe if you stood farther back from the clump and then posted a large shot? Clearer, but not necessarily close up, could work.

>Sarah