Mysterious Hitchiker

[CStrickland]

Hi all!
I have a funny thing encrusting up a frag plug that I've never seen in my tank before. I haven't added anything in like 8 months so I am stumped where it could've come from. Its veeeery dark purple, and covered in little, evenly-spaced pokeys - like spikes. Its thicker than coraline and not as flakey looking. More like a blob, but not squishy like a cyano variation is. I wouldn't think it needs much light since it seems to have colonized the bottom of the plug first, and only now be spreading up over the top side.

I know it's so much easier for you guys to help with a pic, but it's way on the backside. Like I'd have to get my phone underwater. If anybody has an idea of what class of critter it might be, it would give me someplace to start comparing pics I find online.

<3

 

[jminick2]

I'm sure you know this site....maybe a sponge or tunicate? http://chucksaddiction.thefishestate.net/hitchsponge.html

 

[CStrickland]

Yeah, but I'm always meaning to re-bookmark the new site, thanks!
I got impatient and pulled out the frag, pic attached

And sponge does make sense cause of how it's not that into light. But do they have spiky hairs sometimes?

 

[jminick2]

I don't know what that is, maybe cloak will come around and help : )

 

[Treasure Coast]

Encrusting Montipora?

 

[CStrickland]

Encrusting Montipora?

I had wondered about that, or some kind of mushroom, but there's nothing polypy about the spikes. Like they look just the same spikeyness all the time: day, night, underwater, or exposed to air. I've never have a monti or a mushroom so idk if that's how they are when they are first starting out, or if they always have some kind of feeding extension/retraction deal. I know some encrusting corals will grow little mountains upwards, but I guess I pictured that as happening more the way my acans grow. Like it gets a melted candle looking blob that starts to peak, as opposed to being covered with little hairs?

 

[CStrickland]

Any opinions from the day-posters?

 

[gone fishin]

My thought was some sort of encrusting monti, but the spikes have me stumped as well

 

[cloak]

You might want to do a search on Bryozoans. (Encrusting Moss Animals) There's a picture in one of my books that looks very similar to what you have. GL.

 

[jminick2]

Told ya ^ he never disappoints

 

[CStrickland]

lol Thanks Cloak!
I haven't really found anything that resembles my guy, but I can see a few that are somewhat similar in structure. The bryozoans sure are a big beautiful family. I'm cool as long as my guy doesn't resemble anything awful. Since nobody is telling me to kill it with fire, I'm game to see what it grows into.

EDIT: IDK what you call these botanical drawings they make for diff plants, but the bryozoan one is supes pretty

 

[jminick2]

Mysterious Hitchiker

I found something similar in google images only it's orange can't find a name for it yet though, when I searched bryozoans let ya know if find anything else

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ODUGlGhaapI/TB_B9c_FCkI/AAAAAAAASKw/tLZ6a9jcKJc/s400/orange+bryozoan.JPG

 

[gone fishin]

Those are pretty cool. It will be interesting to see how it grows if you do decide to let it stay.

I really could not find much good or bad doing a quick search.

 

[killinit123]

look up "Arachnopusia unicornis" I believe I have found the exact species for you, or copy and paste the link below.. it will bring you to a pdf, all the way at the bottom of the pdf, second to last picture is what i believe you have.. fits the description perfectly.



http://fs.fish.govt.nz/Doc/23013/AEBR_75_small.pdf.ashx

Page 54 of the pdf