Pix & ID: Critters that come in your rocks: the good and the bad.
- Thread starter Sk8r
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colortrilogy
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cloak
New member
colortrilogy
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Thanks cloak. Good read.
I was wondering a couple things, would this be a sponge or a sea squirt?
and then I was wondering, what would be the greyish growth on it? It's slimy to the touch, unlike the squirt/sponge, which is rather furry.
Also, how would I know if the sponge/squirt is dying or not? I think it was exposed to air for maybe 20 seconds or so... would that be enough to kill it?
And last question, I'm trying to decide whether or not I should keep that peice of rock in my aquarium or not... I feel like if it's dying then it'll be bad for my water, correct? although it hasn't discoloured or anything within the 2 weeks that it was inside my tank. It'd be nice to keep it, it gives a good orange colour to my otherwise colorless rocks lol.
Thank you!!
Help with identity of 2 hitchers
Help with identity of 2 hitchers
Hello, wondering if someone could help me identify these two different hitchhikers that came in on some Liverock several months ago. The one that looks like Fronds on a small plant is obviously an animal of some sort. The fronds are continuously bending down and going inside and then coming back out as if it is eating and cleaning off whatever it catches. It is only about 1 inch tall and is very active. This just showed up a few weeks ago though I am certain it probably came in on the live rock that I put in approximately five months ago. The other coral is approximately 1 inch wide and appears very healthy and has been in the tank since the live rock came. I'm also having several see squirts that are showing up. Is it normal for several sea squirts or tunicates to show up so many months after Live rock has been put in? Thanks for any information you may be able to provide, David
Help with identity of 2 hitchers
Hello, wondering if someone could help me identify these two different hitchhikers that came in on some Liverock several months ago. The one that looks like Fronds on a small plant is obviously an animal of some sort. The fronds are continuously bending down and going inside and then coming back out as if it is eating and cleaning off whatever it catches. It is only about 1 inch tall and is very active. This just showed up a few weeks ago though I am certain it probably came in on the live rock that I put in approximately five months ago. The other coral is approximately 1 inch wide and appears very healthy and has been in the tank since the live rock came. I'm also having several see squirts that are showing up. Is it normal for several sea squirts or tunicates to show up so many months after Live rock has been put in? Thanks for any information you may be able to provide, David
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I was wondering a couple things, would this be a sponge or a sea squirt?
and then I was wondering, what would be the greyish growth on it? It's slimy to the touch, unlike the squirt/sponge, which is rather furry.
Also, how would I know if the sponge/squirt is dying or not? I think it was exposed to air for maybe 20 seconds or so... would that be enough to kill it?
And last question, I'm trying to decide whether or not I should keep that peice of rock in my aquarium or not... I feel like if it's dying then it'll be bad for my water, correct? although it hasn't discoloured or anything within the 2 weeks that it was inside my tank. It'd be nice to keep it, it gives a good orange colour to my otherwise colorless rocks lol.
Thank you!!
Those are harmless sponges. Not a problem at all to keep the rock in the tank.
It's an asterina starfish. Most are harmless but there are some that munch on corals. your call if you want to keep it.
That is a rock dwelling cucumber. They are harmless filter feeders.
I really can't tell what that is. Does it have a hard skeleton or is it completely soft?
Hi Adrianne, thanks for the ID on the first one. Didnt know there was such a thing. I've just seen the sand dwelling type. The coral is hard. The pedestal is about an inch tall and 3/4" in diameter. The pedestal and the top is completely stone like until the tentacles come out. They are out in the picture. It's mostly golden colored with some green around the edges. Thanks for your help. David
I'm thinking some type of brain coral.
Thanks again for the information, I thought that it was some type of brain coral also but I'm definitely no expert on corals. So Do these rock dwelling cucumbers look just like the sand dwelling variety only they are wedged into a rock/crevice? I'm assuming at the size they are now that they do not pose any threat to my tank as far as poisoning the system should they flip out for one reason or another? About five months ago I purchased just 10 pounds of some Florida live rock just to see what it looked like before I bought more for another tank. It definitely had tons of life as far as inverts, sponges, algae and other types of brain coral but I am surprised that now I am starting to see lots and lots of different things. I've found about six small tunicates and sea squirts, bristle worms and stars As well as some unusual types of porcelain crabs. I had the crabs identified by sending pictures To a professor of marine biology in Florida. I can't remember the exact name but they only get about a half inch wide and are members of the porcelain family and are supposedly reef kinda safe. Anyway, it was the best $70 I ever spent for such diversity. Thanks again for your help, David
I wouldn't worry about any poisoning to the system. They have the same body type as all of the other Holothuroids, they just have a specialized mouth for filter feeding.
