spider sponge

[leslee5050]

Hi, probably have this in the wrong place, but anyhow... I have a spider sponge. I have it on the sand, kind of under some rock. It is growing quite nicely, but I never see the polyps open. Is there a special place I need to put this, or with special flow? thanks.

 

[Crustman]

Sponges don't have polyps; maybe you have a rasta leather or devils hand toadstool. Don't know. Polyps should come out on these when your lights are on. They can take moderate flow.

 

[cjdevito]

Spider Sponge is the common name for a species of sponge upon which grow a species of commensal zooanthids. In this case, the sponge does have polyps - indirectly at least

My understanding is that the zoos on this are non-photosynthetic, and that keeping both them and the sponge fed and healthy is a challenge. I've no first hand experience with it, however.

 

[leslee5050]

spider sponge

Thanks for the info. My sponge is orangish/red with the white polyps. Being non-photosynthetic, it doesn't need the light, but I can't get the placement right for the polyps to open. The color is good, and it is growing, I just can't get the polyps to open.

 

[kingfisher62]

any pics ?

 

[cjdevito]

Thanks for the info. My sponge is orangish/red with the white polyps. Being non-photosynthetic, it doesn't need the light, but I can't get the placement right for the polyps to open. The color is good, and it is growing, I just can't get the polyps to open.

There were discussions I had with Rob Toonen a decade ago about how some non-photosynthetic corals only open their polyps as a feeding response when flow conditions are exact. I seem to vaguely recall a figure of around 20 cms/second as a threshhold number. It's possible something similar might be required here. That's just a shot in the dark, but might be worth a try to play with local flow conditions near the sponge.

 

[buckel2]

pics should help to tell the differnce

 

[guilloryreef]

I received a great piece of spider sponge a week ago. The Zoa's did not open for me until I changed the flow. Right now I have a pretty good amount of flow on it .. target feed it nightly with either Cyclopees (freeze dried or forzen) or reef chili. After a week it pretty much stays open all day.

 

[kingfisher62]

Now I know what they look like .......... Cool!

https://www.petsolutions.com/Australian-Spider-Sponge-Frag+I405838P+C40003220.aspx

 

[cjdevito]

To the original poster, you might contact Uhuru as I've noticed they've been successful with these. See http://www.nano-reef.com/featured/?tank=36

Uhuru posts here and on nano-reef.com