Spikey Ball on new Zoo Frag - Friend or Foe?

[Dexters Reef]

Hi,

I just got some Zoo frags, and after a few days, I noticed a "spikey ball" in between some of the polyps. It has spikes that stick straight out, and some that attach to different points on the rock. Is this some type of pest? Some type of spawning action? Please see attached photos, it is in the top left. I have pictures of it from the front and back

If requested, I can use my digital camera to take some higher resolution shots (these were from my cell phone)

 

[organism]

Looks like a sponge would be my guess, they're technically not harmful, but they can overgrow zoanthids sometimes. In any case they're easy to remove by hand.

 

[650-IS350]

agree with Org.... u can use tweezers to rip them off as they can overgrow and suffacate Z's and P's

 

[Friday Night]

I'd would leave it untill you see that actually happening. Sponges are natural filters
Good :smokin:

 

[650-IS350]

only when you have crap load of them

 

[Friday Night]

Sponge is a sponge. Regardless if it's 1 or 1k

 

[650-IS350]

yep but when the get a lot and can't rip them off they can take out a whole colony.. Lost a whole colony of Raspberry Limaides just this week. that I was planning to DBTC.

 

[Dexters Reef]

I removed it. Have another tank that had 2 awesome zoa colonies that slowly got overtaken by sponge. it started on the rear of the rocks and by the time I saw it it was all over and many zias were lost.

Go through that in my new 75, no thank you. Sponge thingy removed.

 

[650-IS350]

Agree Dex, I had a large 100polyp colony taken out, as it was in the back of tank that I dont look at much till it was too late. Chunked the whole thing.

 

[A. Grandis]

The polyps were clearly irritated by the "ball", so there is no doubt that the removal would be the way to go.
:thumbsup:

Grandis.

 

[Dexters Reef]

Since removal, all polyps are open and happy once again!