uh oh - ID needed

[terranova]

And it's NOT my creepy aptasia that you guys all know me by.

Chris saw this thing, it's really weird + growing. It has a purpleish pink tint to it and as far as I know it hasn't harmed anything...

What is it?

And what do I do with it? lol

 

[cb747]

Its a "funky purple thingy" LOL

 

[terranova]

AcRoPoRa x3 (9:17:05 PM): I want somebody to ID my funky purple thingy like NOW.
cb747 (9:17:11 PM): LMAO


Silly...! :lmao:

 

[Justjoe]

Looks like a very nice group of tunicates...

 

[terranova]

I thought tunicates were like...hard? For lack of better word? :lol:

 

[fishome25]

first guess algae, 2nd tunicates.

 

[terranova]

what kind of algae...?

 

[romain]

Sponge?

 

[terranova]

grr...

where can i post this so i'll get more definite answers?

 

[Agu]

What kind of texture does it have ?

I have a valonia that grows in my tank that looks similar but it's a dark red color. It has a thick outer skin and a slimy interior that oozes out if you pop the outer skin.

 

[Spracklcat]

I'll take your aiptasia--I need some

 

[bertoni]

The picture's a bit blurry. If each of the "bubbles" has two openings, I would guess tunicate. If there are openings otherwise, I'd guess sponge. If it's all smooth, I'd guess an alga of some sort, but algae often are hard or impossible to identify to species without a specialist's help.

 

[terranova]

I'm going to take some more pictures. The best I can describe it is just soft. I haven't touched it or anything, I kinda go by the dont touch it if you dont know what it can do to you rule. lol

 

[Anthony Calfo]

although it looks like it may well be a group of ascidians/tunicates at a glance, there is also a Rhodophyte (red algae) that has a similar look to this (species of Nemastoma).

Do a google image search (toggle the button abover the index page search field window), see the species lits at algaebase.org, or if handy... the upper left image on page 104 of my "Reef Inverts" book.

To cut to the chase though... if these are tunicates, you will(!) see inhalent and excurrent openings (page 372 for anatomical illustration)

kindly, Anth-

 

[terranova]

thanks calfo...i'll get on that

you still on the island? you can come ID it yourself tomorrow when i have my moving party if you'd like :lmao: