Unknown Hitchie

[dustins]

Hey,

I discovered this hitchiker on my Vanuatu Live rock. I don't think it's a sponge because at night it seems to have what I believe to be little polyps that come out. They look like tiny fingers. I tried to get another shot at night of this but was unable to.

If anyone can ID this and tell me how I can keep it alive during the cycle, please let me know. I could even remove it to someone elses tank if needed.

THanks,

Dustin

 

[Peter Eichler]

Most likely portites coral of some type.

 

[Salamander]

Is it hard? It looks like it could be Siderestrea, a common hitchhiker. Also known as starlet coral. Its supposedly a pretty hardy coral.

 

[dustins]

It is hard. Can I feed it to keep it through the cycle? If so, what?

 

[mthedude]

looks a lot like a "flower pot" type of coral. I wouldn't keep it in a cycling tank with any amonia or nitrite levels but they actually prefer "dirty" water, so nitrates would be ok.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

We won't be able to tell you without a skeletal analysis. The reason being is that the coral is already dead. See the algae film growing on the skeleton and lack of polyps? Sorry, but there is very little chance that the coral is alive. Even if it is, it probably won't survive the cycle.

 

[dustins]

Ok.. thanks