What is this invert growing on my Astraea?

[gchapman]

This is new, and it's new since last night. It looks like some baby anemones or a worm? (I have lots of tube worms in my tank). The white bulb on the shell....

Any ideas would be welcome -- I'm so curious!

 

[RicksReefs]

pineapple sponge

 

[markeo99]

Q-tip sponge is what I call it

 

[mhills16]

are these a problem in the aquarium? do they die easily and if they do do they release anything harful? i have one too, it is white, is that the color they stay?

 

[RokleM]

Great filter feeders and typically are signs of a healthy tank.

 

[romunov]

They are common in most tanks.

Here are some links about sponges:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rs/index.php
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rs/index.php

 

[BuddhaKiss]

definitely a pineapple sponge, tho I've only seen em grow on stationary objects, so I'm surprised to see it grow on a snail tho

 

[JackKerouac]

the name of that sponge should be Sycon

 

[NirvanaFan]

or Scypha sponge. They go by many names.

 

[JackKerouac]

yeah different name same sponge

 

[romunov]

Sponges are a female-dog to identify!

 

[Solarflare8806]

these badboys grow in my protein skimmer and filter for some reason, never had a problem with them.

 

[o0xerog0o]

I've got a few of them in my tank.. Not the nicest looking inhabitant, but they are the sign of a healthy, established tank. Oh, and I call them Q-Tip sponges, but pineapple sponge seems more suitable.

 

[jhildebrand]

Harmless