What is this thing?

[showjyr]

This is on the bottom of a frag rock I was going to give a dip in Lugols. It's about the size of a dime, and has a soft/jelly consistency. Before I went ahead with the dip I wanted to make sure it wasn't something cool or rare. So guys....what the hell is it?

 

[BLKTANG]

It looks like something cool,& rare.

No idea really tagging along.

 

[Chubosco]

This thing is not stationary right?

 

[greenbean36191]

Colonial tunicates. They're cool, but not rare.

 

[showjyr]

When I touched it (repeatedly) it didn't move, jiggle, squirm, retract, or attack me.....so guess it is.

 

[showjyr]

Had a look at tunicates but can't find one that has the same look.

 

[showjyr]

Lugols would prolly kill it, right?

 

[o.c.d.]

I have more than one pic that are very similar called Botryllus sp. Now why would you want to kill such a beautiful little creature? Personally I think you scored with that hitchhiker.

 

[showjyr]

I'll give that name a google. I don't want to kill it but I do want to kill the particularly tiny and nasty type of hyroids on that rock.

This very same rock got a 10 minute dip in H2O2 about 3 weeks ago and this colony wasn't there....fast growers.

Edit: A google search for Botryllus sp. brings up an insane amount of tunicate pics. If I had a few hours I could probably find the same one, lol.

 

[TKByrnes]

I have the same funy looking thing in my tank. Is it good or bad???? If its bad I want to pull it now while I can see it.

 

[showjyr]

Nope, as far as I know tunicates are fine. They feed on microscopic stuff.

 

[TKByrnes]

The one in my tank is blue!! He is sitting beside/on some zoa's and they are all closed. Thats why I was wondering.

 

[showjyr]

Eh...I didn't think they would crowd/overgrow corals but someone more experienced may tell you otherwise.

 

[TKByrnes]

Here is a pic of mine!! he has little like spikes on his side you can see them around the zoa's above him!

 

[showjyr]

Kinda freaky lookin. Guess I was wrong, it def looks like it's overgrowing them.

 

[TKByrnes]

It wasnt on the a few hours ago!!! Im going to pull it and place it in my fuge Till I figure out what it is and if its bad or not!!

 

[TKByrnes]

well i pulled it and it came off in pieces!!! vary small ones so I gave my zoa's a dip and then a freshwater dip just to be sure!!

 

[showjyr]

I'm gonna keep an eye on mine and make sure it doesn't crowd my zoas.

 

[o.c.d.]

Botryllus prefer semi-exposed to cryptic zones according to my book so really if you are exposing it to brighter light it shouldn't prosper and overtake. That from Steve Tyree The Ascidians(Sea Squirts)

 

[greenbean36191]

Sea squirts do just fine in full light as long as they have enough food.

Generally they're harmless, but like most sessile inverts they can compete strongly for space. They're pretty toxic, so don't have a whole lot of predators and if they're growing in the proximity of corals can overgrow them.