Looky what i found on a Gorgonian..

ds4x4 · 12/01/2009, 12:48 PM

haven't researched what this is yet but i figured i would post it up. I at one time thought it was a wierd growth even tried to peel it off and thought it would hurt the coral and left it. Now i looked today and the growth was moving!! the pictures are taken through a magnifying glass more specifically the little double mag dot.

I'm not sure that it has done any harm to the coral and may actually be beneficial luckily in the 5 mos + ive had it the thing has never left the branches..

enjoy

ScarletReef · 12/01/2009, 01:06 PM

Some kind of nudi? Might be eating it, but idk. Looks pretty cute.

Elysia · 12/01/2009, 01:16 PM

Its hard to tell from the photo, but my first guess would be that it is a snail that preys upon gorgonians, like a type of flamingo tongue*.

* Sorry, found out my use of that common name was incorrect, as it points to a specific species and not a group of animals. Instead, you should look into the Ovulids, which are also known as cowry allies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovulidae

You may want to post in the "Other Invertebrates" section, as well. You are likely to get a more precise id there.

TheMcs · 12/01/2009, 01:28 PM

A gorgonian eating nudi, you can find them all over in the Caribbean. You'll have to sacrifice one.

mikeBurchett · 12/01/2009, 01:38 PM

That thing is wild looking. Never knew they existed.

Thanks for sharing.

elegance coral · 12/01/2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMcs

A gorgonian eating nudi, you can find them all over in the Caribbean. You'll have to sacrifice one.

I agree. That thing needs to be toast. If not, it will consume the gorgonian, then starve to death, and you won't have either.

Names Brucey · 12/01/2009, 09:06 PM

Are they common?

noahm · 12/01/2009, 09:38 PM

It is not a nudi, it is a type of snail that does eat the gorg, but barely does any damage. I will locate the exact species. I had one for several months.

Edit: It is Cymbovula acicularis
heres a pic of mine.

ser_renely · 12/01/2009, 10:18 PM

interesting

ds4x4 · 12/02/2009, 12:15 AM

thanks for the replies. here are a few links and it is a snail. it can change its shell color to match the gorgonian

found a few more links..

http://www.underwater-photos.com/pw082.html
http://www.oceanlight.com/simnia_photo.html
http://www.shelltrips.com/Florida/pics.html
http://coralnotesfromthefield.blogsp...ce-needed.html

Quote:

Simnia uniplicata

This lovely little (up to 3/4 inch long) shell lives and feeds on purple gorgonians, or sea whips, which are a soft coral. In Sarasota we occasionally find gorgonians in the bay, and they sometimes carry a Simnia. The mollusk aligns itself with the axis of the coral and its color and body color mimic its host, so it's very difficult to see. Furthermore, the coral has white polyps that emerge from the purple skeleton and the mantle of the mollusk is also purple with white pustules that look exactly like the coral.

Frick-n-Frags · 12/02/2009, 12:55 AM

pretty cool.

If that was my deal i would do one thing: observe the general health and development of the gorg. if it was doing well, i would leave the snail alone. that thing is totally cool and not everyone has one. If the gorg was showing stress and or damage : buh-bye mr snail

Elysia · 12/02/2009, 04:09 PM

And all those generas that you have links to, Cymbovula, Delonovolva, and Simnia, are from the family Ovulidae.

BLKTANG · 12/02/2009, 04:19 PM

Like to c that Bear Grills guy eat that thing.

luther1200 · 12/02/2009, 05:45 PM

Very cool. Are you going to keep him?

ds4x4 · 12/02/2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luther1200

Very cool. Are you going to keep him?

probably not i know someone in the Delaware Reef Club interested in taking it off my hands..

marve467 · 12/03/2009, 12:09 PM

that thing is gorgeous. Such a rich purple color

kevantheman35 · 12/03/2009, 02:07 PM

now thats interesting! i'd have to keep it

12/01/2009, 12:48 PM	#1
ds4x4 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pennsville NJ Posts: 279	Looky what i found on a Gorgonian.. haven't researched what this is yet but i figured i would post it up. I at one time thought it was a wierd growth even tried to peel it off and thought it would hurt the coral and left it. Now i looked today and the growth was moving!! the pictures are taken through a magnifying glass more specifically the little double mag dot. I'm not sure that it has done any harm to the coral and may actually be beneficial luckily in the 5 mos + ive had it the thing has never left the branches.. enjoy __________________ -Asking her for Forgiveness is much easier than asking for Permission.- Current Tank Info: 120gal Re-Build

12/01/2009, 01:16 PM	#3
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,718	Its hard to tell from the photo, but my first guess would be that it is a snail that preys upon gorgonians, like a type of flamingo tongue. Sorry, found out my use of that common name was incorrect, as it points to a specific species and not a group of animals. Instead, you should look into the Ovulids, which are also known as cowry allies. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovulidae You may want to post in the "Other Invertebrates" section, as well. You are likely to get a more precise id there. Last edited by Elysia; 12/01/2009 at 01:49 PM. Reason: correcting wording

12/01/2009, 01:28 PM	#4
TheMcs Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Posts: 2,272	A gorgonian eating nudi, you can find them all over in the Caribbean. You'll have to sacrifice one. __________________ Evaporation and top off don't count as water changes... Current Tank Info: 185g Deep Sea display, 2x 40g frag tanks, 90g fuge, 60g sump (400+ gal system)

12/01/2009, 09:38 PM	#8
noahm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,736	It is not a nudi, it is a type of snail that does eat the gorg, but barely does any damage. I will locate the exact species. I had one for several months. Edit: It is Cymbovula acicularis heres a pic of mine. Last edited by noahm; 12/01/2009 at 09:47 PM.

12/01/2009, 10:18 PM	#9
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	interesting __________________ RIP: Osc. Clown - Ammonia, YW GobY - overflow, YW Goby - Pistol shrimp, Firefish - acclimation. 5 Fire fish - pistol shrimp, Mandarin - Pistol shrimp!!!!! Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 15g sump/fuge,Tunze 9010 skimmer, Reefbreeders Photon 16" - 2 Osc. Clowns,2 Lyretail Anthias, Blue Chromis, mp20, mp10....another DAMN pistol shrimp!

12/01/2009, 01:06 PM	#2
ScarletReef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 227	Some kind of nudi? Might be eating it, but idk. Looks pretty cute.

12/01/2009, 01:38 PM	#5
mikeBurchett Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bel Air, MD Posts: 57	That thing is wild looking. Never knew they existed. Thanks for sharing.

12/01/2009, 09:06 PM	#7
Names Brucey Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Middle River, MD Posts: 272	Are they common?

12/02/2009, 12:55 AM	#11
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	pretty cool. If that was my deal i would do one thing: observe the general health and development of the gorg. if it was doing well, i would leave the snail alone. that thing is totally cool and not everyone has one. If the gorg was showing stress and or damage : buh-bye mr snail __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

12/02/2009, 04:09 PM	#12
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,718	And all those generas that you have links to, Cymbovula, Delonovolva, and Simnia, are from the family Ovulidae.

12/02/2009, 04:19 PM	#13
BLKTANG Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Never,Never Land Posts: 7,061	Like to c that Bear Grills guy eat that thing. __________________ We the few have done so much,for so long,for so little.That we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. ____________________________________________________________________________ Current Tank Info: RR 90 Maganvore sump,250w Hamilton fixture,VorTec's ASM skimmer.

12/02/2009, 05:45 PM	#14
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	Very cool. Are you going to keep him? __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

12/03/2009, 12:09 PM	#16
marve467 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 57	that thing is gorgeous. Such a rich purple color

12/03/2009, 02:07 PM	#17
kevantheman35 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fort wayne, IN Posts: 823	now thats interesting! i'd have to keep it __________________ -Kevan Current Tank Info: 34g Mixed Reef Solana (2 years old). 12g jbj nanocube dx (retired at 2 years old)