Pix & ID: Critters that come in your rocks: the good and the bad. - Page 95

Rob in Puyallup · 07/09/2013, 05:07 PM

Hey Sexy... I'm envious.

outitan · 07/09/2013, 06:40 PM

Was wondering if I can get some help on a couple of hitchhikers and some sponge"?" on my new rock.

A brown legged hermit.. is he safe?

Is the snail a whelk or what?

Two different types of red sponge?

This is my second go round with this Biocube 14g. The first time I had a mantis sneak past me and just devastate my livestock. Tank ended up as a crab house with lots of dragon's breath algae that I sold to the LFS. From what I read this go round I am planning on limiting any crabs other than blue legs to the sump and possibly those too after the tank gets settled. Let them clean up for now though.

Sugar Magnolia · 07/10/2013, 05:24 AM

The hermit will be fine. It'll eat left over food. The snail is a nassarius - beneficial. The other two look like tunicates to me.

melissa_landry7 · 07/10/2013, 08:26 PM

Need helping IDing something on my mushroom rock. Just noticed it had a string coming out of it!

Rob in Puyallup · 07/10/2013, 09:10 PM

Late last year I set up a brackish water Opae Ula (Hawaiian Red Shrimp) tank. In it I put several pieces of live rock with very interesting results. In amongst the critters and algae that survived the transition from marine to brackish conditions is this green something that has grown a lot over the months.

Any idea what it is? At close up it has a very interesting texture not captured in this photo.

cbass488 · 07/10/2013, 10:22 PM

Found these on the bottom of the plug that my candy cane coral lives on. I've been having trouble with something eating the stock of the coral but haven't been able to find the culprit. Could this be it? What is it?

ReeferKimberly · 07/10/2013, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbass488

Found these on the bottom of the plug that my candy cane coral lives on. I've been having trouble with something eating the stock of the coral but haven't been able to find the culprit. Could this be it? What is it?

nope, those look like pineapple sponges, harmless

cbass488 · 07/10/2013, 10:42 PM

Thanks

colortrilogy · 07/11/2013, 10:42 AM

Looks similar to the pineapple sponge just posted a few posts above???

And same algae in both shots below. Maybe Halimeda? Thank you.

colortrilogy · 07/11/2013, 10:56 AM

THe more I look, the more I think the first pic is a pineapple. Still curious about the macro. I know it's still in it's formative stage and might be hard to id. It's funny, but all the interesting stuff has grown in my sump so far.

cloak · 07/11/2013, 02:23 PM

The first picture is indeed a pineapple sponge. As far as the algae goes, it kind of looks like halimeda. Can you get a closer picture?

colortrilogy · 07/11/2013, 03:22 PM

Here you go. I do think this is halimeda. From what I've read seems safe to keep? Thanks!

cloak · 07/11/2013, 10:13 PM

Check this out.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-04/nftt/index.php

colortrilogy · 07/12/2013, 09:03 AM

Thanks cloak. Good read.

outitan · 07/12/2013, 04:50 PM

Got some new lights today, can finally see the rock clearly and am still finding hitchhikers. Need to figure out what they are and if they need to stay.

cloak · 07/12/2013, 04:53 PM

I'm not sure about the first picture, but the second one looks like a sad hidden cup coral IMO.

outitan · 07/12/2013, 04:58 PM

Thanks Cloak, googled it and looks exactly like a cup coral to me too. Brand new rock, had a stock light in the biocube go out almost as soon as i put the rock in there. New led's are amazing and now the race to identify it all is on

Sand.man · 07/13/2013, 05:39 AM

I was wondering a couple things, would this be a sponge or a sea squirt?

and then I was wondering, what would be the greyish growth on it? It's slimy to the touch, unlike the squirt/sponge, which is rather furry.

Also, how would I know if the sponge/squirt is dying or not? I think it was exposed to air for maybe 20 seconds or so... would that be enough to kill it?

And last question, I'm trying to decide whether or not I should keep that peice of rock in my aquarium or not... I feel like if it's dying then it'll be bad for my water, correct? although it hasn't discoloured or anything within the 2 weeks that it was inside my tank. It'd be nice to keep it, it gives a good orange colour to my otherwise colorless rocks lol.

Thank you!!

jcarey · 07/13/2013, 08:59 PM

Is this an asymetrical star?

Dectr6 · 07/14/2013, 02:14 PM

Hello, wondering if someone could help me identify these two different hitchhikers that came in on some Liverock several months ago. The one that looks like Fronds on a small plant is obviously an animal of some sort. The fronds are continuously bending down and going inside and then coming back out as if it is eating and cleaning off whatever it catches. It is only about 1 inch tall and is very active. This just showed up a few weeks ago though I am certain it probably came in on the live rock that I put in approximately five months ago. The other coral is approximately 1 inch wide and appears very healthy and has been in the tank since the live rock came. I'm also having several see squirts that are showing up. Is it normal for several sea squirts or tunicates to show up so many months after Live rock has been put in? Thanks for any information you may be able to provide, David

Dectr6 · 07/14/2013, 02:17 PM

Sorry, can't seem to figure out how to post more than one picture at a time. This is the coral.

Sugar Magnolia · 07/15/2013, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sand.man

I was wondering a couple things, would this be a sponge or a sea squirt?

and then I was wondering, what would be the greyish growth on it? It's slimy to the touch, unlike the squirt/sponge, which is rather furry.

Also, how would I know if the sponge/squirt is dying or not? I think it was exposed to air for maybe 20 seconds or so... would that be enough to kill it?

And last question, I'm trying to decide whether or not I should keep that peice of rock in my aquarium or not... I feel like if it's dying then it'll be bad for my water, correct? although it hasn't discoloured or anything within the 2 weeks that it was inside my tank. It'd be nice to keep it, it gives a good orange colour to my otherwise colorless rocks lol.

Thank you!!

Those are harmless sponges. Not a problem at all to keep the rock in the tank.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcarey

Is this an asymetrical star?

It's an asterina starfish. Most are harmless but there are some that munch on corals. your call if you want to keep it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dectr6

Hello, wondering if someone could help me identify these two different hitchhikers that came in on some Liverock several months ago. The one that looks like Fronds on a small plant is obviously an animal of some sort. The fronds are continuously bending down and going inside and then coming back out as if it is eating and cleaning off whatever it catches. It is only about 1 inch tall and is very active. This just showed up a few weeks ago though I am certain it probably came in on the live rock that I put in approximately five months ago. The other coral is approximately 1 inch wide and appears very healthy and has been in the tank since the live rock came. I'm also having several see squirts that are showing up. Is it normal for several sea squirts or tunicates to show up so many months after Live rock has been put in? Thanks for any information you may be able to provide, David

That is a rock dwelling cucumber. They are harmless filter feeders.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dectr6

Sorry, can't seem to figure out how to post more than one picture at a time. This is the coral.

I really can't tell what that is. Does it have a hard skeleton or is it completely soft?

Dectr6 · 07/15/2013, 05:49 AM

Hi Adrianne, thanks for the ID on the first one. Didnt know there was such a thing. I've just seen the sand dwelling type. The coral is hard. The pedestal is about an inch tall and 3/4" in diameter. The pedestal and the top is completely stone like until the tentacles come out. They are out in the picture. It's mostly golden colored with some green around the edges. Thanks for your help. David

Dectr6 · 07/15/2013, 05:52 AM

I got to looking around and found several more of the cucumbers. The tentacles are constantly moving. Curling downward into the center and vanishing and then immediately uncurling back into the extended position.

Sugar Magnolia · 07/15/2013, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dectr6

Hi Adrianne, thanks for the ID on the first one. Didnt know there was such a thing. I've just seen the sand dwelling type. The coral is hard. The pedestal is about an inch tall and 3/4" in diameter. The pedestal and the top is completely stone like until the tentacles come out. They are out in the picture. It's mostly golden colored with some green around the edges. Thanks for your help. David

I'm thinking some type of brain coral.

07/10/2013, 05:24 AM	#2353
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	The hermit will be fine. It'll eat left over food. The snail is a nassarius - beneficial. The other two look like tunicates to me. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

07/11/2013, 10:42 AM	#2359
colortrilogy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 51	Couple more ids please :) Looks similar to the pineapple sponge just posted a few posts above??? And same algae in both shots below. Maybe Halimeda? Thank you.

07/15/2013, 05:49 AM	#2373
Dectr6 Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Shreveport, LA Posts: 14	Hi Adrianne, thanks for the ID on the first one. Didnt know there was such a thing. I've just seen the sand dwelling type. The coral is hard. The pedestal is about an inch tall and 3/4" in diameter. The pedestal and the top is completely stone like until the tentacles come out. They are out in the picture. It's mostly golden colored with some green around the edges. Thanks for your help. David __________________ 75G starfire rimless Current Tank Info: 75G reef, 130W LED's, 24G sump, asm skimmer

07/15/2013, 05:52 AM	#2374
Dectr6 Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Shreveport, LA Posts: 14	I got to looking around and found several more of the cucumbers. The tentacles are constantly moving. Curling downward into the center and vanishing and then immediately uncurling back into the extended position. __________________ 75G starfire rimless Current Tank Info: 75G reef, 130W LED's, 24G sump, asm skimmer

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07/09/2013, 05:07 PM	#2351
Rob in Puyallup Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 191	Hey Sexy... I'm envious.

07/10/2013, 08:26 PM	#2354
melissa_landry7 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 4	Need helping IDing something on my mushroom rock. Just noticed it had a string coming out of it!

07/10/2013, 10:42 PM	#2358
cbass488 Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 54	Thanks

07/11/2013, 10:56 AM	#2360
colortrilogy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 51	THe more I look, the more I think the first pic is a pineapple. Still curious about the macro. I know it's still in it's formative stage and might be hard to id. It's funny, but all the interesting stuff has grown in my sump so far.

07/11/2013, 02:23 PM	#2361
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	The first picture is indeed a pineapple sponge. As far as the algae goes, it kind of looks like halimeda. Can you get a closer picture?

07/11/2013, 10:13 PM	#2363
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Check this out. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-04/nftt/index.php

07/12/2013, 09:03 AM	#2364
colortrilogy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 51	Thanks cloak. Good read.

07/12/2013, 04:53 PM	#2366
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I'm not sure about the first picture, but the second one looks like a sad hidden cup coral IMO.

07/12/2013, 04:58 PM	#2367
outitan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 11	Thanks Cloak, googled it and looks exactly like a cup coral to me too. Brand new rock, had a stock light in the biocube go out almost as soon as i put the rock in there. New led's are amazing and now the race to identify it all is on

07/13/2013, 05:39 AM	#2368
Sand.man Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 92	I was wondering a couple things, would this be a sponge or a sea squirt? and then I was wondering, what would be the greyish growth on it? It's slimy to the touch, unlike the squirt/sponge, which is rather furry. Also, how would I know if the sponge/squirt is dying or not? I think it was exposed to air for maybe 20 seconds or so... would that be enough to kill it? And last question, I'm trying to decide whether or not I should keep that peice of rock in my aquarium or not... I feel like if it's dying then it'll be bad for my water, correct? although it hasn't discoloured or anything within the 2 weeks that it was inside my tank. It'd be nice to keep it, it gives a good orange colour to my otherwise colorless rocks lol. Thank you!!