Polyp ID Help

MarineFishGuy · 09/01/2007, 09:04 AM

I bought a piece of Live Rock and it had a few of these polyps on it. They have now increased to cover about 25% of this piece of LR in 2 months.
So far they have not spread to any other pieces of LR.
When touched they close up like zooas, but they are each an individual polyp, there is no visible connective tissue between them.
They fluoresce green under actinic lighting.
They are the size of a dime or smaller.
They have a short stalk and appear to like the light.
They don't bother the inverts (turbo grazer snails and red legs hermits).
Can anyone help identify what type of polyps they are.
I thought they were zooas at first, but now I am not so sure.
TIA
Ken

JetCat USA · 09/01/2007, 09:12 AM

they are paly's (Palythoa)

MarineFishGuy · 09/02/2007, 07:17 AM

Thanks JetCat. I appreciate the ID.

I read they can sting pretty good. I can attest to that, I had a cut and brushed one. I felt the sting and it caused me to feel very groggy and lightheaded for several hours. I also had the copper taste in my mouth.

I am glad to find out they are not a pest since they are thriving in my tank. I also like how they glow green under the actinics.

Ken

Mykel Obvious · 09/02/2007, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MarineFishGuy
Thanks JetCat. I appreciate the ID.

I read they can sting pretty good. I can attest to that, I had a cut and brushed one. I felt the sting and it caused me to feel very groggy and lightheaded for several hours. I also had the copper taste in my mouth.

I am glad to find out they are not a pest since they are thriving in my tank. I also like how they glow green under the actinics.

Ken

Be VERY careful about that as Palytoxin can KILL you!!

Quote:

Palytoxin, or "Limu-make-o-Hana" by its Hawaiian name, is a highly toxic marine compound isolated from the zoanthid coral Palythoa. The early Hawaiians recognized the potent toxicity of this organism and applied it to the tips of their spears as a poison. Palythoa species are abundant in most tropical waters with many species reported to be at least "moderately toxic" (Fenical 1982). The palytoxin isolated from P. toxica is thought to be one of the most poisonous nonproteinaceous substances known (Moore 1971 and Scheuer).

be safe,
mikey

09/01/2007, 09:04 AM	#1
MarineFishGuy Capn Jack Sparrow Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Central Oh-io Posts: 804	Polyp ID Help I bought a piece of Live Rock and it had a few of these polyps on it. They have now increased to cover about 25% of this piece of LR in 2 months. So far they have not spread to any other pieces of LR. When touched they close up like zooas, but they are each an individual polyp, there is no visible connective tissue between them. They fluoresce green under actinic lighting. They are the size of a dime or smaller. They have a short stalk and appear to like the light. They don't bother the inverts (turbo grazer snails and red legs hermits). Can anyone help identify what type of polyps they are. I thought they were zooas at first, but now I am not so sure. TIA Ken __________________ The Salt Life! Current Tank Info: 75g Mixed Reef, 40g Refugium, 100 Gallon sump, DIY Dual Recirc 12" x24" skimmer, 2x175w Halides.

09/02/2007, 07:17 AM	#3
MarineFishGuy Capn Jack Sparrow Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Central Oh-io Posts: 804	Thanks JetCat. I appreciate the ID. I read they can sting pretty good. I can attest to that, I had a cut and brushed one. I felt the sting and it caused me to feel very groggy and lightheaded for several hours. I also had the copper taste in my mouth. I am glad to find out they are not a pest since they are thriving in my tank. I also like how they glow green under the actinics. Ken __________________ The Salt Life! Current Tank Info: 75g Mixed Reef, 40g Refugium, 100 Gallon sump, DIY Dual Recirc 12" x24" skimmer, 2x175w Halides.

09/01/2007, 09:12 AM	#2
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	they are paly's (Palythoa)