Coral Hitch-Hiker ID

MMM33732 · 07/30/2008, 07:54 PM

Its on a brain coral. I noticed the tissue was receding in a small area where this was near. It has tentacles that come out that are about 1/2" long. Its diameter is about 1/2" as well, so they are pretty long tentacles proportionately. I haven't touched it, but it deff appears to be a softie, but thats just from looking at it, so it may stony. Any clue what it is? Is it worth trying to save as a frag or should I just kill it?

wrott · 07/30/2008, 08:03 PM

It looks like a LPS polyp, I'd try to chip it off w/ a screw driver and save it. Do you think it appears to be anemone-like?

MMM33732 · 07/30/2008, 08:21 PM

Yes and no. I say yes due to how long the tentacles are but I say no because they are all in one row rather than spread out in several.

Tang Salad · 07/30/2008, 08:24 PM

I suspect anemone as well. Is the oral disc striated?

MMM33732 · 07/30/2008, 08:33 PM

Not too sure what you mean by that.. It does look like an anemone in a way, but all of its tentacles are in one row. If it were an anemone, any clue what type it may be?

Tang Salad · 07/30/2008, 08:45 PM

LOL yeah, sorry. "oral disc striated" means "lines in the middle part radiating from center"

It could be an aiptasia, could be another. Any chance you can get an open pic?

Percula9 · 07/30/2008, 09:11 PM

Might be a small Fungia ( plate coral) Is there a slit in the center?

MMM33732 · 07/31/2008, 12:13 PM

No, its oral disk isn't striated. Doesn't seem like a plate coral either. Next time its tentacles are out I'll try to get a picture, but so far, the only time they have been out is when I feed the brain coral that it sits on. This further makes me think its some sort of LPS or perhaps softie rather than an anemone.

mille239 · 07/31/2008, 03:34 PM

I don't know much about brain coral reproduction, but looking at the tissue of the main coral adjacent the small one it almost appears as a new baby brain, which has bud-off from the larger coral. They may not reproduce like that, in which case ignore my comment

)

musty baby · 07/31/2008, 03:41 PM

Seconded. Looks to me like a small head of whatever it is the main colony is.

MMM33732 · 07/31/2008, 08:21 PM

I agree with that however I find it odd that a bud of the original colony would be able to sting it... I suppose the tissue retention may be from something else, but it really looks like its from whatever that is. Next time the tentacles are out I'll try to compare them to the brain colony to see any resemblance. If it were a bid of the original, would the buds tentacles be proportional to its size or would they match that of the mother colony?

wrott · 07/31/2008, 08:41 PM

I believe if it was a bud it would not sting the mother.
It could be a type of flower or rock anemone, it should change shape during light/dark intervals--but still a cool piece.
If it is stinging the brain, I would chip it off and glue it in a low light area.
After a few weeks we'll see what it grows out to be.

07/30/2008, 07:54 PM	#1
MMM33732 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 690	Coral Hitch-Hiker ID Its on a brain coral. I noticed the tissue was receding in a small area where this was near. It has tentacles that come out that are about 1/2" long. Its diameter is about 1/2" as well, so they are pretty long tentacles proportionately. I haven't touched it, but it deff appears to be a softie, but thats just from looking at it, so it may stony. Any clue what it is? Is it worth trying to save as a frag or should I just kill it?

07/30/2008, 08:03 PM	#2
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	It looks like a LPS polyp, I'd try to chip it off w/ a screw driver and save it. Do you think it appears to be anemone-like? __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

07/30/2008, 08:24 PM	#4
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	I suspect anemone as well. Is the oral disc striated? __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

07/30/2008, 08:45 PM	#6
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	LOL yeah, sorry. "oral disc striated" means "lines in the middle part radiating from center" It could be an aiptasia, could be another. Any chance you can get an open pic? __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

07/31/2008, 03:34 PM	#9
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	I don't know much about brain coral reproduction, but looking at the tissue of the main coral adjacent the small one it almost appears as a new baby brain, which has bud-off from the larger coral. They may not reproduce like that, in which case ignore my comment ) __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

07/30/2008, 08:21 PM	#3
MMM33732 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 690	Yes and no. I say yes due to how long the tentacles are but I say no because they are all in one row rather than spread out in several.

07/30/2008, 08:33 PM	#5
MMM33732 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 690	Not too sure what you mean by that.. It does look like an anemone in a way, but all of its tentacles are in one row. If it were an anemone, any clue what type it may be?

07/30/2008, 09:11 PM	#7
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	Might be a small Fungia ( plate coral) Is there a slit in the center?

07/31/2008, 12:13 PM	#8
MMM33732 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 690	No, its oral disk isn't striated. Doesn't seem like a plate coral either. Next time its tentacles are out I'll try to get a picture, but so far, the only time they have been out is when I feed the brain coral that it sits on. This further makes me think its some sort of LPS or perhaps softie rather than an anemone.

07/31/2008, 03:41 PM	#10
musty baby Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: over yonder Posts: 1,751	Seconded. Looks to me like a small head of whatever it is the main colony is.

07/31/2008, 08:21 PM	#11
MMM33732 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 690	I agree with that however I find it odd that a bud of the original colony would be able to sting it... I suppose the tissue retention may be from something else, but it really looks like its from whatever that is. Next time the tentacles are out I'll try to compare them to the brain colony to see any resemblance. If it were a bid of the original, would the buds tentacles be proportional to its size or would they match that of the mother colony?

07/31/2008, 08:41 PM	#12
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	I believe if it was a bud it would not sting the mother. It could be a type of flower or rock anemone, it should change shape during light/dark intervals--but still a cool piece. If it is stinging the brain, I would chip it off and glue it in a low light area. After a few weeks we'll see what it grows out to be. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt