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FAQs about Non-Vertebrate Animal Identification
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Related Articles: Marine Invertebrates, Marine Invertebrate Systems, Marine Invertebrate Compatibility,
Marine Invertebrate Disease,
Marine Invertebrate
Reproduction, Quarantine of Corals and
Invertebrates, Feeding
Reef Invertebrates, Lighting
Marine Invertebrates,
Water
Flow, How Much is Enough,
Related FAQs: Non-Vert IDs 1, Non-Vert IDs 2, Non-Vert IDs 3, Non-Vert IDs 4, Non-Vert IDs 5, Non-Vert IDs 6, Non-Vert IDs 7, Non-Vert IDs 8, Non-Vert IDs 9, Non-Vert IDs 10, Non-Vert IDs 11, Non-Vert IDs 12, Non-Vert IDs 13, Non-Vert IDs 14, Non-Vert IDs 15, Non-Vert IDs 16, Non-Vert IDs 17, Non-Vert IDs 18, Non-Vert. ID 19, Non-Vert. ID 20, Non-Vert. ID 21, Non-Vert. ID 22, Non-Vert. ID 23, Non-Vert. ID 25, Non-Vert ID 26, Non-Vert ID 27, Non-Vert ID 28, Non-Vert ID 29, Non-Vert ID 30, Non-Vert ID 31, Non-Vert ID 32, Non-Vert 33, Non-Vert ID 34 Non-Vert ID 35, Non-Vert ID 36, Non-Vert ID 37, Non-Vert ID 38, Non-Vert ID 39, Non-Vert ID 40, Non-Vert ID 41, Non-Vert ID 42, Non-Vert ID 43, Non-Vert ID 44, Non-Vert ID 45, Non-Vert ID 46, Non-Vert ID 47, Non-Vert ID 48, Non-Vert ID 49, Non-Vert ID 50, Non-Vert ID 51, Non-Vert ID 52, Non-Vert ID 53, Non-Vert ID 54, Non-Vert ID 55,
Non-Vert ID 56, Non-Vert ID
57, Non-Vert ID 58,
Non-Vert ID 59,
Non-Vert ID 60,
Non-Vert ID 61,
Non-Vert ID 62, Non-Vert ID 63,
Non-Vert ID 64,
Non-Vert ID 65,
Non-Vert ID 66,
Non-Vert ID 67,
Non-Vert ID 69, & Marine Invertebrates,
Marine Invert.s 2,
Marine Invert.s 3, & FAQs about:
Marine Invertebrate Behavior,
Marine Invertebrate
Compatibility, Marine
Invertebrate Selection, Marine
Invertebrate Systems, Feeding
Reef Invertebrates, Marine
Invertebrate Disease, Marine
Invertebrate Reproduction, &
& LR
Life Identification, LR Hitchhiker ID
1, Anemone Identification,
Aiptasia
Identification, Aiptasia ID 2,
Worm Identification, Tubeworm ID, Polychaete Identification, Snail Identification, Marine Crab
Identification, Marine Invert.s 1,
Marine Invert.s 2, Marine Plankton,
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20 gal Nano... ID 5/5/20
Hello, its been quite a long time since I've emailed for help.
<Gino>
I have a 20 gallon long nano reef tank that has been setup for about year.
Currently
all I have in it is some green star polyps, 2 Juvenile Snowflake clowns and
a sharknose goby.
Everything was fine until about a month and half ago, I seen this little
white, hard, almost calcified
branching (sponge?...Please see photos)
<Maybe; or... polychaete worms, algae, or...?>
in my overflow box. Within in a week I started seeing it on the rocks and
the walls of my tank and in my sump. Over the past few weeks, its
multiplying like crazy.
It was all over my pumps, reactor, heater, and the walls of my sump too. I
tore my sump apart and scraped it off the walls and the equipment, and did a
10 gallon water change.
Also cleaned my overflow box as best as I could. Its still on 2 of the
largest rocks in my tank. In my 18
years keeping reef tanks, I've never seen this stuff before. Is it a sponge?
<It might be. Need a closer, better resolved pic>
and how do I get rid of it. Its extremely invasive.
<Either keep removing physically (no fun), try to introduce a competitor,
predator...>
Thanks in advance for your help.. and I hope you are staying safe during
this pandemic.
Gino
<Thank you, Bob Fenner>
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Saltwater Aquarium Identification Question
Crew,
<Marshall>
I want to thank you for the amazing job you do in provide the best
information available to your fellow aquarium fanatics. I donate regularly
on your website and I urge others to do so also.
<Thanks for your kind words! we are really glad to help fellow hobbyists and
thank you so much for your donations too.>
I have a question for you that I have not been able to find a clear answer
to either on your website or through a general Google search.
I have attached three pictures (hopefully not too large) that are the basis
of my question. As background, I have had my around 110-gallon saltwater
reef tank for well over 20 years.
<Wow !... You’ve been doing things right.>
It has fish, live rock, corals, bubble tip anemones, conches, snails, and
other lifeforms. I have not added anything to the tank for probably over 10
years, and all of a sudden a couple of months ago what I think may be a
white anemone basically appeared out of nowhere. As the photos show it is
obviously thriving in my tank.
<I see>
For my personal knowledge, I was wondering what genus & species it is. As I
said I cannot find the answer so I am hoping you might be able to help me.
<Does look like a Long tentacle anemone (Macrodactyla doreensis)... Bob,
what’s your guess?>
<<Oh, answered concurrently. He lists BTA... so would go w/ that anemone as
my guess. B>>
Stay Healthy and Be Safe!!
<And you!>
Thank you.
Marshall E. Ochylski
<Cheers. Wil>
Saltwater Aquarium Identification Question /RMF
Crew,
<Marshall>
I want to thank you for the amazing job you do in provide the best
information available to your fellow aquarium fanatics. I donate regularly
on your website and I urge others to do so also.
<Ahh, I thank you>
I have a question for you that I have not been able to find a clear answer
to either on your website or through a general Google search.
<Okay>
I have attached three pictures (hopefully not too large) that are the basis
of my question. As background, I have had my around 110 gallon saltwater
reef tank for well over 20 years. It has fish, live rock, corals, bubble tip
anemones, conches, snails, and other lifeforms. I have not added anything to
the tank for probably over 10 years, and all of a sudden a couple of months
ago what I think may be a white anemone basically appeared out of nowhere.
As the photos show it is obviously thriving in my tank.
For my personal knowledge, I was wondering what genus & species it is. As I
said I cannot find the answer so I am hoping you might be able to help me.
Stay Healthy and Be Safe!!
<Endeavouring to>
Thank you.
Marshall E. Ochylski
<Am glad you listed your livestock... this is very likely a (pedal) tear of
a BTA, Entacmaea... your Bubble Tip Anemone... this form of asexual
reproduction/cloning occurs under both good and stressful conditions... and
in time this piece will grow to be a new (though genetically identical)
individual.
Thank you for sharing. Bob Fenner>
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Help identifying? 8/12/19
Hi!
<Ross>
I have a one-year-old, 180 gallon, cold, salt water tank. The only organisms in
the tank are two baby chain Catsharks, 1 brittle star and 1 sea star. I use the
Seneye reef monitoring system and all levels are
good. The other day, I saw the organisms pictured below growing on some the
rocks and sand. I make my seawater so nothing hitched a ride there.
I don't even know where to begin to classify these. Are they algae? Some sort of
invertebrate? Each is about 1 cm tall. Any ideas to what they are?
<Only a guess or two, based on the pix and the info. provided. My first is that
these are sponges... Likely Silicate based... could be other invertebrate life,
algae... Do you have a low power microscope? Maybe one w/ a USB connection that
you could dissect some, send pix? Bob Fenner>
Thanks so much.
Best,
Ross Henderson
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Re: Help identifying? 8/12/19
Hi Bob,
<Hey Ross>
We have some new microscopes that might have a USB port but I’ve never actually
tried that. I’ll take a look this week and see what I can find.
Thanks.
Ross
<Thank you. BobF>
Re: Help identifying? Mar. invert.... spg?
8/16/19
Hi Bob,
No luck yet on getting a picture yet. Once the school year starts, I'll ask my
colleagues if they have a camera attachment for the microscopes. If not, I'll
acquire one. I'll get back to you in a couple of weeks. Thanks for your help and
patience.
Ross
<Yeah mate. Do see here re my input on (the cheapy) scopes I have/use:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/microscopfaqs.htm
BobF>
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Salt water critter ID 7/22/19
Aloha, Mr. Fenner and staff, I have a 125 gal saltwater tank. The tank has been
up and running for almost a year. I have a very little clean-up crew and have
added four corals to the system about 1 month ago. yesterday I noticed little
white pinhead dots on the tank glass. They do not feel hard and have tentacles
(?) that move with the water flow. I did have a white cloud algal bloom that was
taken care of with a few small water changes, but other than that all of my
water qualities have been spot on. please see the attached photos. Thank you for
all of your help. Michelle Nason
<Looks to be some sort of Medusoid life... Hydrozoan, Scyphozoan Cnidarian or
Ctenophore; likely strobilation from part of the hard structure of your new
corals or live rock. Not likely problematical; will be sifted out by your
mechanical filtration. Bob Fenner>
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Re: Salt water critter ID 7/22/19
Thank you very much.
Michelle
<Welcome Mich. BobF>
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Bugs
7/4/19
<27 megs!!!!! WE have limits on file/storage size... READ before sending>
Would you please help to identify the circular bug ? It has right arms is
clear/white with some horizontal fragmented black bands. Approximately .5
- 1 mm size. When it rains it looks like a jelly, on the glass it appears to
look like a star.
Thanks Harry
<Is a jelly, Medusoid animal of some sort... Bob Fenner>
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Invertebrate ID request
3/23/19
I was recommended by my local reef club to reach out to you in hopes of
identifying what appears to have been a 'pest' in my reef. I certainly don't
mean to bother you, but if you have the time, could you check these photos and
let me know if you have an idea as to what the critter is?
<... appears to be some sort of... Seaslug. Head like a Melibe sp., other
characteristics... breathing apparatus on its back...?>
I would greatly appreciate it! I found it appearing to be feasting on a Favia.
It was no more than a quarter inch in length and as it certainly didn't look
beneficial, I removed it promptly and there wasn't any visible damage to the
Favia. I have only added a single small chalice frag & a few small Zoa frags in
recent months. I dip everything prior to adding to my tank, and the frags
weren't big enough to hide any hitchhikers, unless they were too small to be
seen.
<Mmm; don't know re "feasting"; might be "just there"; but I'd likely remove as
well>
I did post this on the #AskBRStv FB group and the only thought there was that it
could be a Nudibranch, but it didn't appear to be any type of sea slug to me. It
appeared to be grey, with an oval-ish head/body on one end and several short
legs/appendages on the other,
<I agree w/ your desc.>
which are somewhat obscured in the photos due to what appears to be algae that
this critter had adorned itself with. In the first photo, zoomed in, you can see
some appendages that seem to come back towards the head/body, one or two of
these seem to be in a "hook" form that tapers at the end, while one looks like a
tube with an open end.
I appreciate any assistance you can provide! Thank you!
<Thank you for sharing. Bob Fenner>
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Re: Invertebrate ID request
3/23/19
Thank you for the quick reply & your educated opinion, it is appreciated!
<Glad to share Per. BobF> |
unknown critter - 02/26/2019
MOV
Good morning Bob,
<I'm sure Bob will answer here too.>
Here is the video of the unknown critter that David asked me to send to you.
Thank you for your help in identifying this, but since I wasn't sure at the time
if he's a good guy or a bad guy I took him out of my tank just to be safe.
<I can't tell for sure, but it certainly looks and behaves like a hermit crab -
the way it has little claws and appears to be bringing food to its mouth with
them. IF it is a little hermit crab, of the sort that stays
small, they are neither "good guys" nor "bad guys." They can be a bit of a minor
menace is a reef tank, picking at corals and pestering snails.
Otherwise, they are just harmless scavengers.>
Thanks
V/r
Kat
<Cheers,
Sara L.>
unknown critter
2/26/19
Good morning Bob,
<Hey Kat>
Here is the video of the unknown critter that David asked me to send to you.
<Ah yes>
Thank you for your help in identifying this, but since I wasn't sure at the time
if he's a good guy or a bad guy I took him out of my tank just to be safe.
<I'd leave in. Is a small hermit crab... in what appears to be a tusk, scaphopod
shell. Not likely to get too large or destructive>
Thanks
V/r
Kat
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>
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