Good or Bad Hitchhiker? Usually Okay: Pseudocorynactis spp. -- 8/3/10
Hello
<Hello Brenda, Lynn here today.>
I have sent 2 images of a "hitch hiker" that I cannot identify.
<Pretty!>
A couple of these have appeared on live rock and I am praying they are not some sort of bad anemone.
<No worries, they're definitely not anemones. What you have is actually a type of Corallimorph (mushrooms, Ricordeas, etc.) in the genus Pseudocorynactis, possibly Pseudocorynactis caribbeorum, aka the Orange Ball Corallimorph. They're commonly found in rock crevices and overhangs, and are mostly nocturnal, opening at night to catch passing pods and zooplankton. As for size, they can reportedly get fairly large, but the norm in aquaria seems to be ~5cm/2 inches or less. Also of note is that while these are carnivorous, since most are nocturnal, the risk to fishes is slight. Even with species/individuals that stay open during the day, fishes tend to steer clear, just as they would an anemone.>
I have already killed an Aiptasia recently (it killed 4 Fungia before I found it),
<Yikes!>
..but this does not look anything like the Aiptasia did, however?
<Nope, although these do share certain physical similarities with Aiptasia, they're entirely different animals.>
This critter is translucent with iridescent colours, long tentacles with a colored pom-pom at the end, about 1.5" in diameter, and has a central mouth. It has always been in this position in the tank and has not moved. I have looked everywhere to find an image that looks anything like this and have not been able to find any information.
<There are some excellent photos at this link: http://www.actiniaria.com/pseudocorynactis_caribbeorum.php
We also have more information/photos at WWM. Just Google 'Pseudocorynactis' here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/Googlesearch.htm >
Can you tell me what this might be, if it is something that can harm corals or fish,
<The potential is there, yes, but in most cases, they're innocuous.>
..and if I should get rid of it?
<I would leave it/them until or unless you experience a problem; for example, one encroaches on a coral, or the population explodes. If you should find one uncomfortably close to a coral, try eliminating it just as you would Aiptasia. As for overpopulation, that's not something that occurs all that often but under the right circumstances, it's possible so avoid over-feeding. All in all, these are beautiful little additions to systems that are for the most part inoffensive.>
Much appreciated,
<You're very welcome.>
Brenda
<Take care, Lynn Z>

New mushroom ID please 7/27/10
Good Morning Crew!
<April>
Just a quick thank you for all that you do!! I read the dailies every chance
I get (5-6 days a week) and have learned so much!
<Ah good>
On Saturday I went to my fish store to get salt mix and I saw this mushroom and decided I wanted it. It has really cool coloring. I don't think it is fully opened up yet only being in the tank almost three days. There are small orangish 'tentacles' around the very outside edge of each mushroom.
I hope you can tell from these pics. They are from my cell and aren't the best. I can take some with the actual camera later on if you need clearer ones.
<These pix are too poorly resolved (blurry) and small to tell much>
One question too...the first day they were in the tank the higher one had white stringy matter coming from it's mouth. I thought maybe it was it's insides. It seems to have rectified itself now though. Is that normal?
<Not usually, no. Can be indicative of health issues>
Again...thank you for all you do!!
April
<For identification and health input please read here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/corallim.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Anemone/ Mushroom? ID help 6/13/10
Hi,
<Saludo>
My name is Nigel and I am from the UK.
<I'm Bob from the States>
I have searched your excellent website and the internet hoping to identify some animals that I have in my marine tank but alas am still unsure, I am hoping that you may be able to help with this.
<Some sort of Corallimorpharian>
I have kept tropical fish for over 25 years and have several tanks scattered about the house ranging from 10 gallons up to 90 gallons, luckily I have a very understanding wife who also appreciates the beauty of the hobby!
<A bonus>
About 7 years ago I was carrying out some work at a customer's house and happened to mention my hobby, the customer was also a fan of tropical fish having a small tropical tank himself, he also had a 21 gallon marine tank
which he was looking at breaking down as it was located in his cellar and he felt it was not getting the attention it deserved. I had always been interested setting up a marine tank and I was offered the opportunity to purchase the complete setup for a very reasonable sum (a day's work!)
<One way of figuring/looking at such things>
At the time the tank contained plenty of live rock, 2 small 'Green Carpet Anemones' a few small metallic green mushrooms and a few polyps.
<Mmm, these may well be some latter day starved out members of the middle group>
7 years later, I have added a sump under the tank containing a DSB, live rock and Caulerpa,
<Mmm, I'd remove this... dispose of properly. See WWM re>
the main tank now is also home to a large leather/toadstool mushroom,
<Oh, this Sarcophyton might well be (mal)affecting these 'Shrooms as well... chemical allelopathy>
10+ hermit crabs, hundreds of small bristle worms, thousands of Amphipods and several feather duster worms and mussels (hitchhikers).
<Neat!>
As I stated earlier when I bought the tank I was told that the green animals were carpet anemones but I am not sure, could they just be large mushrooms?
<Am pretty sure the latter>
7 years ago there were 2, I now have around 20 ranging in size from 2 inches up to the largest which is 8 inches, they appear to reproduce/ multiply by splitting and it is normally apparent that this is going to happen when the mouth of the animal splits into 2.
<Typical for the group>
Some are attached to the rocks and others are in the sand bed which is around 2.5inches deep.
They are fed twice a week on a frozen marine quintet (Artemia, red plankton, squid, chopped cockle and chopped krill superb), I places small pieces of these next to the mouths and they slowly engulf the food.
The specific gravity is maintained at 1.0.23
<Mmm, one decimal point too many>
Temperature is 25 degrees Celsius
PH is 8.2
Lighting:
2 x T5 marine blue tubes on 10 hours daily
<I'd switch out these for whites...>
2 x Metal Halide bulbs 250W 14000K on 2 hours daily
<?! These are on a 21 gal. system? I must have gotten lost here>
2 x LED Moonlights on throughout the night
Strong internal filters are positioned at either back corner of the tank and the sump water is returned to the main tank via a spray bar so water movement is good.
I was contemplating moving into the area of keeping marine fish (only thinking of adding a couple of clownfish and maybe a Goby initially) but like to think I have learnt my lesson and will thoroughly research both fish and their requirements before going ahead so I want to be 100% sure that my set up is suitable and in particular am concerned of the reputation of carpet anemones for eating fish!
<These should be fine here>
I have moved one of the animals to my sump to aid in taking the pictures, this particular one has a diameter of approximately 4.5 inches.
Pic 1 is under 1 x T8 Marine blue light
Pics 2 and 3 are under 1 x T8 Power Glo white light
<Mmm, should work out>
I would be grateful for your help in identifying the animal on the attached pictures and thank you for your time and brilliant work on your website.
Nigel
<Thank you for sharing. Bob Fenner>

Corallimorph ID 5/31/2010
Good day to whomever is assisting with this query, and thanks to all of you for such an awesome, helpful site!
I am purchasing a lovely little mushroom from a friend, but I have no idea what it is. It has been labeled Ric. florida, yuma, plain ol mushroom,
<Mmm, not able to state definitively twixt R. floridae or R. yuma w/o seeing the oral cone, but this is likely the latter. I'd put the string:
"Identifying Ricordeas" in your search tool and read re>
Corallimorph etc etc. (I know some of those categories are overlapping!) So I just wanted to ask for a better verdict from the experts... I believe the Yuma's are the rarer/more expensive of the lot. Regardless of its pedigree I'm a fan of this coral, but as a biologist I like knowing what's in my tank!
Please refer to pics below, and thanks again!
Kind Regards,
Dane
<And you. Bob Fenner>