Invertebrate Identification 12/29/08
Greetings:
<Good Afternoon, Jessy here today>
I was fortunate enough last evening to observe a green creature emerge from the live rock last evening, image attached. After reading various descriptions on your excellent web site, it appear that this could be a, harmless, Chiton? I apologize for the lack of image quality. Do I recall correctly that these consume coralline algae?
<You are right in your ID. It is in fact a Chiton. Harmless algae grazer and a fun find. I, myself, just found one last week and had to do the same ID search. Cheers, Jessy>
Bob Wright

Re: What Do You Think? (Cucumber ID/Husbandry) 11/12/08 Cheers Eric that was a super fast resend. <<Hiya Simon>> I was going to put the cucumber in the nano I have, would it get sufficient food from the other fish being fed or would you still recommend the direct approach, would you turn off the flow in there whilst feeding too? <<I would still target feed this animal. As for turning off the water flow; only if it is so strong/directed such that it interferes with the animals ability to capture the food>> I like the fact of them reproducing how cool is that, can they reproduce on their own (asexual)? <<Indeed>> Also with the anemone problem, there was only one and now three, this is in the matter of about two weeks. <<Not uncommon>> I can't control them with pygmy angels as it would be totally unfair due to the tank size, <<Agreed>> I don't fancy the boiled water idea as they are right on the bottom and this would mean a full tank strip down. <<'¦?>> What about Joe's juice or Aiptasia killing fluids, any you recommend. <<Have used most all; the absolute best for Aiptasia eradication that I've discovered thus far is Aiptasia-X from Red Sea. I don't know how effective it will be against Majanos, but it is certainly worth the try>> One very last thing (promise), I have in my nano at the moment a little yellow rock goby, vermiculate wrasse, tobacco basslet, gold cheek blenny? (I think that's what they are called) and another goby long and slender with brown body with yellow stripes (not sure on name). <<Mmm, the wrasse (Macropharyngodon bipartitus) is a difficult species that requires more real estate than this 90L (23g) tank provides, as does the Tobacco Basslet>> Would you recommend putting any of these fish in my main tank (400litres) due to out-growing the nano (90litres)? <<Yes'¦ The Vermiculate Wrasse and the Tobacco Basslet>> Thing is I'll be getting triggers soon, hopefully pair of blue throats. <<Wonderful fish (had a pair myself once), and shouldn't be an issue re the Wrasse and Basslet>> Many thanks again Si :) <<A pleasure to share. Eric Russell>>

Re: What Do You Think? (Cucumber ID/Husbandry) - 11/12/08 Hi again, <<Hey Simon>> Found the cucumber ID, it is Colochirus crassus. <<Ah yes'¦>> Don't know if it has a common name unless it's just pink cucumber. <<Or "Pink and Yellow" Cucumber [grin]>> Cheers again guys. Si <<Thanks for the follow-up mate! EricR>>

I.D. Please well actually two.... 11/10/08 Hello to whom ever is answering. <Hi Rain, Sara M. here with you tonight.> First off I would like to thank all of you for a god send of a site. <More like a God Emperor... our very own Lord Leto, Mr. Fenner... and we his Fish Speakers. Sorry... have been reading the Dune series all evening.> Ever since the boyfriend decided to gift me with a 150gallon aquarium (and only one small marine book, ugh like that helps), I have found your site an invaluable source of information. <cool!> My tank is 6 months old and the biggest fights we have is about stocking. He wants to add and add and I say slow down. Oh sorry, side tracked. So, to the id's. Attached is a picture of two pieces of rock that have weird growth on them. The first one is a green blob (which is on the left), and the second is a brown leathery thing with two openings which retract when touched. I was thinking after reading your site on sea squirts that it is in fact a sea squirt. Sorry that the picture is not crystal clear. I had to resort to use my phone camera because the proper camera somehow wound up in the tank......... A whole other fight.. Well I am going to say thank you very much before I ramble. <The thing in the center of the photo does indeed look like a sea squirt.  Unfortunately, I can't make out the other thing, the "green blob" (on the left)-- it might be bubble algae or perhaps a majano anemone? I can't tell from this photo... sorry.> Sincerely, and thanks Rain
<Great name, Rain, and de nada,
Sara M.>

Hitchhiker bivalve 11/8/08 Hello there! I hope you're having a great weekend! <Thanks Gareth, yep, it looks to be a terrific weekend!> For a while now I've been trying to find an identification for a hitchhiker that I've had on my live rock since my tank was set up in June last year. <Neat> I would very much like to get a positive identification purely because I'm curious to find out more about it. I've searched here and on the 'net to no avail, could you please tell me what it is? <I sure wish I could, but I can't see quite enough detail to narrow it down sufficiently. Don't get me wrong, you got a great photo, especially given the fact that these guys never seem to arrange themselves with our viewing pleasure in mind! What I would need are at least two good hi-res photos: one taken from directly above (in order to see the entire shape of the shell and see where it's hinged) and one from the side (same goes). I'd also need to know the size and where it hitchhiked in from. Locale can make all the difference when it comes to ID work. All is not lost though. I've got a site for you to peruse that's one of my favorites. It may well enable you to narrow things down to family or even genus level. Considering the number of bivalve families and genera out there, that's quite an accomplishment! At the following site, please see the category �Bivalves� and select/go through the various shapes shown. Each shape will take you a page with photos, and each photo is a link to more photos and information. http://shell.kwansei.ac.jp/~shell/pic_book/shape.html - Hope that helps!> Thanks you very much for your time! Kind regards, <It was my pleasure, Gareth.> Gareth <Take care and have a great weekend! -Lynn>

Coral or Anenome Identification  11/07/08 Hello Crew! First, a requisite thanks for the incredible service you provide the aquarium hobby with! <our pleasure/passion> I've recently noticed an interesting creature in my tank that only appears at night. During the day time, it's almost impossible to see that it actually exists - it seems to shrink up into a tiny little ball. At night-time, it expands to about an inch in diameter. I've noticed as well, that it has split/multiplied at least once in the past few months, as there appears to be another identical creature sprouting up next to it.  At first I thought it was an aiptasia/majano, but the pictures shows these little balls at the tips of the arms, it also has no extended base, as is typical with aiptasia. As well, there is no green colouring. <This doesn't necessarily preclude it from being a majano anemone...> Anyways - I have not noticed any "aggressive" behaviour from it. It has been growing steadily over the past few months however - I've been tracking growth based on the fact that it appears to have more tentacles than the last time I checked, and its diameter has been increasing steadily as well. What on earth is it?! I've heard of "reverse-photosynthetic" creatures, which thrive in the darkness. This creature clearly does not like the light, is in a very, very shaded area, and only expands during the night! Neat! I can't believe I was able to get such crisp pictures as well. <I *suspect* that this is an anemone. However, in order to be sure, you'll have to see if you can find a skeletal base. When it's retracted, feel beneath if for a skeleton. If no skeleton, then I'd say it's most likely an anemone.> Hope you can help me out! I've included two pictures. --Adam
Sara M.>