Sponge or tunicate? 11/8/2009
Dearest Crew,
I was wondering if you could help me with an ID I cannot make very confidently based on what I have seen after searching your site (please see attached pictures). I would have bet these were sponges, just because they have a texture just like a sponge would have. On the other hand, they tend to have 1-2 holes per mass (see red arrows in
picture), and I have seen pictures of tunicates that "could" look this way. What would be your opinion? Any ideas about taxonomic ID?
as always, eternally grateful to you for this service to reef nuts like me,
Vivian
<Am almost certain these are Syconoid sponges. Please search WWM with this name or peruse the Sponge ID subFAQs files:
http://wetwebmedia.com/SpongePIX/SpongeIDF11.htm
and the linked files above. These are no problem. Bob Fenner>

Purple rope sponge... ID, no pic 10/7/09
Hi,
I love your site guys very informative and helpful. I work at Exotic Aquatics in Balt., Md and regularly use your site for help or just to check my own knowledge!
I have what I believe to be a small purple rope sponge. It is maybe eight or nine inches long and three or four in diameter; attached to a small branch of live rock with rope like pieces growing out of it and extending I to the water various lengths to 6".
I can't find much info on these as aquarium specimens and need some general care and maintenance info. Am I possibly misidentifying this sponge?
<Mmmm, could you send along an image or two?>
Does he eat particulate matter from the water like other sponges?
<Due to the color you mention, this is likely a non-photosynthetic species>
How and what is the best way to feed? And is there any way to know/detect his status and health?
<For a store... likely just non-decomposition>
Lastly, is be possibly toxic and maybe not a good aquarium animal at all?
<Odds are that this specimen is non-toxic>
Thanks for your help guys.
Dave Phelps
Balt., Md
<Please send along a well-resolved pic of size. Bob Fenner>

Re: Purple sponge, ID... more 10/7/2009
Here's a pic of that sponge. This is the best i could get; its at a strange angle to the glass.
One thing, I might have mislead you a little bit: he is no longer at the store but in my home reef tank now; that's why I was concerned with feeding. But in here it should be very similar as my aquarium is well established and running for 3+ years. Thanks again for your help.
Dave Phelps
Balto., Md
<This might be an Aplysina cauliformis... but such identifications are difficult w/o sampling the colony for structural elements... Do you know the ocean of origin? BobF>

Sponge I.D. 9/28/09
Hi Crew,
Have a sponge id I'm hoping you guys can confirm or help with a kick in the right direction. I know they're hard to id due to the 1000's of species, but after scouring databases and WWM, I believe this to be Spirastrella vagabunda.
<Mmm... I don't think so, but...>
I have thought this from their first appearance on the new live rock, but they have spread to 50% of the live rock(colonies approximately the size of quarters and dimes) in a 55 gallon aquarium in less than 3 weeks. I wasn't aware of this species reproducing at such high rates.
Hopefully the pictures aren't absolutely horrible. I'm an avid diver and aquarist.... but a HORRIBLE photographer. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.
--
~ Glenn
<Your pix show definitely some sort of sponge, but also I think an encrusting algae... Definitive ID to at least Class... could be done with a simple microscope and reference. Bob Fenner>

Florida Sponge ID 9/10/09
Greetings resident fish (and hopefully sponge) expert
<No sponge expert except when using one for washing walls.>
I just received a livestock order from an online company. In the order, they replaced the sponge I ordered with the one shown in the photo. The customer service gal said she spent 3 hours trying to find out what it
was but couldn't find anything. She did say it came from off the Florida coast though. I've done some searching myself, including the WWM site and can't find anything either. If you can identify it, I'd be very
appreciative.
<Looks like a specie of Agelas found in Florida waters. Sponge brittle stars (Ophiothrix suensonii )
are often found living inside this sponge. Bob and other crew members dive these waters and may have a more accurate ID.>
<<Might be a small A. clathrodes. RMF>>
Thanks in advance.
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Michael

Re: Sponge question 8/19/09
Hi Bob (and friends),
<Yo!>
Thanks for the info and good advice. Looks like I have some hard work ahead of me.
<Mmm, not so hard>
I did watch this sponge's health in the store and waited several weeks before buying it to make sure it did not suffer in transport or have air exposure, so at least that is something. I just have a couple more quick questions, if in addition to the ultra min F, I also spray the sponge with the liquid left over from when I thaw enriched brine shrimp, do you think this would help?
<I do>
I have also read on the web that stirring up the sand bed can help is this true?
<Can help, yes>
I have spent a fair amount of time trying to ID this sponge, but can't seem to do better than ascertaining its a fan sponge, I have attached a picture of it, do you have any suggestions?
<Mmm, yes: try here:
http://www.spongeguide.org>
Thanks very much, I really would like this sponge to do well, I'd hate to think I condemned it. Are there any types of photosynthetic sponges you would recommend that are hardy enough to do well under compact fluorescents?
<Yes... posted: http://wetwebmedia.com/spongeselfaqs.htm >
To answer your question about reading your pages, I really can't say for the total (its a LOT), but I can say at least 4 hours in the last two days lol
Best fishes,
Alex
<And you. BobF>