CnidIDF10

FAQs on Identification of Stinging-Celled Animals 10

Related Articles: Cnidarians, Water Flow, How Much is Enough,

Corals ~ A Dummies Guide? Slug/Nudi ID, Tube Polyp ID -12/26/2007 Good morning and Merry Christmas All, So, I've finally gotten into some soft corals (tube polyps and polyps) and I believe I may have a stony coral of some sort that may not be doing so well (came in on some liverock). I'll emphasize that I LOVE your website and you may be familiar with my name from previous emails over the years... however, I was curious as to whether you could recommend a book for hobbyists just getting started with corals. I find your site is likely better for people who know what they have and know what they're talking about when it comes to corals. Is there a good book you could recommend? <If you're looking for a very simple guide, you can try this: http://www.asira.org/caresheets As for books on captive coral care, "Aquarium Corals" by Eric Borneman is one. There's also, "The Super Simple Guide to Corals" by James Fatherree you might like.> Thus far, it seems like the fish stores I go to recommend soft corals for a beginner coral hobbyist as they are easier to care for. I'd like to find a resource that can guide me to repairing/nurturing the stony corals that came in on the liverock and so as I can feel comfortable in being responsible in buying stony corals down the road and be able to care for them. <Hmm... it will be more difficult to care for dying corals than for healthy ones. Why not try starting out with healthy, cultured frags first?> Of note, the stony corals have been around since about July. One little colony seems to be dying (turning brownish) because it is shaded within the tank. <Corals often change color to adapt to different lighting conditions. Such a change, alone, is not a sign that the coral is dying, or even unhealthy. Now, if it bleaches out, then you have a problem and need to move the coral and feed it generously until it gains its color back.> The other 3 little colonies seem to be ok but they certainly aren't growing fast and are too small for me to identify them... but from the pictures on your site, they look like stonies. Anyhow, a book/resource recommendation would be grateful! <See above.> Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! <...and to you too :)> P.S. I mentioned to Bob that I'd eventually get a picture of that little slug/Nudibranch that was crawling in amongst my tube polyps the other day... it is attached. It's about an inch long. Do you have a specific ID on those tube polyps... other than me calling them... 'tube polyps'?? <Sorry I can't even begin to ID the slug/Nudibranch for you from that picture (not focused enough). The "tube polyps" you have are not a stony coral (nor do they have calcified tubes). They are Zoanthids, colonial anemones/corals. Please see here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/zoanthid.htm
Best,
Sara M.>

Anemone or Coral Hitchhiker? Corallimorph: Pseudocorynactis spp.- 12/19/07 Hi Crew, <Hi Russ> I'm sorry to say that this is the second time in as many weeks that I have darkened your door with an ID request, and it's not for the want of looking on the web for info. <No worries, we're here to help. Besides, it's difficult to look something up when you don't know what it is, eh?> Last time, it was hastily purchased snails which, it turns out, were predatory, and had to be returned (I know, I know - but a lesson was learned from the experience), but this time I'm not so culpable, save for the purchase of a few small pieces of live rock. I have, it seems, a nocturnal, bright pink soft coral or anemone (I'm guessing anemone, but hey, I've really no idea). <Does indeed look like an anemone, but is actually a beautiful little Corallimorph of the genus Pseudocorynactis, commonly called a ball anemone/ball Corallimorph. For more information/photos, please Google our site, and the net, using "Pseudocorynactis". If you have Eric Borneman's "Aquarium Corals" book, see page 198. There are several photos/some info at this WWM link to get you started: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/mushrmidfaq2.htm.> It's only ever fully out first thing in the morning and is back in the hole it lives and out of sight within a minute of the lights going on, <Typical - nocturnal.> so getting a photo with a point and shoot camera is a little awkward (autofocus generally autoblurs, Grrr), <Frustrating, I know - helps if you turn off all pumps/stop water movement, and use a macro setting if available - icon is usually a small flower.> but here's the best I have... <<anemoneid.jpg>> <Pretty.> It's about 1 inch across. My questions to you guys, other than 'what is it?', are, 'is it a danger to fish/crabs/snails/corals? <Nope. Likely more of a threat to resident pods/zooplankton that happen by.> (I currently only have crabs and snails, and don't want to buy fish/corals if this thing is likely to harm them, without first removing it)', <Understandable.> and if it's safe, does it need feeding? <Not a whole lot is known about their care, but they're thought to feed on zooplankton/pods and such, so you might want to offer it some meaty bits (mysis/fish/etc) every so often at night, when the tentacles are extended.> I was also wondering if the white patches may mean its not too well? <Not sure about that, may just be a normal patterning?> Any help gratefully accepted. If you need a better photo, I'll try to get one. <Nope, we're good to go!> Best regards <Same to you, Russ.> Russ - Sheffield UK
<Take care -Lynn.>

Question re: Identification of corals'¦ Aiptasia 11/04/2007 Hello guys, <Hi Lynne, Mich here.> I am attaching a couple of photos (sorry they are not the best) of some corals that are growing and spreading quickly in my aquarium. <Heehee! I bet they are!> What type of coral is this? <You have Aiptasia, a nuisance if there ever was one... will kill most any other coral it comes in contact with as you have seen with your Caulastrea. More here about this pest that easily reaches plague proportions: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/Aiptasia/aiptasia.htm > The store said it was pink tip tulip coral or something like that. <Oh good grief! Please tell me you didn't actually PAY for this 'coral'. I've got a bridge and some prime real estate in the Pocono Mountains for sale'¦ You could build a casino! Interested in buy either?> Well I also have I was also wondering what type of behavior can I expect from this coral. <Did you see the Star Trek episode titled 'The Trouble with the Tribbles'?> When it came in contact with my Candy Cane coral it killed those and seems to be taking over. <Yes indeed. Is what it does.> Any information you could provide me on this type of coral and its behavior would be much appreciated. <Nuke it! Some removal options here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i3/aiptasia_impressions/aiptaisia_impressions.htm Though I would recommend avoiding the flambÃ©ing method someone recently wrote in and suggested'¦> Thank you!
<Welcome! Mich>
Lynne

Hydrozoan, Coral, or worm? -11/20/07 Hello there. I have a question on an ID, and unfortunately cannot get a picture for you right now (I lent my camera to a "friend" and have not been able to retrieve it). The creatures are in small clusters of tubes less than 1mm diameter and about 5-8mm long. The tubes are a red/burgundy/brown color while the heads on two of the clusters have tan "heads" and a third has green "heads". The "heads" are tentacles about 3-4mm diameter and only extend when the lights are on and retract when disturbed. <Can you could the tentacles on the "heads?" If there are 8, it's probably an octocoral of some sort.> I have a 20g tank with about 20# live rock of various origins and about 4" fine sand w/ some rubble and crushed shells, an 8g DSB refugium (just recently added) for NNR/zooplankton, dual 65w CF lighting w/moonlights, SeaClone 100 (difficult and tedious to tune/operate efficiently) and Tetratech PF150 (nice "surge" action). Primary circulation pumps about 250 gph from Fuge plus 2 additional PH @ 100+gph. I have been setup for about 16 months, but had some problems over the summer; temp climbed to 116+ for a few days and I lost almost everything. <yikes> A chiller is in the works for next season. <...or an air conditioner and a fan or two.> My water parameters all check out fairly well: Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate all at or near zero, pH 8.2-8.4, 8-10dKH, calcium 380-440 (these are the only tests I currently have). Current livestock includes royal Gramma, Rainford goby, fire shrimp, porcelain crab, 6 hermits, Astrea, Cerith, Nassarius, flower anemone (the only survivor the heat, but color changed from brownish green to neon teal-green), Zoanthids, green star polyps, Capnella, striped Discosoma, Caulastrea, Blastomussa, and Pavona, as well as numerous worms, sponges, and ascidians that I can recognize. Everything seems to be doing well, no interactions with these small creatures, but I became more interested in them when I noticed the third colony with the green heads (indicating chlorophyll/zooxanthellae?). <Not necessarily... but tis a curious thing anyway. It's possible the white ones are bleached and the color is returning to some of them.> I have poked at these without being stung, <lol> and the tubes are flexible, almost like stiff rubber, not brittle or calcareous. I have spent many, MANY hours reading through your site, and have gained much knowledge from it and appreciate all the wisdom you share. <cool> The closest pictures/descriptions I found have been hydrozoans, but nothing quite like what I have. <Hmmm... you know I'm going to tell you that it's impossible to say without a photo, but what you're describing sounds like a clove coral or maybe an encrusting Gorgonian.> I apologize for the long message, though I would rather share excess information than not enough. Thank you all for your time and attention. <No problem. Do see if you can borrow a camera or get yours back. We should be able to help you more with a picture.> Brian B <Best,
Sara M.>

Star Coral ID? Zoanthid? Hello again. You guys are SO helpful...I can't stay away. <Me neither!> I researched this all over your site, but I can't seem to find an answer. I really need to know if I have pompom hydroids or this beautiful sulfur yellow star coral. They both resemble each other enough to worry and I can't tell from your images...so maybe you could tell me? <Yes> At http://www.wetwebmedia.com/alcyoniidsii.htm it shows some little yellow star/sulfur corals. I believe I have that in my aquarium. Another aquarist threw it out while cleaning his tank, and told me he'd give me a puff of it, so I've incorporated it into the aquarium, however at http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hydrozoanfaqs.htm it has something that looks a bit like them also. I don't want to make a mistake and get a coral that will sting me such as a fire coral, and I believe it's saying that the hydrozoans do sting? I'm not sure after reading that. <They do sting... hydropolyps... some folks, body areas (less callused) more/less than others> My coral is attached, and I want to know what it is so I can be sure before keeping it. It comes in a nice soft mat and hasn't stung me or anything, and it's kind of like a little carpet of beautiful yellowish flowers. <Mmm, sounds more like a Zoanthid...> Now, remember, this was given to me as one little carpet clump and because I just set up this new tank, I put it in there, stuck between some rocks. I can take it out just as well, but it's so pretty...is it truly that dangerous if it's pompom? <Is not a Hydroid...> Here is the image. Please let me know what it is. I am worried. I don't want to ruin my beautiful aquarium with something that can kill me potentially or injure me. Thanks so much, ahead of time. Naynay <Like the Hawaiian goose phonetically? I would not be concerned here... Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/zoanthid.htm and the linked files above... for background info.. Send along a more close-up, highly resolved image if you'd like a better ID. Cheers, Bob Fenner>

Coral I.D.... Lemnalia and Discosoma neglecta <Greetings random aquarist, Mich here.> I searched for about an hour on various sites and could not come up with any conclusive answers. I was hoping someone there would be kind enough to identify the coral on the left side of this pic I attached and the mushroom on the right. These two pieces were given to me by a friend but he did not know what they are for sure. He said the one was a colt coral. <The coral on the left does not look like a Cladiella to me. I suspect a Lemnalia or possibly a Sinularia, if it is either and it starts to look like it's on it's way out you will want to remove promptly from the tank as both can be toxic to tankmates. The mushroom is a Discosoma, looks more like a neglecta to me but could be a carlgreni.> Regardless of what they are...they are looking quite healthy and happy in my nano tank. <Glad to hear.> I was just really itching to know exactly what type of species they are. I would like to tell others who ask me about them correct information. <Hope this helps. Mich>

A dyed Sinularia at that.

Coral ID - need a better pic 07/27/07 Hi there and thanks in advance for your assistance. I cut this piece of coral from the main piece of LR which it started life upon and placed it elsewhere in the tank in fear of it being covered over by a toadstool leather coral (it would not have got much light where it was). Its been over week now and it has stuck itself where I placed it and seems to be doing great which is a result but I have no idea what it may grow to become, any ideas on the ID of this little fighter? <So, this was originally found below the toadstool leather? Judging from what you're telling me more than from the photo, I would guess that it's a baby toadstool leather. Leather corals often drop babies. Otherwise, I can't tell you much from the photo.> Regards K.
<Best,
Sara M.>

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