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FAQs about Non-Vertebrate Animal Identification 19
Related Articles: Marine Invertebrates,
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 20,
Non-Vert. ID 21, Non-Vert. ID 22,
Non-Vert. ID 23, Non-Vert. ID 24,
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, &
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, | 
Mmm, symmetrical, immotile... eggs of some sort... |
Re: New growth... ID = snail eggs 1/12/06
Hello once again
and once again, thanks for an awesome site.
<Hi Randy, Mich here
today. Glad you like the site.>
I have one question today. I
have a growth that seems to have appeared almost over night and have
no idea what it is.
<Likely did appear overnight.>
I have
reduced the picture size in order to send it to you but when blown
up, it shows a definite pattern and almost looks like eggs of some
sort.
<Yep.>
Can you help me to identify this?
<Looks
like snail eggs to me.>
I can send the pic in a larger size if
needed.
<No need.>
Thanks again for your help,
<Welcome! -Mich>
Randy |
Thanks again for your response.
<Welcome!>
Ok, so
possibly sail eggs. If that's true, is that a good thing or bad?
<It's all good! Happy and healthy enough for reproduction!>
Obviously I don't want 100 or 200 snails running around in the
tank.
<Understandable.>
Haha! Should I just leave it or
wipe them off.
<Leave it there, will most likely be eaten by
other critters in your tank.>
Thanks again,
<Welcome
again! -Mich>
Randy |
|
What the H, E, Double Hockey Sticks is This? 1/8/07
Hi! I was
wondering what this is. it is slightly green in color, very flat, no
shell,
<That you can make out>
around 2 inches long and almost
as wide. Movement is similar to a snail, almost looks like some sort of
Nudibranch. Cannot see eyes, mouth, etc. It's kinda trippy, little
freaky! I have been having problems with margarita and Astrea snails
dying, don't know why. I found this creature simply draped over 2
margarita snails in the sand at night, trying to get at them. I think it
was feeding on them but not sure. Do you guys know what it is?
<Mmm,
is it very flat, wavy at the edges? If so, might be a flatworm of some
sort... If not, possibly a sea slug of many possibilities...>
It is
certainly out of my tank! It took some effort to capture, but I was
successful. It is currently in a cup with pinhole size holes in it, in a
net, in the sump! LOL! I had it in a sealed cup with bigger holes
(approx.1/4 inch in diameter). Damn thing escaped within 3 minutes!
captured it again. I am gonna bring it to my LFS for identification
tomorrow, but not sure if they can help. Attached to this e-mail is the
best photo of it. Thank you!
<Oh! Does appear to be a Platyhelminth
to me. Bob Fenner> | 
|
Blobs = ? ...Stomatella Snails 1/8/07
Hi there,
<Hello
Lesley, Mich here.>
Just discovered your website, I've learnt so
much from the FAQ. Its really helpful.
<This is good to hear.>
I've got a couple of really odd blobs appeared in my 35 gallon marine
aquarium. Its just over a year old, with fish and corals, but very
little live rock. I have an external filter which seems to do the job.
<Live rock would do a better job!>
These blobs are pinkish white,
with two antennae in their heads. They are about 1/2 inch long, and
appear to have a small white hard shell on their backs which is much
smaller than they. I do know that they love algae, they spend all their
time on patches of algae either on the glass or on rock!
<Sounds
like Stomatella Snails. See here: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.reefland.com/rho/0305/images/stomatella.jpg&imgrefurl=http://
www.reefland.com/rho/0305/medprod3.php&h=300&w=400&sz=18&hl=en&start=
6&tbnid=mx9loS0E1H4E5M:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstomatella%2Bsnails%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DG
Therefore, I am assuming they are good, and won't do the fish or corals
any harm.
<If they are Stomatella Snails you are absolutely
correct!>
Regards
Lesley
<Cheers -Mich>
Mystery Invertebrate... What Am I? 1/8/07
<Hey Jeff,
JustinN with you tonight.>
Another stumper, at least for me.
<I'll see if I can't help shed some light>
I first discovered
this critter approximately 5 weeks ago. It is residing on the back
glass of the tank, behind EVERYTHING. It is actually very difficult
to see, it's a weird shot through the cave under my large frogspawn.
I actually probably never would have seen it but for the fact that
it is white, and as a diver, that is one of the colors I am trained
to look for when spotting critters.
<Ok>
So one weird thing
is that it hasn't moved much, if any, in those five weeks.
<That
may help towards identification purposes>
It's in a spot that is
early impossible to access without a complete break down of the
tank. I mean it is WAY back there. So the first time I saw it I was
like... "WTF?" but I had to get back to the hospital, so there was
no time to investigate. I expected I would probably not see it again
for some time.
<Judging from the picture, my guess is a small
Syconoid sponge. They are harmless, if not beneficial, filter
feeders. I have several near identical creatures in both of my tanks
as well, they don't seem to move other than to increase/decrease in
size that I've seen.>
My first guess was some sort of Nudibranch
(a dorid, specifically) but the lack of movement makes me question
that guess. A dorid moves around to eat.
This dude hasn't moved.
So, I have to lean more in the direction of some kind of sea
cucumber or something similar that filter feeds, and the appendages
at the bottom support that theory.
<I thought the same thing as
you when I first located them, due to the 'appendages'. However,
shortly after I discovered them in my tank, I located this
identification here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/spongeidfaq2.htm (the next to last
response on the page) convincing me otherwise.> <<Interesting
indeed... I would/do second the small Cuke theory possibility. RMF>>
Anyhow, here's the photo I took tonight. Not great, but decent. I
would love to know what everyone thinks.
<Considering the
previous description of the items location, your image is just
fine.>
What is this invertebrate?
<See above. Hope this
helps you! -JustinN>
Thank you!
JW | 
|
Howdy fellas Encr. mar. invert. ID 1/5/07
<... and
ladies>
I have these black type things on my live rock, could you
give me a positive ID on them?? I think its a specie of sponge but not
sure
Thanks
Tim
<Mmm, more resolution would help, but I do
think you're right here... Likely sponges/Poriferans... or, second
likely guess, Ascidians/Sea Squirts... could even be a Bryozoan... You
can find pix of all these on WWM, the Net... All likely not harmful...
in fact, indicatory of good conditions here. Bob Fenner |  
|
Unknown Sponge 12/29/06
<Hello Sue>
Yesterday, I noticed
this foamy white life form on the bottom of a piece of live rock that
has been in my tank for six months now. I had never seen it before, but
thought that it might be a form of sponge. Today, while checking out my
tank, I noticed that it had extended itself from beneath its rock onto a
neighboring one in a more lighted area. Furthermore, it appeared to
have a spiral shaped appendage flapping from its side. In less than
three minutes, during the time that I went to get my camera, this life
form had withdrawn to its shady area. I was wondering if someone there
could help me identify this life form and could help me know if it is
dangerous. I have not added anything new in my tank (with the exception
of two emerald green crabs) for two months now. At that time, I added
five pounds of live rock that I had cured for a month. Is it possible
that this life form came in on that?
<Yes, very possible. The
sponge in your photo appears to be a Clathrina type sponge, commonly
known as the Leather Latticework Sponge. They are a filter feeder that
take in dissolved organic matter and do not require supplemental
feeding. They do not like bright light, generally growing on the
undersides of live rock, and it is reef safe.>
Thanks in advance for
your help.
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Sue in Houston | 
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Inverts breeding in my FOWLR? (long...) 12/28/06
As with most
of the posts I read here, I will start off by stating how immensely
helpful your site has been for me: I have been in the marine hobby off
and on for about 12 years (since I was 15) and have seen quite a lot in
those few years. I apprenticed under Rick Oellers starting at 15 (former
president of the now defunct AMDA)
<Oh, yes>
for four years
while he operated "Wet Pets",
<One of our old retail stores names in
San Diego...>
and later "Aquatic Concepts" located in southern
Maine. While there, I was one of four people that hobbyists from all
over New England would come to for solutions to their beginner through
advanced questions. I always felt like there was so much for me to learn
still, and was always amazed to meet people that felt a teen-aged kid in
high-school ought to be advising them about their marine investments.
<Mmm, quite a few of the folks that have been "Crew" were teenagers... I
started in the trade even younger...>
That said, I needed to take a
break from the hobby for a while, but am now fully focused on re-living
the passion I felt for marine ecology and its environment. Your website
has so much info!
<Mmm... am wondering bordering on hoping that you
have time, interest, might join us in responding here>
I find myself
feeling quite the apprentice again, but greedily sucking up more and
more info from this great resource you've assembled. I think I find some
of the Q/A's from readers to be the most informative for me, since I can
relate to some of their points of view.
<Ahhh>
I also can
appreciate your point of view (often, that so many systems end in
discouragement and disappointment because of a few guidelines being
disregarded) of the knowledgeable mentor trying to guide without
influencing the hobbyist. I reiterate: This site is a great place, and I
hope to keep getting great use from it, and contributing by asking the
right questions!
<Thank you>
Speaking of questions, I have
enclosed a small picture of some little "attachments" on my glass. On
close inspection, they seem to be either egg-packs or very small
inverts. You can see a small number (4-9) of white dots in what could be
a nucleus, surrounded by about 1mm of clear protective membrane. They
measure about 1 or 2mm across. I have noticed some small (<.5mm)
creatures scurrying on the glass surface that I assume could be, well
anything, but I was thinking about copepods.
> the appearance, I'd
guess the first are some sort of snail/gastropod... The second... from
the description of their motility... am thinking these are some sort of
crustacean. Wouldn't narrow the possibility to the Copepoda though>
Maybe these are related, maybe not. Today is one day after I took the
pictures, and all of the attachments in question are gone. I'm not sure
whether my snails grazed them overnight or if they have completed a
life-stage in their cycle. I know the picture isn't as clear as it could
be, but my camera auto-focuses and I consider myself talented with
trying angles that I got what I did. What do you think they might be?
Some info on the setup:
20g FOWLR
single 18" Zoo-Med "Reef-Sun"
bulb
Penguin-Mini filter
Fluval 404 w/ surface skimmer
--
10lbs LR
10lbs Base Rock
2-3" Live sand
--
78°F (± .4°F)
Ph 8.2
Ca 420ppm
No3 40ppm
--
1) 1.5" Niger Trigger
1) 1.5" Picasso Trigger
1) 2" Pearly Jawfish
1) 1" Green Clown
Goby
2) 2" Turbo Snail
5?) Nassarius Snail
1) Blue-legged
Hermit
This tank serves as an intro for my fiancé so she can see
what is involved, how much of my time is stolen, how noisy it is(n't),
and how attractive the fish are. We moved on Thanksgiving day (happy
holidays, BTW) into a house that had a run-down 20gal mounted into the
kitchen wall.
<Interesting...>
No pumps or heater or lights, but
the S.G. was at 30ppt dead-on, so I dug out my relics and started some
filtration, heat and regular light after a 50% water change. A few days
later, two three-stripe damsels showed their faces and made themselves
available for return to the LFS. I got some more LR and added some of my
old (dead) LR to bulk up on hiding places and waited to see if it needed
to cycle. My next upgrade is going to be at least 75gal with PC lights
for some mushrooms, polyps, etc. My Picasso and Niger will go to Rick or
the LFS, and I will get the pink-tail I've always wanted.
That's
enough for now, wow! I meant to keep it short. Keep up the good work!!!
Graham Tasker
<Hope to be diving with you... and Melichthys vidua
someday... soon... likely in HI. Do consider joining us... with WWM, if
you have time, interest. Bob Fenner> | 
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Tiny white dots what are they 12/23/06
<Greetings to you
Angela, Mich with you today.>
I<I> have a 50 gallon marine
tank. <I>inhabitants are: a royal Gramma, two ocellaris clowns (1
orange 1 black), two green clown/coral gobies, a yellow watchman goby,
two fire shrimps and a variety of snails. <T>tonight when I<I> looked
closely at the tank I<I> notice a clump of white dots on one of my rocks
(I<I> have no live rock in the tank) on close inspection I<I> discovered
these tiny almost microscopic dots were moving I<I> assume they have
legs as they are not swimming. <T>they are on several of the rocks and
on small patches of algae and the glass they do not appear to be harming
the fish but I<I> am not sure what I<I> should do. <W>what are these
white dots? <A>are they harmful for the fish or will they be safe if
left in the tank?
<P>please help
thanks
<Angela, without a
photo it is impossible to say. They could be a countless number of
things. Most likely these creatures are harmless hitchhikers that have
found their way into your system. I would not be too concerned unless
you observe behavioral changes in your fish.
Angela, <S>scotland
<Angela, Please spell check, use proper
punctuation, and employ standard rules of writing on any future
queries. -Mich>
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