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FAQs about Non-Vertebrate Animal Identification
24 Related Articles:
Marine Invertebrates, Marine
Invertebrate Systems, Marine
Invertebrate Compatibility, Marine
Invertebrate Disease, Marine
Invertebrate Reproduction,
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 19,
Non-Vert. ID 20, Non-Vert. ID 21,
Non-Vert. ID 22, Non-Vert. ID 23,
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, | 
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Egg Id Please – 4/9/07
Hi <Hi!> I am new here and like what
I see keep it up <Thank you! How may we help you?> I have spent
about 90 min scouring your FAQs etc for an id on these eggs? They
are both in my fuge and display tank, they are only on the LR none
on the glass. The only critters I have added lately are turbo snails
but these don't seem to represent their egg clusters. <They do
appear to be snail eggs. Is there any chance you might have some
Nerites in there? Please see this link for more info:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/sept2003/invert.htm Hope
this helps! –Lynn> | 
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Unidentified Gelatinous Blob - 04/09/07
Greetings from Arizona!
<<Backatcha from South Carolina!>>
This morning I discovered a clear
gelatinous blob with red specs in my sand bed.
<<Mmm, sounds yummy!
[grin]>>
It's about an inch or so in diameter, and other than
swaying in the
current it has been stationary.
<<Any defining
features? Bumps, ridges, tentacles, inhalant/exhalent openings?>>
My Twinspot goby has poked at it a few times and it has neither recoiled
nor swallowed the goby whole (thankfully!).
<<Is likely harmless>>
I'm hoping you can identify this blob and tell me if should be removed
from the tank.
<<Hmm, the pictures aren't sharp/close enough to be
sure...but I think there are a few possibilities. This may be a species
of tunicate or sea squirt...it may be the Medusae stage of a jellyfish
species...or it may me an egg cluster from a gastropod species. If
there are no openings in its structure, or if it does not move (pulse),
then it is likely the latter of the three. But regardless, I don't
think it is anything to worry about and will probably disappear as
easily/mysteriously as it appeared>>
Thank you in advance,
Jennifer
<<A pleasure to share. Eric Russell>> |
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Mystery Growth - Haliclona sponge? - 04/04/2007
Hello crew.
<Hi, Tom! Sabrina with you today.>
I'd like to start by saying
thanks for the great web site. I would have left this hobby after a
month if I had not found it.
<Wow.... Excellent (and
important!) testament.... Thank you for sharing this. It is very
encouraging to realize that our efforts do reach the intended
goals!>
With that I would like to know if this purple growth can
be identified?
<I hope so.>
It is a deep purple and in spots
has a dark green. I thought it was coralline algae but have read
that it maybe Cyano bacteria. I have looked at a lot of pictures and
can not find any that resemble what I am seeing.
<It actually
looks VERY much like an encrusting sponge, maybe even Haliclona
vetulina, though it doesn't seem to have the "star" pattern that H.
vetulina exhibits. It doesn't look like Cyanobacteria or algae to
me, from the images provided.>
The tank is ten months old and is
fish only. I have some dead corals and the growth is attracted to
them mostly.
<Any live rock? Any previously live corals, or
things that came from reef tanks, anything like that? If so, I'm
still comfortable saying I think it's an encrusting sponge.>
The
water parameters are AM=0, NI=0, NA=10. I do regular water changes
at five gallons per weekend and ten on the fourth change. I also age
the water for three days before I use it.
<Very good.>
The
tank is a Sea Clear System 2 forty gallon. There are two inches of
mixed sand and crushed coral. I also have the Sea Clear venture
skimmer installed. I would love to get a better skimmer but could
not find one the would work with the design of the tank. We are
waiting on a new custom one hundred and eighty gallon tank to be
built and I have not decided if this tank will remain or if I will
take it down.
<If it IS sponge, and you choose to keep it, be
certain NOT to expose it to air, if avoidable.... keep it
submerged, even when moving it from tank to tank.>
So if this is
Cyano will I be able to wait it out a few months?
<Probably. If
it is Cyano (I don't really feel that it is), you can try manually
removing it 'till the move.>
The biological load is as follows.
One Dottyback, one Yellow Stripe Maroon Clown, one Algae Blenny and
a Blue Hippo Tang. The new tank is for the Tang.
<He'll
appreciate it, to be sure!>
I have included two pictures to
help. Thanks you for your time and effort.
<Glad to be of
service, Tom, and again, thank you for your kind and encouraging
words!>
Tom
<All the best to you, -Sabrina> | 
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White Crusty Creatures on the Glass 4/4/07
Hey-
<Hi! Mich here.>
I'm sorry not to submit a photo,
<Photos are
very helpful.>
but I just noticed football shaped, flesh colored
creatures clinging to the inside of my 30gal salt tank. I have had this
tank for 2 years, and have just noticed these creatures today. I saw
about 15 creatures. The smaller ones are about the size of a pencil tip
but a couple are nearly a quarter inch long! They are crustaceous since
I took a rubber spatula and tried to pry one off the glass---had a very
hard shell and took some effort to remove.
The underside is fleshy,
with a dark gray spot near the center of the body. Is this a barnacle?
<No, not likely a barnacle.>
I did notice that the crusty shell was
shaped much like a chocolate chip, with a distinct tip near the middle
of the shell, and with the fleshy side squeezed flat onto the surface of
the glass.
<Sounds like a limpet to me. Most are herbivorous and
not likely harmful based on your description but would need a photo to
confirm.
More here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/mollusca1.htm
>
BEN in Baton Rouge, LA
<Mich in Gouldsboro, PA> Re:
white crusty creatures on the glass 4/4/07
MICH-
<Hello again Ben!>
Thanks for your reply.
<You are welcome!>
You were right---they are limpets.
<Excellent! Thank you for the
follow-up. It is most helpful to get feedback, especially when relying
on description alone.>
I Googled it and saw a picture.
<Great!>
I just wonder how after all this time I am now discovering them!
<Sometimes, it's the things we see everyday to which we are most
oblivious.>
Ben
<Cheer,
Mich> ID... How?
4/3/07
Hello,
<Hi Phil, Mich here.>
I have been enjoying
your website for quite some time, very helpful.
<Glad you think so!>
I am now perplexed by a growth in my tank. I know the routine is to
check all available sources on the site before asking a question, and I
think I have exhausted all there is to offer. I looked through the
sponge articles because I believe it is a sponge
but have not found
one photo that resembles this animal/plant. I took some photos but am
not including them because they aren't that great.
<Less than
perfect is better than none! Check to see if your camera has a macro
setting, often the button has a symbol that looks like a daisy or a
flower. This may allow you to capture a better photo.>
It is a
mostly white with pink head, and has small white arms and legs all over
its body.
<Huh? I thought you suspected it might be a
sponge? Sponge Bob Square Pants is the only sponge I've seen with a
head and appendages. Is it motile? How big is it? What shade of
pink? What shade of white? Are you starting to understand how even a
poor picture can be helpful?>
At first I thought it was only a piece
of shrimp from feeding but
there is no way any of my animals would
let that pass. Hopefully this answer isn't somewhere on your site and
I'm not wasting your time.
<Send a picture and as much description
as possible, and maybe we can help you, but with what you've provided, I
am at a loss.>
Thank You
<Sorry, not of much worth. -Mich>
Phil What is it? 3/30/07
Hi Crew!
Well, it's
happened again. I've discovered another unknown creature in my reef
tank. Only this time it's too small for me to be able to get a good
picture, so I'm going to do my best to describe it for you.
The best
way to describe it is to say it looks like sperm. I know that sounds
strange, but it has a very small, sort of oval body that is stuck to the
glass and has a long thread like tail. I have just recently noticed
several of these in my tank. Any ideas???? I think finding all these
new and strange creatures is one of the most interesting benefits of
this hobby!
Thank you all so very much for the wealth of information
and help you provide!
Thanks,
Kathy
<Mmm... well... this
description is too vague to be of much use... likely a worm, vermiform
organism of some sort... Do please read here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/wormidfaqs.htm
and the linked files
above. Bob Fenner>
Teeny tiny worm question 3/30/07
Hi there!
<And to
you>
Wanted to say thanks for all the great info on your
site! It's really helped me and my little nano project! I have a
question about some bugs/worms that I can't seem to identify that I
hope you can help with.
My tank specs are:
Equipment: Eclipse System 6 gal, 32watt actinic/10000K lighting
upgrade (11hrs/day), stock filter with Pura complete, the powerhead
that came with the crappy fission nano skimmer, 8lbs live rock.
Livestock: 4 hermits,
<Do keep your eye on these... all
predaceous to extents...>
a dozen small feather dusters, one (so
far) Asterina star, various (reef safe) snails, Zoa, Paly,
<And
these Zoanthids... too toxic for small volumes>
mushroom frags,
an accidental Kenya tree frag (came with frag shipment), and a whole
bunch of cool stuff that comes out at night when the
lights are off!
<Neat!>
Set up since Jan 2007.
Ammonia
and Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: <5
pH : 8.3
Temp: 81
dH: 8.5
Calcium: 360
Phosphates: .25
SG: 1.024
1gal weekly water
changes Twice daily top offs w/distilled bottled water Parameters
have been very stable since the get go, especially for such a tiny
tank!
<Good>
I've got these little tiny bugs all over my
tank. They seem to be photosynthetic, as they congregate on the rock
near the top of the tank where there's more light.
<Mmm, or at
least positively phototropic...>
They're a little less than 1mm
long and half as wide, and have a distinct head to them (distinct as
in it's lighter, and has a darker band below it. Hopefully the pic
will help.) They're kind of a nondescript colour, some looking
grey/blue and some grey/beige. I thought they were flatworms, but
they're not flat and they don't really look like any of the pictures
of flatworms that I've seen.
<They're not>
They do move like
a worm though (faster than a snail, slower than an amphipod),
and have no legs that I can spot. I've had them for a while, came
with the live rock, but they didn't do anything evil before. Now,
there's so many of them that they're hanging out on my zoas as well
as the rock and glass, and the zoo polyps with worms on them aren't
opening up. They don't seem to prefer the zoas though, so I don't
think they're eating them, and there's no visible damage to any of
the polyps. Everything else in the tank looks healthy, no problem
algae, and the zoas farther down in the tank are opening fine.
Do you think a peppermint shrimp might help eat these critters?
<Perhaps>
I was planning to get 1 or 2 shrimp to add some
movement to the system, figured I might kill two birds with one
stone if I got one that had a tendency to eat small wormy
things. Another thing I was thinking of trying was getting flatworm
exit
<Mmm, no. Not advised>
and maybe another couple meds
that kill worms/nasties,
<Too indiscriminate, toxic>
siphoning out some of them and adding the medication to the siphoned
out worms (not to the tank) to see what kills 'em. I figured this
little science experiment may help id them. Or I could leave
the lights off for a while and starve 'em, but I have a feeling
these guys would out live my frags if I did that.
<These may be
worms of some sort (annelids), crustaceans, even mollusks... I'd
leave them be>
Another quick unrelated (I hope) question for
ya: I received a frag of a Kenya tree coral (Capnella) by accident
with some Zoa frags about two weeks ago. It's been opening up great
and looking healthy until yesterday when it didn't open up at
all. Just wondering if this is normal once in a while, or if I need
to do some investigating as to the cause of this behaviour.
<If
it stays closed... I would indeed be "doing something"... moving it>
As a conscientious marine aquarist, I wouldn't have added this guy
to my tank on purpose, but now that he's here I'm struggling trying
to catch up on my research of this coral (took a week to
get an id!!)
Any advice you can give would be appreciated!
Thanks!
<Mmm, keep enjoying, learning, sharing... Thank you! Bob
Fenner> | 
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Another ID please. Possibly a Sponge or a Tunicate. 3/26/07
Hi,
<Hi Allan, Mich here.>
Could you please id this little
critter for me, I have a few of these in my tank that came in on live
rock, they are about 1-2mm in diameter.
<Really, only 1-2 mm, not
1-2 cm, in diameter? Is very, very tiny. I'm surprised you could get
this good of picture if it is 1-2mm. It is non-motile,
correct? Perhaps it is a sponge or tunicate of some sort. Does look
like there might be sets of incurrent and excurrent siphon
tubes. Sorry, I know this is not terribly helpful with such a vague ID
here, but this critter is not likely harmful, if that helps any. -Mich | 
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Invert Ids: Cowry (Cypraea vitellus) and a Flatworm (Amphiscolops sp.)
3/21/07
WWM crew,
<Hi Stephen, Mich here.>
I wanted to
see if I could get an ID one the attached photos. First is what I think
is a Cypraea vitellus. Is this correct?
<I would agree with your
identification.>
What is your experience with this species in a
mixed reef?
<Nothing specific to this species. Generally cowry
snails grow too large and cumbersome for most reef systems. Several are
carnivorous, some are herbivorous and for many their diets are not well
understood. Probably not the most suitable choice for your reef.>
Second is an unknown invert I saw in my refugium. Is about 3-4mm in
size, translucent as seen in photo and used a rhythmic motion for
propulsion along the front glass. First one I have seen and have not
added anything new to the tank in 4 or 5 months. What is your advice of
this living in the fuge?
<Is a harmless acoel, Amphiscolops
sp. Please see here for a nearly identical picture:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/flatworms.htm >
Thank you
<Welcome!>
and best regards,
<And to you, Mich>
Stephen |  
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Mass of clear tubes??? Sponges, Not Bagpipes – 03/17/07
Hello
from Parma, OH.
<Greeting from Gouldsboro, Mich here currently
buried in a foot and a half of snow...>
I hope you can help me out.
<Me too! Gotta plow? Wanna shovel?>
I have some zoos growing on a
tube coral skeleton. And I have noticed two masses of clear-white tubes
growing on the dead corals branches. What could this be?
<Mmm, Snow,
icicles, oh wait, wrong place... Umm, bagpipes? Does sort a look like
bagpipes... OK, seriously looks like a Poriferan to me, a sponge, no
worries here.
I've sent along a photo to assist you.
<Nice photo!>
Thanks in advance!!
<Welcome! -Mich>
Scott Seck | 
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Eggs in pattern on glass – 03/17/07
<Hi Calesta, Mich with you
today.>
I have eggs on the glass of my tank. They are in a pattern
like a leaf,
<Hmm, is it a shamrock?>
and when examined closely
each part of the leaf looks like a feather. I have looked up the eggs
for the 2 types of snails I have and the Nudibranch, and these are
nothing like those eggs.
<Well they are definitely eggs, likely
snail, but beyond that, really not sure, shouldn't be anything harmful
and will not likely survive long as most other tank inhabitants find
them quite tasty! >
I know the picture isn't very
good but hope it will help.
<Either the photo's a little blurry or
I've been honoring St. Patty a little too much! Sorry not really able to
provide anything beyond what you already know.>
Thank you
<Welcome -Mich>
Calesta | 
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Brown mass under rockwork? 3/16/2007
Greetings
Crew,
I found under rock work a fairly large mass of jelly-like
substance. It almost looks like frog egg mass after the frogs have
left. It is not near any coral so I do not think it is the brown jelly
disease but I am not sure.
<Is not>
I have not been able to
find any other references that seem to fit. I have a mated pair of coral
banded shrimp, Regal tang, 3 clowns, fairy Basslet, 3 Chromis, and 3
neon gobies. All have been with me for over 3 years. Assorted corals
and mushrooms and a bubble tipped anemone. Again, I have had all for
over 3 years. Do you have any ideas. If it is the disease…. Should I
tear apart the rock work and try and siphon it. Really it looks like
some left over egg mass material. Any ideas. Sorry I cannot get a
picture. Thanks for any info
Cathy
<Likely a sponge, perhaps
some other sessile invertebrate... not possible to tell w/ more
information, image... Not likely deleterious. I would leave it be. Bob
Fenner>
Can you identify 3/16/2007
Hi everyone,
<Kathy>
I find your site very helpful and I'm hoping you can help me
identify something strange that has shown up in my reef tank. All I
can figure is it came in on the live rock. I've attached a
picture. Take a look and let me know what you think.
<This is a
Chiton... a Polyplacophoran... Please read re such Mollusks on WWM>
Thanks a bunch!
Kathy
<Welcome. Bob Fenner> | 
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Coral gall barnacle 3/16/2007
Good Evening Crew!
Good day to you Brad! Mich here.
I hope all is well at the
WetWebMedia center.
<Making progress!>
I am writing with a
"Friend or Foe" question.
<Always try to be friends here!>
Attached please find a crude sketch for discussion. It is intended to
depict a small (approximately 2mm long) sweeping appendage of an unknown
filter feeder. This "catcher's mitt" looks much like the straining
appendages seen on porcelain crabs, and on many barnacles.
<Most
all filter feeder are friends not foes.> <<Unless you're very small....
Heeeeeeee! RMF>>
I have a newly acquired Frag of a Montipora digitata
that is host to a half dozen or so of these solitary sweeping creatures
and one other fellow that is slightly different. From my reading these
appear to me (the layman) to be small Coral Gall Barnacles.
<Your
sketch resembles barnacles.>
Except that the one tiny little fellow
appears to have two legs sticking out the front door of his cave. Could
he possibly
be a Coral Hermit Crab?
<Not likely a Coral Hermit
Crab (Dardanus tinctor). Maybe an Acropora crab or a coral crab. A
photo would be most helpful here.>
Currently, this coral specimen
resides in my 37
gallon hospital tank. The question is: will it
harm my 130-gallon reef tank to introduce these creatures along with the
Montipora?
<Unlikely.>
And, if so, what is your recommended
plan of action?
<Watch and enjoy!>
As always, thank you for your
thoughts and for your wonderful site.
<Thank you for your kind
words. Mich>
Brad in Basalt | 
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Mystery Creature in my tank 3/16/2007
Hi,
Thanks for
a great service!!
<You are welcome. Thank you for the kind words.>
I have a mystery creature in my tank that appeared yesterday.
<I
have one of those about every two weeks.>
I have attached two photos
taken from inside the tank. It is about 1" long and is stuck to the
glass.
<Mmmmm. The photos are difficult to see.>
The point of
attachment between the creature and
the glass is the entire length
of its body. The other side is covered in small "spikes."
<It
looks like some sort of Flatworm, Sea Cucumber, or possibly a
Nudibranch. Very difficult to tell, is it possible that you could send
a better picture?>
It has moved about 16" over the past 20 hours
from near the sand (where I first saw it) toward the top of the tank. I
did add a clam to the tank (t. derasa) yesterday, but there was
definitely nothing attached to it,
<That you know of.>
and I
also did a water change yesterday afternoon. I have no idea where this
came from or what it is.
<See above Re: better photo for more
accurate identification. At any rate, I don't think that it is cause
for terrible alarm. Just grab a siphon hose and suck the critter out,
or watch it and enjoy it for a while. If it starts to show malicious
tendencies, suck it out of the tank.>
Thanks!!
<You are
welcome. Brandon.>
--- Brian | |
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