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FAQs about Non-Vertebrate Animal
Identification
27
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 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, Non-Vert ID 43, Non-Vert ID 44, Non-Vert ID 45, Non-Vert ID 46, Non-Vert ID 47, Non-Vert ID 48, Non-Vert ID 49, Non-Vert ID 50, Non-Vert ID 51, Non-Vert ID 52, Non-Vert ID 53, Non-Vert ID 54, Non-Vert ID 55, Non-Vert ID 56,
Non-Vert ID
57, Non-Vert ID 58,
Non-Vert ID 59,
Non-Vert ID 60, Non-Vert ID 61,
& 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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Id Question: Syconoid Sponges - 9/3/07 <Hi
Dave and Laura> A bunch of these puffballs just started
appearing on the bottom of some of our live rock. There aren't
a lot of them yet (but the sudden change from 0 to about 10 implies
a large acceleration that makes me nervous). <Understandable. A
sudden increase like that always gets my attention! Luckily, these
guys are no problem.> They look like small white puffballs about
3mm in diameter with tufts of hair sticking out the top. Any idea
what they are? <Yep, no worries. They're commonly seen
sponges of the genus Sycon, also called Syconoid sponges. Harmless,
even beneficial, these little filter feeders thrive/multiply in
high nutrient conditions. As the excess nutrients wane, so will the
population of these neat little sponges. Please see the FAQ's
re: Sycon/Syconoid sponges at this WWM link for more info:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/spongeidfaqs.htm > Thanks
Dave and <You're very welcome! --Lynn> |
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| ID Needed Please'¦ Egg Mass'¦
Perhaps of a Polychaete Worm 8/30/07Hello,
<Hi Brad, Mich here.> I cannot thank you all enough for what
you guys do for us! <Just trying to help. Thank you for your
kind words.> That being said, I'm stumped on this one. Can
you possibly ID this for me? <I'll give it a try!> I have
two of them growing out of my sand bed, they are a bubble of some
sort with specks inside. Good/bad? <Excellent picture by the
way. Is the reproductive matter of something, an egg mass, likely
an invert, and from what I have read, but have been unable to find
pictures to really compare is it may be that of polychaete annelid
worms. Nothing to worry about and when they hatch, likely in a day
or so, it will make a tasty treat for your fish and corals.>
Thank you for your time in this matter! <Welcome! The Brad |
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Odd Invert With Eight Tree
Branch Shaped Tentacles! Holothuroid 8/21/07 Hello
Crew, <Hi Sean, Mich here.> I have scoured the net trying to
identify the invertebrate in the attached picture. Since I've
been able to successfully identify several of my other LR
hitchhikers on your site I thought I'd ask the experts. While
the photo does not show it well the tentacles are very dark near
the base then become the white with reddish bands further out. This
particular invert appears to have eight tentacles similar to tree
branches that are constantly curling back into itself like it is
bringing food into its mouth. Only one tentacle at a time appears
to move towards the "mouth" area. If there is a
significant movement near it it will pull all the tentacles back
into the small hole in the live rock. Each tentacle shown here is
about 1.5 - 2 inches long and they emanate from a hole that is
approximately the circumference of a thin, adult pinkie finger. Any
ideas on what type of invert this may be or something else that
behaves similarly? <Is a Sea Cucumber, we just recently had
another query like this with a very similar picture.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/cukeidfaqs.htm Fellow crewmember, Lynn
did and excellent job describing the needs, care, and provided
links to relevant reference information. Please refer to the query
titled: Anemone Id? Nope, It's A Cuke! 8/10/07 > Best
regards,
Sean
<Cheers, Mich> |
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Invasion of the isopods? -- 8/19/07 A
couple of questions tonight... 1. Saw these over the past couple
days after the full lighting switches off. Just ID'd a
Bristleworm from WWM, but its a fairly small one, so he's
(she's?) safe for now. But these little guys have me a little
more worried, just because of the sheer number of them! Trap like a
1920's era pelter, or not quite yet? <From the picture in
the other email its a Stomatella snail. Love those things,
completely safe and wonderful to watch. You'll enjoy them. You
have a bunch because you have a bunch of algae, if you want to get
rid of them send them to me. Mine are all gone.> 2. My tank is
going through some troubles right now (46G FOWLR) due to the water
temperature being out of control, and I've been trying to get
that back in order. Our house doesn't have AC (it will next
year!), and we've just gone through 4 weeks of 30C weather
which has raised the average temperature to around 84F. I have a
fan blowing across the surface of the water, and I've dialed
back the 10000k light a couple hours a day. Any other suggestions?
<I've been known to take fresh water that has had prime
added to it and put it in the ice cube maker and after it freezes
add it to the tank. I've also known people to put the ice cubes
in baggies so the water can't get out but I prefer to put the
prime in it because I figure I'm dealing with a lot of
evaporation anyway. Good luck, MacL> Thanks!
Sean |
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White Substance Id - More Snail Eggs! -
8/8/07 Hello, <Hi Matt> Quick question: Can you tell by
this picture what this is on the side of my in-tank refugium?
<Yep, it looks like you've got a neat little trail of snail
eggs!> It appeared overnight, and it starting to disappear.
<Typical> The only thing in the refug is a Caribbean Anemone
crab recovering and two Margarita Snails. Could it be eggs?
<Definitely. If your Margarita snails are Margarites pupillus, I
believe those are broadcast spawners, so that rules those out. By
any chance, do you have any Cerith snails in there as well, or in
the display? Please see today's FAQ, top query, titled:
'Critter ID -- Gastropod Egg Mass -- 08/07/07' at this link
for comparison: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/daily_faqs3.htm and more
at this link as well:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/snailreprofaqs.htm> Thanks,
<You're welcome! -Lynn> |
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Spider Webs in my Saltwater Tank... Likely Vermetid
Snails - 08/05/07 Hi <Hello Joe, Mich here.> I have a
10-gallon saltwater tank. And ever since I added a feather duster I
have noticed that there is a white spider web type things in my tank
they touch the feather duster and live rock. I have sucked them out
with a Siphon but came right back. Like I say they look like spider
webs in my salt water tank any ideas? <Mmm, a photo would be most
helpful here. But sounds like you have a sessile snail, like these
Vermetid snails from the Dailies page on 08/05/2007. Hopefully you can
see the image here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/MolluscPIX/Gastropods/Prosobranch%20PIX/DSC_3282.JPG
You can read more about them here:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rs/index.php These snails send
out a mucous web in order to trap food items floating in the water
column.> and solutions? <These snails are harmless and a solution
per se is not required.> Thanks as always, JOE <You're
welcome as always! Mich.>
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Identification Request... More snail eggs! -- 08/02/07 I
would like some help identifying the lacy, leaf-like
"growth" on the glass of my aquarium. <Snail eggs.
Second snail egg query today. Is it a full moon?> I've
looked all over the web for similar photos, but since I don't
know what to call it, I'm running out of ways to describe it
in search engines--so far nothing matches. <Yes, this can be
an exercise in futility.... and can be quite time consuming.>
I see this on the glass every once in awhile. Sometimes more
elaborate patterns. It seems to deteriorate (or get eaten?) after
a day or so. <The likely the latter.> I'm fairly new to
the marine aquarium hobby, so forgive me if this is one of those
"duh" questions that I should have found the answer for
with an "obvious" search query. <No worries... this
is how we learn.> Most things I find in my tank I have
gradually identified, but not knowing what they are to start with
can make it quite time consuming. <"Beetlejuice"
reference here?> Thanks for your help on this one.
<Welcome! Mich> David
Re: Identification Request... More snail
eggs! 8/4/07 Thanks, Mich. <Welcome David!> That
surely explains why I've recently started seeing little tiny
snails on my glass!!! <Mmm, unfortunately, this is not likely
the case.> Too small to tell what kind yet, but with a
magnifying glass it looks like they could be either turbo snails
or Astraea snails (I have both in the tank). <Don't mean
to burst your bubble here, but is more likely a different species
all together. The only larger marine snails that readily
reproduce in captivity as far as I'm aware of are Stomatella
snails.> Neat. Thanks for helping me make the connection.
<Sorry, but I doubt that there is really a connection.>
While I was first trying to decide what corals and fish to put in
my tank (and convincing my wife we could afford it!), I spent
lots of time just sitting on a stool in front of my tank watching
and marveling at the tiniest things going on just in my live rock
and sand. <Yes is one of the simple joys of keeping a marine
tank! Just be careful which people you tell that you spend
several hours staring at the rock in you tank. Some may begin to
needlessly worry about you.> Now the fish and corals can lure
a person away from the tiny things because of their larger size
and activity, but even while I enjoy them, I try to look past
them still to keep up with the intricacies of the tank. (My
yellow tang seems to know I'm not paying attention to him and
keeps himself in front of me whenever I sit and watch, moving to
whatever side of the tank I'm watching from.) <Mmm...
perhaps a Pavlovian response to food!> There's just so
much to see in there. <Yes, hours upon hours of entertainment!
Please continue to enjoy the amazing display of life your tank
can reveal. Cheers (and keep staring!)
Mich>
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ID a Cocoon-like Sack... No Photo... Perhaps a
Poriferan? -- 08/02/07 Hello WWM Crew, <Hi Cris, Mich here.>
Quick question for you... I have a 55-gallon saltwater aquarium.
Inhabitants include: 1 yellow tang, <Should be in a large tank. At
least 75 gallons preferably much more!> 1 Coral Banded Shrimp, 2
Cleaner Shrimp, 1 Hermit Crab, 1 Coral Beauty Angel, 1 True Percula
Clown, 1 Maroon Clown and live rock. All inhabitants are friendly with
the only aggression issue being from my CBS towards my Angel &
Tang. But nothing severe. They all generally get along. <OK.>
Today, I found a cocoon like sack attached to and artificial plant
close to our filter. Its somewhere between nickel & dime size and
looks kind of like a spider egg sack. I'm completely clueless on
what this might be... Any ideas? <Perhaps a sponge? A photo would
help here.> Is it good or bad? <Likely harmless.> I've
been searching for some clue online but I've had no luck of finding
anything <Try looking at some of the photos on the sponge ID
FAQ's. More here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/spongeidfaq2.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/spongeidfaq4.htm Thanks so much, Cris
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What are these???? Fish food! Small crustaceans
ID 8/1/07Hey Guys, <Hi Mark, Mich here.> I
am pretty new to having a marine aquarium and have found your
site to be a great wealth of information. <Wonderful to
hear!> Currently have a 56 Gallon (not 55!!!) <I have a
46-gallon (not a 45!!!) which has been doing well. <Very
good.> I have about 70lbs of live rock, remora pro, emperor
280, 18w turbo-twist UV and a couple of powerheads for flow.
<OK.> The tank is minimally stocked at the moment with 3
damsels, 1 emerald crab, 3 hermit crabs and 10 snails. I recently
added a 10 lb piece of cured rock from my LFS. Tonight when I fed
the fish I noticed a number of tiny "shrimp-like"
creatures collecting at the surface. I shut off all water flow to
get a better look and these things seemed to appear from nowhere.
There were over a hundred mostly visible at the top of the tank
near the light. As you can see from the Picture (sorry about the
bad shot but these things are borderline microscopic) they have
an opaque body with a red tail. They almost resemble shrimp, but
given the size it is difficult to tell. All of this leads to the
obvious questions: What are they? <What you describe reminds
me very much of the reproductive behavior of Lysmata spp. shrimp,
(the red tail and collecting at the surface). But you didn't
mention any shrimp. So if that's not a possibility my next
thought would be mysis shrimp, thought in my experience these
tend to stay low in the tank and not so much gather at the
top.> Do I need to worry? <No.> What are their natural
predators? or how do I get rid of them? <Your fish/crabs will
likely enjoying eating them. Is a beneficial supplement to their
diet.> Any help is appreciated. <Hope this helps.>
<Cheers, Mich>
Mark
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ID Question,... crab? not enough information -
7/23/07 HI Crew <Howdy> A really quick one, can you Id this
tiny, tiny, thing for me? It's about 5/6mm <I'm guessing you
mean 5mm to 6mm> and I found it latched onto one of my corals (sps).
It's not new cause I've had nothing new in the tank for a
couple of months, and is it harmful? <Sorry, can't make that
call without more information (including photo(s)/more thorough
physical description). Have you noticed any damage so far?> Pretty
sure it's a crab, but it's very tiny and I think I can see
pinchers, about 1mm. <Again, need more info. Could be a commensal
crab (crab benefits from the coral, while the coral isn't harmed),
or any number of little critters. For comparison, see this link for
photos of crabs in general, and commensals at the bottom of page:
http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyummy42/hitchcrabs.html> Got to go
as I should be at work cheers Keep up the good work btw <Thanks, and
good luck --Lynn> <<Lynn.... where is this file? Were there
any pix? RMF>> Live Rock Critter Q ?!?!? No photo...
7/13/07 How are the masters of information doing today? <Hmm,
master of my domain perhaps. Heehee!> All is well I hope. <Could
be better, could be worse.> I've used you guys plenty of times
as it seems I have a new question every day. <Hee! Me too!> I
can't imagine how you respond so quickly every time. <It's a
group effort, and as Bob likes to say, he keys quickly> Thanks.
<Welcome! ...from all of us.> I've spent the good part of
this morning looking through the archives to find out what the heck I
saw today for the first time in my 2-week-old reef tank. <OK.>
Could find nothing and as I don't have a camera to help I'll
try to explain it the best way I can. <Mmm, I'm sure you're
familiar with the maxim "a picture is worth a thousand
words"> Hopefully you can help. <Will try, but with out a
photo...> This new guys is 2 cm MAXIMUM. Could be smaller. VERY SLOW
MOVER. <In comparison to what? A fish or a snail?> I got to watch
this guy for quite awhile this morning. Did not seem to be in a hurry.
Brown. Looked like it had a small covering of thin hairs on outer
shell. <Is there an inner shell?> the critter is perfectly oval
shaped. rounded shell ( lady bug like) if that helps. <The more
detail the better.> The interesting thing to me is he had two very
easy to see antennae on the back of his shell. <The back of his
shell, not the front of his shell?> (dragged them along as he went,
<In front or behind?> one on each side jettisoning out at an
angle but definitely. no longer than half a cm. That's as good as I
can explain him. <Well, I think I need a couple hundred more words
here or a photo to try to give a positive ID here. I'm having a
difficult time thinking of any one creature, that fits all the
characteristics you mention. Some things that came to mind that you
might want to do a Google image search for include: Stomatella snails,
Chitons, limpets, Nudibranch are a few to start with.> Is he good,
bad. <I'm sorry but I can't tell from the information
provided.> Do we know what he is? <Nope.> Thanks for your
time. <Your welcome!> You're my one stop shop for RELIABLE
info. <Thank you for the kind words.> Priceless. <Ok, hand
over the MasterCard! Mich>
ID Lint? Mini Wheat? Sponge? --
07/08/07 Hi- <Hello Ellen, Mich here.> Found this on my
live rock. <Umm, what?> Looked around your site and the only
real explanation I could find was that it is a type of sponge(?).
<Could be, or could also be some lint from my gym socks... a
frosted mini wheat... my best guess, and is purely a guess, is a
Syconoid sponge. Yes, no, or maybe so? Image attached, though
it's not the best. <Mmm, I'll say! A better picture may
provide a more definitive ID. Check to see if your camera has a
macro setting... helps tremendously on close up work... the symbol
often looks like a flower.> Thanks. <Welcome!> I enjoy the
site.
<Glad to hear this. Mich>
Ellen |
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| Strange creature, cannot identify..
7/6/07 Hello Crew, <Crystal> This site has been a lot of
help for this first time salt water hobbyist. I would like
you're help in the identification of this little creature that
has been growing on my live rock. It closes up when disturbed, some
what like a little ball. It appears to have a small slit in the
center, kind of like a mouth, and tiny tentacles coming from the
edges. It has not moved from this spot, so I believe it to be some
kind of tube worm, but cannot find a picture. Can you please give
me some kind of idea? I like to know about everything in my tank,
and it is driving me crazy to not understand what this is. Attached
is somewhat of a clear picture. <It looks like a member of the
Zoanthid family. See here - http://wetwebmedia.com/zoanthid.htm>
Thank you very much, Crystal <Pleasure, please resize your image
to around 200kb next time please. All the best, Olly> |
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