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FAQs about Non-Vertebrate Animal Identification
31 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 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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ID Requests: Syconoid Sponges, Majano - 1/5/08
Dear Crew,
<Hi Ann!>
I would like to thank you for your time and expertise.
<It's our pleasure!>
I have sent two attachments of some live
rock in my 55 gallon. My tank contains one Ocellaris Clownfish, a
"Flower Anemone", a large Featherduster, and a dozen blue-legged
hermit crabs. It used to have a flame scallop in it.
<Very
difficult to keep/feed, made worse by their habit of settling
themselves into caves/other inaccessible spots.>
Getting to the
point of the pictures. I would like some help on identifying some
new
inhabitants. I have 1/4" tubular growths that are spreading
like wildfire across my tank. Like always they are hard to rid of.
<They're actually harmless/beneficial little Syconoid sponges (genus
Sycon)– normally a sign of a stable, healthy tank. Unfortunately, a
population explosion usually indicates an excess of nutrients.
Please see WWM for more info regarding nutrient control:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nutrientcontrol.htm . By the way, I don't
know how old your tank is, but it's not unusual to see an initial
explosion (and subsequent subsidence) of these little guys, as well
as the Spirorbids I see in your photo. Spirorbids are harmless
filter feeders that appear as tiny white coils on just about
any/every surface - glass, rockwork, equipment, etc.>
The second
picture is of my so-called "Flower Anemone". My LFS doesn't usually
have scientific names available.
<Is frustrating, I know.>
I
did some research, but I am suspecting this is not a Flower Anemone.
I have a feeling it is something else. I'm just looking for some
scientific names to start my research on it. Any help is greatly
appreciated.
<It looks a lot like a Majano to me (Anemonia
majano), sometimes called a Rock/Flower/Tulip anemone. They can be
very pretty, vary in color, and in some cases relatively “well
behaved”. Other times, they become quite the pests as they are
capable of multiplying and delivering a nasty sting to their
neighbors. Please see WWM and the internet for more information
regarding, starting here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/anemoniafaqs.htm.>
I am extremely
sorry for the quality of the pictures.
<No worries, I think we’re
good to go!>
I hope I did everything right, I fear the wrath of
the WWM crew.
<Heeeee!! Ah yes, the wrath of “Lynn, The Wicked
Witch of WetWeb” is a terrible thing indeed - just kidding! As much
as my flying monkeys are itching to get out, you're much too nice
and have done nothing to warrant their release! Have a great
weekend. :-)>
Happy New Year,
<Thank you kindly, and the same
to you!>
Ann
<Take care -Lynn> |  
|
Invert ID Spiral Tube Feather Dusters (Spirorbis spp.)
1/3/08
Hi Crew !
<Hi Lisa! Mich here.>
I am a new Reef tank
keeper,
<Welcome to the salty world!>
I still do not have much in
my tank yet
<Good. Is best to go slow.>
only few damsels
<Mmm,
you may end up with just one winner.>
and a cool yellow stripe
maroon clown
<Not the best fish to have this early in the process.
They tend to be bullies and can make the introduction of new fish near
impossible.>
with an anemone
<Oh, I really wish you didn't have
the anemone. They are not beginner animals. Anemones really shouldn't be
kept in a tank that is less than year old. It would be best to find a
more appropriate home for the anemone and perhaps the yellow striped
maroon. More here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/anemones.htm
>
and some peppermint shrimp
<OK.>
and a sally crab.
<Not a
fan... too predatory....>
I love to look for life on the live rock
and discovered several ?fans?
<Yes, likely so.>
look like tiny
daisies about the size of a pinhead. They do retract when touched and
retract when the lights are out. I have about 6 so far on one of the
rocks. do you know what they are?
<Yes, sounds like Spiral tube
feather dusters (Spirorbis spp).>
Lisa
<Mich>
Question About Things In My Tank I Have No Idea What They Are...
Polychaete Worm and Stomatella Snail 01/03/2008
<Heehee! I
have similar things in my refrigerator!>
Hi Bob and or crew
<Hi John, you've got Mich today.>
Thank you for the time to look
at my question and pics.
<Welcome and thanks for sharing>
A
little history first off. I am a newbie to the saltwater aquarium.
My tank has been up for 7 weeks.
<OK. Very new.>
My water
tests are as follows:
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates >20
PH 8.2
I have a 90-gallon FOWLR with a 30-gallon long sump and
about 150 pounds of live rock. The sump has a refugium with
Caulerpa.
<I would avoid personally. Chaetomorpha is a far
better choice in my opinion.>
I am using a Sea Clone 100 protein
skimmer ( when I can afford I will upgrade but its pulling gunk at
the moment and I figure that's better than not pulling).
<You are
correct!>
I have a cinnamon clown, cardinal fish and a lawnmower
blenny ( which are now in a 30-gallon QT tank).
<Congrats on
using a QT system. This will serve you well.>
I currently have my
display tank in a fallow state for 6 weeks due to being a dumba$$
and not running a QT tank from the start and introducing a Kole Tang
and a tiny blue hippo tang which introduced Marine Ich to my system
( lesson learned).
<Very good. Better to learn early!>
I have
sent you some pics of the creatures in my tank that I have no idea
what they are and have been unable to ID. Could you please help?
<Certainly will try.>
#1 What is under the mushroom? It looks
like a tube like worm with purple spots up close.
<Mmm, I'm not
sure what you're referring to here. Any chance of getting a better
shot? Likely a Polychaete worm, it sounds like it could be a
tubeworm or perhaps a Peanut worm (Sipunculid sp.)>
#2 Is this a
sea slug and should I be worried about the 10 or so I have?
<No
is a beneficial Stomatella snail. They generally reproduce well in
captivity. Is a lucky addition for you.>
I have so many questions
and hate to clog your mailbox.
<No worries. Is why we're here.>
Could you please advise.
<Don't eat yellow snow...>
John
<Mich> |  |
What is this tiny creature? A Spionid/Chaetopterid worm! - 12/23/07
<Hi Lisa.>
I purchased some live rock and one of the pieces had what
looks like a two armed anemone. It lives in a tube made up of the fine
sand in my tank attached to the rock.
<These are neat little
creatures. They live in tubes of hardened mucus, complete with cemented
on bits of substrate/shell, sand grains, etc. The mucus part isn't too
appealing to me, but hey, it's their castle! See this photo of one in my
tank for comparison (sorry, it’s not the best photo, but you get the
idea): http://wetwebfotos.com/usermedia/high/0/2470_62.jpg>
It will
send out these translucent arms about an inch long searching for food.
<Yep, those are called “peristomial palps”, most often shortened to
“palps”. What you have sounds like either a Spionid/Hair worm, or a
Chaetopterid worm. Both are similar in that they construct/live in a
tube, have two characteristic hair-like feeding “tentacles”, and are
generally harmless little detritivores/particulate feeders.>
They
don't seem to hurt anything,
<For the most part, no. The exception is
if they’re within/near a colony of zoanthids. Continual contact with
those flailing little palps can sometimes irritate, causing them to stay
closed/decline.>
but they have spread out over the other rocks now.
So far they are not on the glass or in the sand without being attached
to the rock.
<Okay.>
My tank size is 65gl. I have 5 peppermint
shrimp, 2 hermit crabs, 2 sally crabs, 2 cleaner clams, a few damsels,
and a Maroon yellow strip clown fish. So far it does not seem as though
the peppermint shrimp are eating them or the hermit crabs.
<Noticed
the same in my tank. Maybe there’s just more readily available/appealing
food about?>
Any suggestions on getting rid of them and do you know
what they are??
<No need to remove unless they become too
numerous/encroach on a coral, or irritate it. Please see these links for
more info, as well as WWM via search engine:
Spionids:
http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_net/1197/1197_1.html
Chaetopterids:
http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_net/0897/0897_5.html>
Lisa
<Take care –Lynn>
Snail ID and Mystery "Things" in Tank - 12/16/07
<Hi there. I
sincerely apologize for the delay in answering!>
First, I have a
massive population explosion of limpets and snails. I have attached
a picture of the snail. Hopefully you can help me ID this sucker.
<Sure can! The little snails you’re seeing are Collonistas. They’re
harmless/beneficial grazers, vary in color (tan/brown and white,
white, even some pink and white), reproduce readily in our tanks,
and are mostly nocturnal. They also stay small, around 3-4mm. Please
see this link for more info/photos:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rs/index.php>
The
second is more complicated.
<Heee, I'll second that!>
About a
5-7 days ago I noticed a white web or cocoon type structure in my
life rock. The white material has since gone away and left behind
are these reddish pink multi-lobed balls with a bit of white "fuzz".
Could these be some kind of egg or something? I have attached a pic?
<They don’t look like eggs. However, I need a bit more information
in order to narrow things down. Are these things hard, leathery, or
soft? Has there been any change in appearance since you first wrote
in? By the way, I couldn’t help but notice several fine examples of
“tree-like” white foraminiferans in your photo. Very pretty!>
Thanks
<You’re very welcome, and again, my apologies for the
delay! -Lynn>
Re: Snail ID and Mystery "Things" in Tank - 12/17/07
<Hello
again!>
Thank you for the response.
<You're very welcome.>
I have taken a close look, and although they have been moved around
by the current, they seem to have attached themselves where they
lie. Not much has changed in their appearance with the exception of
a tiny bit more white fuzz on them.
<Would love to see a
close-up of this!>
Could this have been a way that the
pinkish-red structure on the live rock, that they are sitting on in
the pic, replicates itself?
<Wondered the same thing myself. Is
that pinkish-red structure hard, or soft (need to know same
regarding the little nodules)? The larger structure, at first
glance, looks very much like a foraminiferan (Homotrema rubrum).
Problem is, after taking a close look at it, I don’t see the typical
white, hair-like, feeding structures. Another possibility is that
it’s a Rhodophyta (red algae) of some variety. That’s why I need to
know if it’s soft/flexible, or hard/stony feeling.>
Size wise
they are about the size of a pin head.
<Thanks. That’s a little
smaller than I thought.>
I also have another potential issue. I
have a Scopus Tang that seems to be exhibiting some dark wear marks
on its dorsal fin and tiny "light colored" marks along either side
near the upper part of it's body. - seems to be acting fine but I am
a little concerned. I have tried to get a good pics but have been
unsuccessful. I will keep trying. Any thoughts?
<Unfortunately,
this is out of my area of expertise. Please do try to obtain a good
photo and submit your query with as much information as possible
regarding tank size/parameters, whether fish is still acting/feeding
normally, what you feed it, how long you’ve had it, other tankmates,
etc.
Take care -Lynn>
Re: Snail ID and Mystery "Things" in Tank
<Hello!>
The
structure is hard and previous to the "white webbing" showing up, it
did have longer white hair like extensions.
<Yep, that fits right
in with a foram. I think we’ve got a winner – Homotrema rubrum!>
Thanks again
<You’re very welcome! Take care –Lynn>
Follow-up Re: Snail ID and mystery "things" in tank - 12/19/07
<Hi there.>
Update - It looks as though the nodules are now
growing.
<Could still be a foraminiferan (Homotrema rubrum). Keep
an eye out for similar white hair-like projections, to confirm.
Otherwise, when these things get a little larger, take the best
resolution/detailed photo you can and we’ll take another look/try to
ID.>
Also I believe my Tang is exhibiting signs of HLLE -
<Uh-oh.>
What is your best recommendation for treatment? I have
read several different thoughts on your site.
<Good vitamin
enriched diet, pristine water conditions. However, I’m not the best
person to give advice on this. What you need to do is get a good
photo and submit a query with as many details as possible, including
diet, water parameters, tank size, how long you've had it, etc.
Take care -Lynn> |  
|
I need sleep! Please help me... -12/14/07
It's 10:39pm and I
can't sleep... Let me explain...
<Ha! It's 3:36AM here! :P >
A few
months ago, when starting my saltwater tank, I purchased some beautiful
live rock from the local shop. I allowed this to sit in my tank for a
few weeks before adding fish.
<just a few weeks?>
One night, no
fish in the tank, I see this odd little larvae swimming in the tank...
Odd because it was fairly large. (about two inches...)
It was
swimming very fast and like an eel.
<...or like a worm?>
See
attached photo (the day I first saw it several months ago)
<I can't
honestly ID this from the photo, but my guess is that it's the larvae of
some errant Polychaete.>
Well I never saw it again and assumed it had
been snatched up by a fish as a tasty treat.
<Or it settled,
developed into adulthood.>
Four months goes by. A few days ago I came
home from an evening outing and turned on my living room lights. (tank
lights were off) I nearly screamed when I saw this thing in the tank
swimming towards the light. It was the equivalent of a snake, Courtney
Love,
<Hey now... be nice!>
and a centipede in one.
I was
unable to capture a photo of the beast... we'll call it "ogopogo" for
reference sake... and have never seen it again... I'm too freaked out of
this thing to reach in my tank any more... or sleep for that matter,
wondering if it will attack me in my bed, smother me with a pillow...
and whisper "it's all your imagination"
<LOL, chillax my friend...
it's more than likely nothing to worry about, much less fear.>
So in
an attempt to take control of the situation... I took the blue led moon
light and shone it into the tank in hopes it would swim to the light and
I could scream and then regain my composure and capture the beast. No
Luck
<Don't be scared, but there might be more than one! Ooooo... duh
da duh dun!>
What is it?
<In all likelihood, it is a (or they
are) harmless invert larvae.>
How do I capture it? How do I call
myself a man if I can barely stay in my apartment?
<I say...
education separates the men from the boys.>
The scoop:
It's
flat... It no longer looks like an eel... It's flat and dark on one side
and translucent on the underside...
It's big... You wouldn't want to
find this in your gravel while sifting through with your fingers looking
for debris... It's about 3 inches now...
It has a flat round mouth...
<Hmm... this sounds like something else (other than what you sent in the
photo). Or, possibly the adult form of the free-swimming juvenile in the
photo.>
My educated Googling leads me to the following:
a Gill
Fluke
a species of parasite
a relative of a sea lamprey?
a
juvenile fish species?
<It's hard to say without a very good photo.
But I still wouldn't freak out.>
If it were a parasite; should it not
have to live off a fish?
<Yep>
I would be able to see it on the
fish...
<Most likely yes>
My theory is that it lives in the
gravel... It's obviously nocturnal...
DESPERATE & SLEEPING WITH
LIGHTS ON IN TORONTO,
<LOL... go to sleep my friend. They only attack
small children who don't eat all their vegetables. j/k!>
Mark
<Best,
Sara M.> | 
|
Misc… Majanos… Maybe, Maybe Not… Sedentary Snail... SW invert. ID f'
- 12/13/07
Hi Crew,
<Greetings, Mich here, apologizing for the
lengthy delay.>
I have a few creatures that I assume are Majanos.
They are very small with a red base and lots of tentacles. The tentacles
are almost clear but they have a white bulb at the end.
<Hmm, likely
Aiptasia, but your description may also describe other desirable corals
such as a Pseudocorynactis. A picture would b most helpful and the best
way to give a solid ID>
Similar to pictures in the WWM forums. One is
in a hole in a rock and a couple others are on the undersides of shells
where they get little light.
<Again, consistent with both the
nuisance Aiptasia and a desirable coral.>
Is it typical for these to
be in such low light areas or is this some other creature.
<Either
are possibilities.>
I have seen them in various places in my tank
over the past year but this is the first time I have seen a few at the
same time. I never bothered to remove them because they look nice, were
not hurting anything nor were they a nuisance.
<Good rationale.>
Sometimes weeds are nice if they don't get out of hand.
<Very true.>
I also have an interesting, but ugly, tubeworm that came on a candy cane
colony. The tube is about 1/4 inch across. A few times a day he lets out
some lines, barely visible, and stuff in the water sticks to it. Then he
reels it in eating the line and whatever is caught on it.
<Yes,
sounds like a sedentary snail... a beneficial filter feeder.>
Thanks
<Welcome! Again I apologize for my tardiness. Mich>
Creature ID? Hermits, Strombus, Sea Cucumber - 12/11/07
Hello
again WetWeb Crew!
<Hi Sarah!>
Thank you so much for your help
with my previous question.
<On behalf of the crewmember, you’re
very welcome!>
I have acquired a few new creatures and was hoping
that you could help me ID them so I can learn more about their
native habitats and care info. I have attached pictures of a few of
my new creatures.
<The seller did not have this information?
Unfortunately, I’ve run across this all too often. It’s so important
for us to know what we’re getting, and whether we can properly care
for it, *before we bring it home. It can save many lives and much
frustration!>
I have attached pictures of a few of my new
creatures.
<Okay, let’s get to work!>
The first is a hermit
crab about 2.5 inches across (including the shell). I looked at your
hermit ID page and thought it looked like Clibanarius vittatus. It
seems very easy going.
<Looks like that species to me, as well.
Common along Gulf Coast states, size: up to about 3”, mostly a
scavenger, hardy.>
2. A golf ball sized hermit. It is a decorator
with orange-yellow antennules and blue eye stalks. It's a little
high-strung, in my opinion, and voracious.
<Typical of many
hermits.>
I am having a hard time searching it online
<Understandable. I've looked everywhere (books, online, etc) and
can't find this hermit. The good news is that I'm sure we've both
learned much while searching!>
and am hoping that it will not
get much larger because I have a feeling that it will cause some
damage if it does...
<Understandable, and without knowing which
species it is...? In order to have a better chance at identifying,
I'd need more detail in the photo (to see whether one claw’s
larger/which one, legs smooth or hairy, shape of claws, etc). Looks
like the little guy decided to move just as the photo was taken -
drat! Please see the following link for more info, as well as
related links above:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/crabs/hermitcrabs.htm
.
This is an excellent site with many photos of hermits for
comparison: http://www.recif.be/article/hermit.htm >
3. I
thought this gastropod might be a young whelk <!> because the tank I
acquired it from contained large Busycons, but I really have no
idea. Maybe miniature variety of Strombus? lol.
<Heeee! Well,
they all start off small, but some get huge!>
The shell is about
1 and 3/4 inches long. The inside of the shell is mother of pearl
and light purple. <Pretty> The snail inside is dark brown with a
tan-yellow operculum. Its eyes have black centers surrounded by a
silver-white ring and a thin, black, outer ring.
<Typical of
Strombids. Whelks have black dots for eyes. Is definitely something
in the Strombidae family. Looks very much like Strombus
alatus/Fighting conch, which can vary somewhat in color/shape – see
link re:
http://www.gastropods.com/9/Shell_1329.html.
Also
similar to Strombus pugilis worki (see slender spire):
http://www.gastropods.com/5/Shell_4465.html
Here’s a helpful
link showing thumbnails of the Strombidae family (for additional
comparison):
http://www.gastropods.com/Taxon_pages/TN_Family_STROMBIDAE_STROMBINAE.html
Information re: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-07/rs/index.php >
4. A sea cuke. Just a plain old brown cucumber. The stripes of podia
are slightly lighter in color. It's about 3 inches long. Sorry about
the picture quality on this guy.
<Can be difficult, I know!
Unfortunately, I can’t see much in the photo, but please see this
link (and related links above) re:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/seacukes.htm >
I don't really need the
species names, but if you can give me an idea as to their native
habitat that would be great.
<See above>
Thanks so much,
Sarah
<You're very welcome! Take care -Lynn> |   |   |
Creature ID, ophiuroid 12/9/07
Good afternoon to the amazing
guys and gals at WetWeb!
<Hello Scott>
I picked up a couple of
small pieces of live rock today and I noticed a hitchhiker. I believe it
to be Ophiocoma erinaceus but I'm not certain.
<It is definitely an
Echinoderm of the Ophiuroidea species.>
Would you please verify (if
you can from the attached photo) and let me know if it is safe to place
in my FOWLR system (containing one Arothron hispidus, one Cephalopholis
miniata, one Zebrasoma flavescens, and one Batrachomoeus trispinosus)?
If it isn't suitable for the main tank, would it be safe to place in my
refugium (containing two unknown mithrax crabs)?<I think the puffer
would be the quick to sample the Brittle starfish. Therefore the sump
may be it's best bet.>
Thank you once again for your ongoing work at
teaching us laypeople the proper ways to creating and maintaining a
successful tank. I owe any of the Southern California WetWebbers a beer.
What's your schedule look like?
<Thanks for the beer!-Mr. Firemouth>
Regards,
The Other Scott F. | 
|
Snail Eggs – 12/6/07
<Hello Julie! Brenda here>
I've attached
a photo of something that has grown onto the back of my tank in the past
10 days. I don't even know how to describe it so I hope the picture is
detailed enough. It's about 3 inches long.
<It certainly looks like
snail eggs to me, possibly Cerith. What kind of snails are you keeping?>
Thank you! Julie
<Brenda>
Re: Snail Eggs – 12/6/07
I have Astrea and Nassarius.
<It is
definitely not the Astrea. This species releases gametes into the water
column. See here:
http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/astrea_snail.htm It is likely
the Nassarius snails. Neat!!! See here:
http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic20750-11-1.aspx?Highlight=nassarius+eggs
Good luck to you! Brenda> |  .jpg)
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