Hitchhiker IDs        8/15/15 Hello. <Sarah> I am needing an identification on two hitch-hikers that have made their way into my tank. The anemone? looking thing appears to be multiplying. There is a smaller one beside it now. I am wondering if this IS an anemone or some other type of coral that resembles an anemone? <Mmm; yes; appears to be a Pseudocorynactis... a Corallimorpharian.... can be trouble... stinging other life. Most folks treat as a pest and remove them. See WWM Re> It is clear with white bulbs on the ends of its fingers with a green inner “core”. Its “mouth” area is different than any anemone I’ve ever seen. Can you help with an ID for it? I’m most interested if it will harm my seahorses. This is in a hippocampus erectus tank. <Will eat your Horses in time> The second thing is (only one picture) is pink and has pores like there will be polyps that will come out of it. It is soft but has an underlying structure. <Mmmm> This has only been in my tank 24 hours now. I am wondering if this is some sort of toadstool? It goes down to a V shape that I glued to a small rock then buried it in the sand. <Is this... a Renilla?> Thanks, Sarah <Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Mystery 'Shrooms  - 01/03/2006 Hello, <Hi.> I've been reading your website for a while and finally have a question/observation for you. <Okay.>   I have two types of mushrooms in my tank.  The first are deep maroon purple with bumpy surface and frilled edge.  The second are a red and very pale blue fading to cream at center with a thicker flesh and an even bumpier surface.  Today I conveniently noticed that both specimens were placed so that a large magnifying glass would correctly focus on them.  The first mushroom have finger like tentacles that make up the frilly edge and they are in a repeating pattern of 3 , 2 short 1 longer almost like an old roman trident.  The other mushrooms have bulbous thumb-like tentacles making up it frilly edge.  Any idea as to genus and or species? <Sounds like some type of Ricordea sp. or Rhodactis sp. 'Shrooms, your observations and descriptions were very astute but alas, a pic. is necessary for exact/proper identification. Sorry I could not be of more help, Adam J.>

Jewel Anemone Dear WetWebCrew, <Jason> First off - thanks for providing us all with this great resource. Because of it I'm still in this hobby and thoroughly enjoying myself. Now, on to the question. I recently purchased some live rock and found something on it that caught my attention (well, more so than usual). A lucky search through google images revealed that my "something" is a jewel anemone. Apart from where these little guys occur (off Australian/UK coasts? I'm guessing the LR may have been collected from Fiji) I was unable to find much information. Are these guys reef safe? <... am a bit confused, or daft or maybe both. The Jewel Anemone as in the Corallimorph Corynactis viridis Allman, 1846? This is a cool/coldwater colonial animal... Is found off the UK... not Fiji.> I would assume so. but assumption can be a dangerous thing. It sounds as though they average 1.5cm in diameter and generally live in colonies of varying color.  If they are a welcome addition to the tank is there anything I can do to ensure their continued survival? It seems as though they prefer to hide out in the shade and only fully expand when the lights are out. Any info you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jason M. Wood <Any chance of you sending an image of this animal? It may well be a species of Corallimorpharian and not likely to be trouble... unless it starts asexually over-producing covering/crowding out other sedentary invertebrates. I would just enjoy whatever it is... and if it starts to spread, create a "break" in the rock area where it is located to forestall its meanderings. Bob Fenner>

Corallimorph Identification I am growing a mushroom anemone I do not really know it's name. They come in brown and brownish red on the upper disc. The largest size about 10 cm diameter and average height above substrate 1-3cm. I was told to call it Discosoma to this day however recent search of pictures reveal different similar pictures and descriptions. I am now in between Actinodiscus, Discosoma and Rhodactis, Which is the correct genus for these guys? They look more closer to Rhodactis to me but I'm not too sure. I need your help. Cheers Kalo Pakoa <Take a look at the images on our site's pc. on this group: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/corallim.htm Sounds like an Amplexidiscus to me... but there are many variations within the genera of Corallimorpharians. Bob Fenner>

Mushroom rock problems Hi Bob, <Hello> I have two questions so I think I will ask them separately. One is a problem and the other is for curiosity. The problem first. A few weeks ago I bought a smallish mushroom rock. Besides the green stripe mushrooms there are some raised splotches of very pale lavender and bright yellow. This rock is quite live with lots of stuff growing all over it. The yellow still looks fine, but the lavender has turned totally white. <This happens... different organisms, requirements... perhaps conditions are less favorable to the lavender life in their new home...> Btw I think this happened during my recent vacation. I had a kid watch my tank and he is quite competent but I wanted to discourage him from putting his hands in the tank by keeping algae back so I cut the photo period to around nine or ten hours. I have no other corals (or coralish creatures. Everything else did fine but the whitish stuff. <Hmm> I have no idea what this is. It is not on the mushroom itself. The LFS suggested it could be a bacteria or even the some propagation. However I don't think I made it clear that it was not on the mushroom itself. Someone on the reef ng suggested it could be a sponge. I was reading Tullock yesterday and thought maybe it is a truncate. <Maybe a tunicate/sea squirt/Ascidian... many other possibilities> Anyway do you have any idea what it could be and what to do about it? I tried moving it up in the tank and the mushroom liked that but the whitish stuff has stayed the same. I tried feeding it but I think it didn't react. <How many openings to the outside do you perceive? I am inclined to think this is some sort of sponge material...> Of course I could take it back to the LFS as they are very good about stuff like this. <I wouldn't move this rock, the life on it... more harm than good> Btw I have 144 watt JBJ lights on a forty gal breeder (I'm the one you want to get a 300 gal tank or something :-)). Last time I tested: SG: 1.024 Temp: 80 pH: 8.1-8.2 ammon. 0 nitrites trace nitrates >10 Phosp >.2 Ca 490 Alk 6 m/L <Calcium's a bit high, alkalinity a bit low...> The only additive I use is buffer due to using DI water. I have since done a 10% water change to get the nitrites and nitrates down and because I'm an obsessive nut case. :-) I'm sparing you by asking the other question another time. So you luck out. <Indeed? Bob Fenner> Thanks. --Jane J

Mushroom rock problems continued Hi Bob, More on the mushroom rock stuff. Besides the green stripe mushrooms there are some raised splotches of very pale lavender and bright yellow. This rock is quite live with lots of stuff growing all over it. The yellow still looks fine, but the lavender has turned totally white. This happens... different organisms, requirements... perhaps conditions are less favorable to the lavender life in their new home...> I think he had metal halides on the tank. Also shallow water and with lots of current. The mushrooms are doing better--spread out more, but the lavender stuff not being lavender isn't doing well at all. <Perhaps "sun" burned...>> itself. Someone on the reef nag suggested it could be a sponge. I was reading Tullock yesterday and thought maybe it is a truncate. <Maybe a tunicate/sea squirt/Ascidian... many other possibilities> Yes that's what I meant. Anyway do you have any idea what it could be and what to do about it? I tried moving it up in the tank and the mushroom liked that but the  whitish stuff has stayed the same. I tried feeding it but I think it didn't react. <How many openings to the outside do you perceive? I am inclined to think this is some sort of sponge material...> Hmm (you say that a lot). I don't see any. This is completely smooth. The texture, feel of mushroom. But very puffy. (I think has become more puffy.) <<Still, likely a sponge... or maybe an Aschelminth... perhaps a Bryozoan..> > Of course I could take it back to the LFS as they are > very good about stuff like this. ><I wouldn't move this rock, the life on it... more harm than good>