Weird little white things...  8/28/07
Heya,
<Good evening>
I have used your web site on countless occasions and usually I can find the answer I'm looking for relatively quick,
<awesome>
but I can't seem to find a question similar to mine so here goes. I noticed a while ago that there was this strange white egg looking thing attached to some of my live rock (pic 1&2), along with other odd things I said "hey that's cool, wonder what it is" and went about my business. However, this afternoon I decided I needed to clean my canister filter and to my surprise there were many (twenty+) of these things (pic 3&4) I had seen on my rock earlier. I hate cleaning my filters because I always have to rinse so many little critters down the drain (even though I quite often spend 20 minutes picking out as many of the little guys as I can before flushing the rest).
<And to you, my heart my friend… I do the same thing. :-)>
But I've had my tank for almost a year now and I've never seen these egg like things before, and now they're all in my filter. Any idea on what they are?
<They are sponges. They’re likely some kind of Sycon sp. Some aquarists call them “pineapple sponges” because they look a bit like little pineapples. I’ve had them before myself. Sometimes they bloom (reproduce like mad) and then suddenly disappear as mysteriously as they came. Or, sometimes they stick around. In any case, they’re harmless unless they start clogging up things.>
And thanks so much for your web site... like I said earlier I use it very often.
<Thank you>
~Andrew
<Best,
Sara M.>

Re: Quick response needed on coral, sponge...  – 08/27/07
I am sorry to write you again about the sponge. I looked at the information you told me to look at. Would you say that my sponge is dying?
<Mmm, not quite yet... but very hard for most home hobbyists to keep such non-photosynthetic species for much time period>
Do you think the sponge is emitting any toxins, and should I remove it from my tank? Thank you for all of your help
<Unfortunately this may be the case... and yes, I would. Pardon my dispassionate responses... Am unsettled that a company would send you such an inappropriate "bonus" organism... Trouble for it, you and your other livestock. Please do contact them re, send my email along. Bob Fenner>

Help With ID... Likely Sponges (Poriferans)   8/22/07
You guys are awesome thanks for the help.
<Welcome!>
For the life of me can't figure out why I didn't use the Macro feature.
<Heeee! Ya coulda had a V8!>
Oh well live and learn.
<C'est la vie!>
Thanks again
<You are most welcome. Mich>

Re: Sponge/Anemone ID  8/9/07
> Subject: Sponge/Anemone ID, and Mantis comp. > Hi guys, just a quick thank you for the much appreciated information on your site.> I was told at my LFS that this is a colonial anemone on a sponge, an "orange spider sponge"; is this correct?> <Mmm, maybe... are the greyish parts ever "polyp-like"? This may be a sponge growing on another sponge>> if so what is the taxonomy.> <Any idea where this/these organism/s are from?>> Also, are mantis shrimp detrimental to a reef setup?> <Can definitely be... are predaceous... some can get quite large, consume shellfish, other crustaceans, even fishes>> I have had no luck removing this specimen, I got a snowflake eel, not solely for the purpose but thinking he might dine on it, but alas he hasn't. I'm starting to admire his resilience. Thank you for your assistance. Cameron Teague> <See WWM re traps, baiting... strategies. Bob Fenner>
Hi, I have been told that they have "flowers", I'm guessing polyps, that emerge after time. I have only had it in my system for about a week. I'm guessing it's just getting used to my system. The supply from my LFS comes from Cairns, then gets shipped over night to Hobart, Tasmania where I live.
<Mmm, well... the polyps should have been in evidence by now... I do suspect that this is a sponge on a sponge more and more. BobF>