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FAQs about Sea Squirts Identification 3
Related Articles: Sea
Squirts/Tunicates/Ascidians,
Related FAQs: Ascidian/Sea Squirt ID 1,
Sea Squirt ID 2,
Sea Squirt ID 4, & Ascidians 1,
Ascidians 2, Ascidian Behavior,
Ascidian Compatibility, Ascidian
Selection, Ascidian Systems,
Ascidian Feeding, Ascidian Disease,
Ascidian Reproduction, |
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Hitchhiker ID: 6/11/09
Hello Crew!
<Hello Esther!>
The wonder of my marine tank still amazes me, as it is well over 3 years old
and over the course of the last 2 days a new hitchhiker appeared.
<Neat!>
While I have always been able to find 90% of my hitchhiker ID's through your
site, I could not find this one on any ID pages. I have no idea if this is a
hydroid, Bryozoan, or something else? Pest or foe? All I can describe is
that it seems to be colonial (sharing the same base, and just 5 minutes ago
it started what I believe is spawning material in tandem with the 3 others I
have found in the tank).
<Interesting>
As I said these just appeared 2 days ago. Thus I am thinking it's a pest,
but would like to hear your thoughts on the matter please. I have included
pictures of the ID in question as well as its releasing of material.
<Thanks. Unfortunately, I can’t see enough detail to be able to ID. If you
could send along several larger, high res photos, that would be super.>
Thanks, you have always been there for me for the last 3 years, and my tank
is successful due to my research and this site.
<On behalf of Bob and crew, past and present, I thank you for your kind
words! Please do send along more photos, if possible, so we can hopefully ID
your mystery hitchhiker!>
-Esther
<Take care, LynnZ>
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Re: Hitchhiker ID query
6/13/09
Hi Bob,
<Hello Lynn!>
I've got a hitchhiker ID from a gal named Esther that's got me stumped.
Yesterday, I requested larger photos, received them today, but am still in
the dark. Some parts appear tunicate-like, while others appear algae or
sponge-like. I've looked all over and just can't quite figure it out.
Thank you in advance for your help! I'll go ahead and move the query into
your folder.
Take care,
-Lynn
<Thank you. My response to Esther copied below. BobF>
Re: Hitchhiker ID
Thanks Lynn,
<Hi Esther, BobF here... Lynn asked me to take a look/see at your mysterious
HHs>
I hope these are better (they are higher resolution at least). If not I can
move the rock that they are on and try to get a better picture, but that
means moving coral and other rocks too...
-Esther
<Are indeed novel (to me at least!), but my guess/bet is on these being
Ascidians/Sea Squirts... with the blue "lines" being gonadal... Shouldn't be
dangerous, and are indeed testimony to your good, steady care. Bob Fenner>
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Re: Hitchhiker ID
query 6/13/09
Thank you so much, Bob! That query was driving me batty. I figured it was
probably some kind of reproductive event...but of what, I didn't know.
<And I have not much confidence in my guess here either... the pix show that
the "components", or individuals do "close up" behaviorally (I think)... and
when I made the one pic as big as I could w/o losing too much resolution,
the individuals did look like sea squirts... more than anything else!>
By the time I got through looking at Google images of tunicate and sponge
reproduction my eyes were practically crossed! Heeeee...I'll take an obscure
snail - or even a crab ID, any day over something like that! But hey, the
good news is that if I see something like that again, I'll know what the
answer is!
Thanks again, take care,
-Lynn
<Thank you Lynn. BobF>
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Is it a sponge? Nope, Blue Lollipop Tunicate – 2/13/09
Hi,
<Hey, I know you! Hope you’re doing well and enjoying
life!>
Can someone tell me what this is?
<Yep, it’s a
beautiful little Ascidian/Tunicate called Oxycorynia fascicularis or
Neptheis fascicularis (family Polycitoridae). It’s commonly called
(and unfortunately sold as) a Blue Lollipop Tunicate, Blue Palm
Coral, or Blue Cauliflower Sponge.>
It looks like a kind of
sponge
<It certainly does.>
...but I'm not sure. If you
could tell me what it needs too, that would be great.
<Although
these are commonly offered for sale around the ‘net and elsewhere, I
personally wish they weren’t because of their extremely low survival
rate. Tunicates are primarily planktivores and bacteriovores and
most home aquariums simply don’t have enough readily available food
to sustain them. Please see these links for more information and
photos:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/AscidianPIX/Ascidians5.htm
http://www.fishdb.com/db/salt/specimen/Blue_Lollypop_Tunicate.php
http://seadwelling.com/v-web/gallery/MarineInvertebrate/bluetunacate080904
>
Thank you
<You’re very welcome. Take care, Lynn> |
How nice! RMF |
Maybe a sponge?
01/18/09
Hello, I saw this thing growing in my 55gal
reef tank about a month ago.
Appears to be some kind of sponge,
but I was hoping to get an opinion. It's light gray and has a
soft/spongy texture. Has a very strange pattern and a distinct hole
in the middle of it. It's about the size of a nickel. Any ideas?
<If there's only one main hole, yes, I'd say it's likely a sponge.
If there are two holes, then it might be a tunicate.>
Thanks so
much,
Tiffany
<De nada,
Sara M.> |
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Need an ID please 12/14/08
Hello to all WWM crew!
<Hiya
Cath>
Here's, in joined pieces, a picture took from the tank of a
reefer of my area. I really don't know what this little beast is...have
any idea? Best regards and have a great Christmas time!
<It's very
hard to tell from the photo... does it move? If so... might be a Scutus.
If not, could be a bivalve. Any chance you can get a better picture?>
Cath from ReefConcept
<Best,
Sara M.> |
An Ascidian. RMF |
Re: Need an ID please 12/15/08
Hello to all WWM crew!
<Hello Cath>
Here's, in joined pieces, a picture took from the
tank of a reefer of my area. I really don't know what this little
beast is...have any idea? Best regards and have a great Christmas
time!
Cath from ReefConcept
<Am following up to Sara's
input... I do think this is very likely a Sea Squirt... Please see
our pix here et al re: http://wetwebmedia.com/ascidians.htm
Cheers, Bob Fenner> |
Chris/Pullz in Kona, diving, making pix... w/ unknown floater
10/23/08
So I captured this image but have not
been able to ID the little critter... I've asked others here on the
island and the boat but nobody has an idea.... so I've got to come
the expert.... what is it almighty Dogfish?
<Ahh! Tis a salp...
an Ascidian, a sea squirt! BobF, finally back in the US(SR). Nice
pic! DF is BobF's HHH name> |
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Strange unidentified spongy thing – 5/3/08
Hi,
<Lai>
I
noticed some stuff that came along with my live rock, and it seems to
have grown somewhat. I cant imagine what it could be, but it looks like
spongy eggs! Just wondering if you guys knew what this is and if its bad
for my tank? Should I try to get rid of it.
(no, its not the shrimp),
the other 2 grey things...
Lai
ps. Thanks in advance! You guys
have been so helpful!
<Mmm, looks to be either an amorphous type
Ascidian/Sea Squirt or some sort of sponge itself. Not harmful... even
beneficial in ways. Bob Fenner> |
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