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FAQs about Sea Squirts Identification 4
Related Articles: Sea
Squirts/Tunicates/Ascidians,
Related FAQs: Ascidian/Sea Squirt ID 1,
Sea Squirt ID 2,
Sea Squirt ID 3, & Ascidians 1,
Ascidians 2, Ascidian Behavior,
Ascidian Compatibility, Ascidian
Selection, Ascidian Systems,
Ascidian Feeding, Ascidian Disease,
Ascidian Reproduction, |
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ID
Please – Sponge? Coral? Pest? Nope: Tunicate – 10/18/09
Hello,
<Hello Crystal, Lynn here this evening.>
I have no real way to describe this hitchhiker.
<It’s a beauty!>
It is about an inch round, oval shape. Last time I thoroughly inspected the
live rock was about 3 weeks. That particular rock has been in my tank since
April (it passed through 3-4 hobbyist tanks before reaching me). It is in a
very shady spot. It seems to be uniformly attached to the rock (i.e. no
clear base like Aiptasia) and doesn't seem to react to touch, movement, or
light change. Looks kind of 'feathery'... Very pretty actually.
<Yes, indeed.>
Can you ID it? I tried Google, several marine forums, but have found
nothing.
<It looks like a neat, harmless, little Tunicate/Ascidian colony. Please see
the following links for more information/photos:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ascidians.htm
Something similar in the genus Clavelina (family Polycitoridae):
http://guamreeflife.com/images/organisms/fullsize/inverts/ascidians/
clavelina_moluccensis/clavelina_moluccensis_full14.jpg
http://www.ascidians.com/families/polycitoridae/Clavelina_moluccensis/clavelinamollus.htm
>
picture:
[url]http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq176/c_scherer123/aquarium/Saltwater/unknown1.jpg[/url]
Thanks!
<You’re very welcome!>
Crystal
<Take care, LynnZ> |
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Red sponge? 10/5/09
Good evening crew-
<Morrow, Dan>
Just got these nice clove polyps, and found a bright red hitch-hiker on
them. It has now strung anchor cables to the aquarium wall. AM I correct
that it is some type of sponge?
Thanks,
Dan
<Mmm, I wish the pic was a bit better resolved and larger... But I think
this/these are Ascidians, Sea Squirts. See here re:
http://wetwebmedia.com/ascidpt2.htm
Bob Fenner>
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Re: Red sponge?
- 10/06/2009
Thank you. I think the photo of the red grouping (in the link provided)
is probably my mystery guest. I'll see about getting a better photo.
Appreciate the help.
<Real good. BobF>
Re: Red sponge?
Thanks for the reply earlier. I have one more photo, showing more of the
anchor cables and some antennae-like tentacles.
<Likely another group of organisms here... Hydropolyps/Hydrozoans...>
Seems to be a good fit for the Ascidia family.
<Mmm... other taxon>
I wouldn't anticipate being able to keep them healthy for long in a clean
reef system. Does that sound correct?
<Are indicative of good, consistent care... Can live there. Please see the
linked files above: http://wetwebmedia.com/ascidpt2.htm
Bob Fenner>
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Fleshy tube, SW ID 9/16/09
I bought a piece of live rock last weekend with a Mushroom coral
attached to it, there was a lot of stringy algae attached which my Regal
tang and Emperor angel have eaten off revealing a clear fleshy tube
poking out of the rock, it has red vertical stripes on it and at first i
thought it might have been a feather duster as there are a few smaller
ones on the rock.
But the tube is about an half an inch long, it doesn't do anything
except occasionally retract itself when i presume it is eating, then it
gently folds out again.
<Good clues>
I had to take the rock out the other night to remove some red algae and
had a look at where the tube creature was and beneath the rock it has a
large jelly mass belonging to it!
Any help and information would be greatly appreciated.
It doesn't seem to be causing any harm, the fish go near it. Is it a
cause for concern?
<Looks to be an Ascidian. Please see WWM, the Net re. Bob Fenner>
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