Cnid ID F 34

FAQs on Identification of Stinging-Celled Animals 34

Related Articles: Cnidarians, Water Flow, How Much is Enough,

Polyps? ID, control 4/28/20
These pesky bluish polyp-y things are taking over the rocks in my tank, and killing off some of my SPS. Any idea what this is and how to rid my tank of it?
<These appear to be Clove polyps, a very invasive species and very hard to eradicate once it has overgrown your tank, sometimes requiring tearing down the whole system. There are several suggested methods to deal with these
Clavulariids, such as: vinegar, Aiptasia X, Kalkwasser, tuxedo urchins, and Fenbendazole (canine dewormer), this last has proven to be the most effective of the above, the main drawback is that it is too risky to treat the entire tank with this anti parasitic as it may kill other desirable corals; the best approach is to remove the invaded rocks and treat them separately, do bear in mind that none of the mentioned options guarantees 100% effectiveness, but are worth trying since clove polyps may end up killing other desirable corals. Hope this helps. Wil.>

Red algae ID 2/11/18
Hello, I wrote in many months back and you were super helpful identifying some algae for me. I hope you can help again! I have attached a photo of the reddish pink tree-like algae that is spreading like wildfire through my tank. I didn’t see anything like it in your algae ID archives... can you tell me what it is?
<I wish I could... the regular branching... I don't think this is an algae/Thallophyte, but a very pink Hydrozoan of some sort>
Does anything eat it that I could use to help control the spread? Thank you!
-Sarah
<There are some notable Seaslugs that ingest various Hydropolyps, but I don't know anything re this particular one. I would remove it from the system, as it may be producing stinging elements that will bother your other livestock. Do you have a microscope with a USB connection? I'd like to see some 100-200, 400 time magnification shots. Bob Fenner>

Re: Red algae ID 2/12/18
Hi Bob, I don’t have a microscope unfortunately.
<Perhaps a local fish store does, someone from a marine aquarium club>
I have tried some manual removal but ripping it off leaves traces behind that I cannot remove, and it is widespread, including my tank overflow box and powerhead. It also grows very very fast.
<Yeeikes! I wish I could tell definitive what this is. I have never encountered something this shade of pink, nor with the array of branching it shows>
Is bleaching my tank and starting over my only option to eradicate this pest?
<It may well be>
Also, can it sting fish or just corals?
<Can't tell w/o testing or microscopic looking. BobF>
Thanks again.
Sarah

Salt Water Identification Assistance 7/9/17
Hoping you guys can help ID a new found presence in my aquarium.
Thanks! Chad H.
<The whitish bit? Have cropped, spiffed about as well as I can... appears to be a bit of octocoral... likely a soft coral of some sort. You could excise. Bob Fenner>

Cnidarian id 5/26/17
Hi, Guys! A friend of mine, who's an avid reefer and has been skin diving for the past 20+yrs, has discovered this rare Cnidarian. It's his first time encountering this beautiful creature. We think it's an anemone as the physiology greatly resembles one. The bottom is glued to the rock like an anemone, not like a soft coral. He collected this off Negros Island in the Visayas, Philippines, and it's the only one in the entire area where he dived 2 days ago.
<Ahh>
It's photosensitive as it moved the black ruffle like tentacles when shone with a flashlight. It has what look like sweeping stinger tentacles buried underneath the black ruffles. The guy who discovered it, gently poked it with his chipping hammer to see if it reacted violently, but nothing happened, so he touched it with his finger and it didn't sting. What do you guys think it is?
<Does look to be an Actinodendron sp.; have seen a few such possibilities recently. Often called "Hell fire" anemones> Examples of larger ones here on WWM: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/anempt2.htm >
It would be awesome if it's a never before seen species. Hehe.
Hoping for an id,
Paul
<Thank you for sharing. Bob Fenner>

Mushroom coral question 2/18/17
<12.5 megs; no rdg.>
Hi all. I wanted to ask what species of coral you think this is?
<Beauties... Discosoma/Actinodiscus of yore>
They are mushrooms which are photosynthetic with branch like tentacles- they also enjoy consuming little lumps of fish meat about (1.5mm size) and will close up and eat them. (Enclosed picture) The internet seems divided between ordinary furry mushrooms or elephant ear. Also if they are accidentally touched (even lightly) or disturbed they split within a day and then I have more!
At their largest I would say they are just under 3" long each. (I have had them in my tank for about 4 years and have given away a fair few)
<Good of you>
Are their different colour variations? I would love to have more. Thanks!
(And please excuse the algae switched off sump and a missing fish has upset the system a bit)
<Read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/corallim.htm
Bob Fenner>

What is this? 6/3/16
I purchased this from my LPS about 6 months ago. I though it was a sponge, but it isn't. It seems to be growing rapidly and if I put it somewhere it doesn't like to be it can expand to move itself from the crevice. Any idea what it is....does it pose any threat to my saltwater tank (given off toxins, etc.). Your expertise is appreciated.
Thanks!
<?! This is a soft coral... a Nephtheid.... See WWM re... your system must be optimized and stable... for it to be doing this well. Bob Fenner>

Nem? I.D. 4/28/16
I was wondering if someone could help me identify this animal. It appears to be some sort of rock flower nem, but is missing some of the normal features of a rock flower nem.
<Mmm; not this. Almost look like Zoanthids, but more than two rows of tentacles...>
They are about 1" across, do not appear to sting the corals around them, do not seem to "walk" around, and do actively feed on mysis shrimp and other frozen foods.
If you could help me identify them, then I can be sure that I'm giving them proper care. Thank you very much for your time!
Sherita Tabner
<These appear to be some sort of Anemonia sp. to me. Bob Fenner>

Chaeto visitors 3/27/16
I have a ball of Chaeto Macroalgae that I have kept for a couple of years. It was a start of a few threads and now the size of a large softball. So my question relates to majano type anemones as my Chaeto seems to have two majano anemones growing in the outer most threads of the ball.
It is my understanding that majano anemones only grow on hard surfaces. If so, then what do I have?
<Perhaps another form of polyp/oid life. Send along a few Kbyte size, well-resolved image if you can. Bob Fenner>
Lou
Re: Chaeto visitors 3/29/16
Sorry but the mystery has vanished after I prodded them with a chopstick.
The next day they were gone! I cannot I don't them anywhere in the tank.
<Interesting>
Thanks for the help.
Lou
<Welcome. BobF>

Hydroids? 2/26/16
Hello crew! I started up a 90 gallon a few weeks ago and it is still currently cycling, but I think I have hydroids. They are very small, attached to all the walls of the tank, and look like tiny hairy tan balls almost. They do not respond to touch, and the stalk like base that they are attached to is not any larger than the other parts. I have attached a
picture, I apologize for the terrible quality but it is the best I can get with my phone.
<Do these look characteristic when looked through magnification; as in through a loupe? Do appear Medusoid...>
Any help with identification and what exactly to do with them will be greatly appreciated. I'm also dealing with Aiptasia and flatworms( acoela I think), so I am hoping for good news but fearing the worst. Thank you so much for your time!
-Samantha
<Mmm; well; you could just wait; see if all "settles out" with time (weeks) going by... with a lack of feeding, nutrient, perhaps even blanketing the system to greatly reduce light penetration. IF greatly concerned a physical filter, like a diatomaceous earth... can be set up to filter out most all; again, over days time. The most extreme methods involve over-heating the system; poisoning it... but these can/will damage the live rock, organisms in the substrate. For me, I'd just be patient for here, now. Bob Fenner>

Hi! Need advice on coral ID, pico reef stocking 2/25/16
Hi Bob, guys and gals,
<Hey Ken>
Thanks for maintaining this wonderful website! Over the course of my hobby,
it has proven time and again to be a most valuable resource.
<Ahh!>
Here in Singapore, my colleagues and I are in the process of setting up a small 8.3 gallon pico reef tank. Purely for boosting morale among our coworkers you understand :)
<Sure>
Sometime last week, we added a chunk of live rock with four of what we suspect are colonial anemones of some kind. At the LFS, the rock had been in a tank with another piece with many more of these anemones.
<Oh yes>
In the two days it has since spent in our tank, the heads of each polyp have expanded to be about 5cm across. This really varies though over the course of the day, depending on the light intensity, but 5cm appears about the average.
From what I can tell, the stems of each polyp are completely separate from one another and are spaced approximately 10cm apart. They seem attached deep within the crevices of the rock. Seen under blue LEDs, the stems, each about 1/2 cm thick, bear fluorescent green ovoid spots.
The polyps appear extremely responsive to external stimuli, expanding within 30 seconds of the lights coming on, and reacting immediately to touch or changes in flow.
<Good clues>
*We'd love to hear your input on identifying these critters, as well as any considerations we might need to take to keep them healthy.*
The polyps do not seem 'sticky' to the touch, which we hope to mean they might not pose too much threat to livestock we hope to add in the future.
On the subject of future plans, we are debating perhaps a trio of Sexy Shrimp (*Thor amboinensis*), and perhaps an anemone crab (*Neopetrolisthes maculosus*).
<http://www.daveharasti.com/articles/speciesspotlight/porcelaincrab.htm>
*Would the crab turn aggressive due to competition for host anemones? *
<Not likely, no>
We are also researching the viability of a small Royal Gramma (*Gramma loreto*) as the sole fish. *Would this be wise, bearing in mind this need not be a permanent arrangement* (I have a separate 210 gallon system it can
be moved into when it outgrows the pico. *Can it also be relied upon not to inhale the Sexies? *
<This volume is a bit small for Grammas>
Would love to hear your thoughts on the mystery anemones (pics attached) as well as our future plans for this tank.
Thanks in advance, and keep up the great work!
Kenneth
<These appear to be Anemonia majano or similar. You can search/read Re them on WWM, the Net. I really like them... but some folks find they over-reproduce.... Bob Fenner>

Re: Hi! Need advice on coral ID, pico reef stocking 2/25/16
Thanks for the quick reply!
<Welcome>
I find the anemones rather pretty, and very fascinating to watch.
We will read regarding the anemones, and reconsider the gramma.
<Real good>
Much obliged to you for your time.
Cheers!
Kenneth
<And you; BobF>

softie Acan hitchhiker 1/28/16
Dear Bob,
Can anyone ID this? I have found three people who have this hitchhiker, always on an Acan it seems. Mine is a softie ;not a clove, palm tree, pipe organ, xenia, anthelia, daisy or anything else I can find a name for.
<... the Clavularian in this tiny pic?>
[image: Inline image 1]
thank you for any help you can offer,
Rebecca A Linden
<See here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/clavulariids.htm
Bob Fenner>

full size

Re: softie Acan hitchhiker 1/28/16
Thank you, this one does not seem to match any species pictured there?
<There are many... >
It has no hard pipe, so not a pipe organ. It has no spot in the center, so not GSP. very slight to no dissection in the "petals" so not a clove. More "petals" than a daisy.
<Still a Clavulariid almost certainly. BobF>

Unknown coral branch... thing. 10/13/15
Hi guys!
<Andrew>
I received what appears to be a piece of some type of branching coral that I cannot identify.
It's green with a purple cast to it (or visa versa) and has a number of widely separated polyps. I have not seen them open.
<Mmm; what does this thing feel like? Is it at all flexible? If so, my tentative group vote is going to a Rindkorallen; a Gorgonian>
It kinda looks like the antagonist from Day Of the Tentacle, which would be awesome if true.
Any thoughts?
Andrew
<Bob Fenner>

Re: Unknown coral branch... thing. 10/15/15
<ten megs....>
Bob/Crew,
No, not at all flexible. Here is another pic, and a pic of the hard internal structure at the fractured end.
Andrew
<A branching Scleractinian of some sort.... many Families possibilities.
Have to wait till it's larger and more close up pix of corallites to tell more. Bob Fenner>

Re: Unknown coral branch... thing. 10/15/15
Thank you!
<Welcome!>

Hi All.... myst. "coral" bonus! 9/8/15
Hi
<Tab; twelve megs of pix? Groan>
I was searching for information on a mystery coral and came across your foram.
<Foraminiferan?>
I just set up a tank to start cycling and bought a live rock that was taken from an old tank at the store. After getting it home we noticed what looked to be a whitish slime on it going to rinse it off i noticed it opening thinking we had a stray coral i just put it in my tank. It has recently opened more and i wanted to get it identified to make sure it wont harm any other coral or fish i will eventually place in the tank. it has only been in the tank for about a week.
These picture were taken within 20 min of each other
<Interesante.... in cropping, spiffing up.... this looks like a Haddon's carpet anemone..... striated; uniform tentacles as small bumps uniform over capitulum.... What say you? Bob Fenner>

crop

Coral ID. Majano-Ville! 8/18/15
Can you identify this coral for me? It has grown at such a rate its on all my rich <sic, rock> and even grows to the glass -lots of free coral :)
<Ummm>
I thought torch or galaxia but it really has no sweeper tentacles to speak of. It's more of single polyp coral with a full head like a Zoa...but with the bulbous tip its.... Aaaaah, I'm so confused! Lol
<Looks like the pest Anemone Anemonia cf. majano.... See WWM re. Bob Fenner>
Many thanks,
Jeff

Coral Identification 6/27/15
Good Afternoon Robert,
<Ry>
I recently purchased a coral from a hobbyist. At the time, he did not know the name of the coral. I have looked around the web, posted on forums, and received very different responses. As a leader in the field, I was wondering if you could help me identify this coral (attached). It is bright orange, and quite a beautiful piece. Its size is roughly 2" to 2-1/2" in diameter. It looks like some type of mushroom, but I am not sure. Any help would be tremendously appreciated as I am trying to identify it so that I can give it proper care.. Thank you for taking the time to read this email.
-Ryan
<Mmm; almost certainly this is a Corallimorpharian... See here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/corallim.htm
Bob Fenner>

Re: Coral Identification 6/27/15
Bob,
<Ryan>
Thank you very much for your help, time, and quick response! The information
is very helpful.
-Ryan
<A pleasure to serve. BobF>

Please visit our Sponsors