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FAQs about Non-Vertebrate Animal Identification
27 Related Articles: Marine Invertebrates, Marine
Invertebrate Systems, Marine Invertebrate
Compatibility, Marine Invertebrate Disease, Marine
Invertebrate Reproduction, Quarantine
of Corals and Invertebrates, Feeding
Reef Invertebrates, Lighting Marine Invertebrates,
Water
Flow, How Much is Enough,
Related FAQs: Non-Vert IDs 1, Non-Vert
IDs 2, Non-Vert IDs 3, Non-Vert
IDs 4, Non-Vert IDs 5, Non-Vert
IDs 6, Non-Vert IDs 7,
Non-Vert IDs 8,
Non-Vert IDs 9,
Non-Vert IDs 10,
Non-Vert IDs 11,
Non-Vert IDs 12,
Non-Vert IDs 13,
Non-Vert IDs 14,
Non-Vert IDs 15,
Non-Vert IDs 16,
Non-Vert IDs 17,
Non-Vert IDs 18,
Non-Vert. ID 19, Non-Vert.
ID 20, Non-Vert. ID 21,
Non-Vert. ID 22, Non-Vert. ID 23,
Non-Vert. ID 25,
Non-Vert ID 26, Non-Vert
ID 28, Non-Vert ID 29,
Non-Vert ID 30 Non-Vert ID 31,
Non-Vert ID 32, Non-Vert
33, Non-Vert ID 34 & Marine
Invertebrates, Marine Invert.s 2, Marine
Invert.s 3, & FAQs about: Marine Invertebrate Behavior, Marine
Invertebrate Compatibility, Marine Invertebrate Selection,
Marine
Invertebrate Systems, Feeding
Reef Invertebrates, Marine Invertebrate
Disease, Marine
Invertebrate Reproduction, &
& LR
Life Identification, LR Hitchhiker ID 1, Anemone Identification,
Aiptasia
Identification, Aiptasia ID
2, Worm Identification, Tubeworm ID, Polychaete Identification, Snail
Identification, Marine
Crab Identification, Marine Invert.s 1, Marine
Invert.s 2, Marine Plankton,
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Id Question:
Syconoid Sponges - 9/3/07
<Hi Dave and Laura>
A bunch of these puffballs just started appearing on the bottom of some
of our live rock. There aren't a lot of them yet (but the sudden change
from 0 to about 10 implies a large acceleration that makes me nervous).
<Understandable. A sudden increase like that always gets my attention!
Luckily, these guys are no problem.>
They look like small white puffballs about 3mm in diameter with tufts of
hair sticking out the top. Any idea what they are?
<Yep, no worries. They’re commonly seen sponges of the genus Sycon, also
called Syconoid sponges. Harmless, even beneficial, these little filter
feeders thrive/multiply in high nutrient conditions. As the excess
nutrients wane, so will the population of these neat little sponges.
Please see the FAQ’s re: Sycon/Syconoid sponges at this WWM link for
more info: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/spongeidfaqs.htm >
Thanks
Dave and Laura
<You’re very welcome! –Lynn> |
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ID Needed
Please… Egg Mass… Perhaps of a Polychaete Worm
8/30/07
Hello,
<Hi Brad, Mich here.>
I cannot thank you all enough for what you guys do for us!
<Just trying to help. Thank you for your kind words.>
That being said, I'm stumped on this one. Can you possibly ID this for
me?
<I'll give it a try!>
I have two of them growing out of my sand bed, they are a bubble of some
sort with specks inside. Good/bad?
<Excellent picture by the way. Is the reproductive matter of something,
an egg mass, likely an invert, and from what I have read, but have been
unable to find pictures to really compare is it may be that of
polychaete annelid worms. Nothing to worry about and when they hatch,
likely in a day or so, it will make a tasty treat for your fish and
corals.>
Thank you for your time in this matter!
<Welcome! The pleasure is mine. Mich>
Brad |
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Odd Invert With Eight Tree Branch
Shaped Tentacles! Holothuroid 8/21/07
Hello Crew,
<Hi Sean, Mich here.>
I have scoured the net trying to identify the invertebrate in the
attached picture. Since I've been able to successfully identify several
of my other LR hitchhikers on your site I thought I'd ask the experts.
While the photo does not show it well the tentacles are very dark near
the base then become the white with reddish bands further out. This
particular invert appears to have eight tentacles similar to tree
branches that are constantly curling back into itself like it is
bringing food into its mouth. Only one tentacle at a time appears to
move towards the "mouth" area. If there is a significant movement near
it it will pull all the tentacles back into the small hole in the live
rock. Each tentacle shown here is about 1.5 - 2 inches long and they
emanate from a hole that is approximately the circumference of a thin,
adult pinkie finger. Any ideas on what type of invert this may be or
something else that behaves similarly?
<Is a Sea Cucumber, we just recently had another query like this with a
very similar picture.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/cukeidfaqs.htm
Fellow crewmember, Lynn did and excellent job describing the needs,
care, and provided links to relevant reference information. Please refer
to the query titled:
Anemone Id? Nope, It’s A Cuke! 8/10/07 >
Best regards,
Sean
<Cheers, Mich> |
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Invasion of
the isopods? – 8/19/07
A couple of questions tonight...
1. Saw these over the past couple days after the full lighting switches
off. Just ID'd a Bristleworm from WWM, but its a fairly small one, so
he's (she's?) safe for now. But these little guys have me a little more
worried, just because of the sheer number of them! Trap like a 1920's
era pelter, or not quite yet?
<From the picture in the other email its a Stomatella snail. Love those
things, completely safe and wonderful to watch. You'll enjoy them. You
have a bunch because you have a bunch of algae, if you want to get rid
of them send them to me. Mine are all gone.>
2. My tank is going through some troubles right now (46G FOWLR) due to
the water temperature being out of control, and I've been trying to get
that back in order. Our house doesn't have AC (it will next year!), and
we've just gone through 4 weeks of 30C weather which has raised the
average temperature to around 84F. I have a fan blowing across the
surface of the water, and I've dialed back the 10000k light a couple
hours a day. Any other suggestions? <I've been known to take fresh water
that has had prime added to it and put it in the ice cube maker and
after it freezes add it to the tank. I've also known people to put the
ice cubes in baggies so the water can't get out but I prefer to put the
prime in it because I figure I'm dealing with a lot of evaporation
anyway. Good luck, MacL>
Thanks!
Sean |
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White
Substance Id - More Snail Eggs! - 8/8/07
Hello,
<Hi Matt>
Quick question: Can you tell by this picture what this is on the side of
my in-tank refugium? <Yep, it looks like you’ve got a neat little trail
of snail eggs!> It appeared overnight, and it starting to disappear.
<Typical> The only thing in the refug is a Caribbean Anemone crab
recovering and two Margarita Snails. Could it be eggs? <Definitely. If
your Margarita snails are Margarites pupillus, I believe those are
broadcast spawners, so that rules those out. By any chance, do you have
any Cerith snails in there as well, or in the display? Please see
today’s FAQ, top query, titled: “Critter ID – Gastropod Egg Mass –
08/07/07” at this link for comparison:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/daily_faqs3.htm and more at this link as
well:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/snailreprofaqs.htm>
Thanks,
Matt
<You're welcome! -Lynn> |
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Spider Webs in my Saltwater
Tank... Likely Vermetid Snails - 08/05/07
Hi
<Hello Joe, Mich here.>
I have a 10-gallon saltwater tank. And ever since I added a feather duster I
have noticed that there is a white spider web type things in my tank they touch
the feather duster and live rock. I have sucked them out with a Siphon but came
right back. Like I say they look like spider webs in my salt water tank any
ideas?
<Mmm, a photo would be most helpful here. But sounds like you have a sessile
snail, like these Vermetid snails from the Dailies page on 08/05/2007. Hopefully
you can see the image here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/MolluscPIX/Gastropods/Prosobranch%20PIX/DSC_3282.JPG
You can read more about them here:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rs/index.php
These snails send out a mucous web in order to trap food items floating in the
water column.>
and solutions?
<These snails are harmless and a solution per se is not required.>
Thanks as always, JOE
<You're welcome as always! Mich.>
Identification Request... More snail eggs! – 08/02/07
I would like some help identifying the lacy, leaf-like "growth" on
the glass of my aquarium.
<Snail eggs. Second snail egg query today. Is it a full moon?>
I've looked all over the web for similar photos, but since I don't know
what to call it, I'm running out of ways to describe it in search
engines--so far nothing matches.
<Yes, this can be an exercise in futility.... and can be quite time
consuming.>
I see this on the glass every once in awhile. Sometimes more elaborate
patterns. It seems to deteriorate (or get eaten?) after a day or so.
<The likely the latter.>
I'm fairly new to the marine aquarium hobby, so forgive me if this is
one of those "duh" questions that I should have found the answer for
with an "obvious" search query.
<No worries... this is how we learn.>
Most things I find in my tank I have gradually identified, but not
knowing what they are to start with can make it quite time consuming.
<"Beetlejuice" reference here?>
Thanks for your help on this one.
<Welcome! Mich>
David
Re: Identification
Request... More snail eggs! 8/4/07
Thanks, Mich.
<Welcome David!>
That surely explains why I've recently started seeing little tiny snails
on my glass!!!
<Mmm, unfortunately, this is not likely the case.>
Too small to tell what kind yet, but with a magnifying glass it looks
like they could be either turbo snails or Astraea
snails (I have both in the tank).
<Don't mean to burst your bubble here, but is more likely a different
species all together. The only larger marine snails that readily
reproduce in captivity as far as I'm aware of are Stomatella snails.>
Neat. Thanks for helping me make the connection.
<Sorry, but I doubt that there is really a connection.>
While I was first trying to decide what corals and fish to put in my
tank (and convincing my wife we could afford it!), I spent lots of time
just sitting on a stool in front of my tank watching and marveling at
the tiniest things going on just in my live rock and sand.
<Yes is one of the simple joys of keeping a marine tank! Just be careful
which people you tell that you spend several hours staring at the rock
in you tank. Some may begin to needlessly worry about you.>
Now the fish and corals can lure a person away from the tiny things
because of their larger size and activity, but even while I enjoy them,
I try to look past them still to keep up with the intricacies of the
tank. (My yellow tang seems to know I'm not paying attention to him and
keeps himself in front of me whenever I sit and watch, moving to
whatever side of the tank I'm watching from.)
<Mmm... perhaps a Pavlovian response to food!>
There's just so much to see in there.
<Yes, hours upon hours of entertainment! Please continue to enjoy the
amazing display of life your tank can reveal.
Cheers (and keep staring!)
Mich> |
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ID a Cocoon-like Sack... No
Photo... Perhaps a Poriferan? – 08/02/07
Hello WWM Crew,
<Hi Cris, Mich here.>
Quick question for you... I have a 55-gallon saltwater aquarium. Inhabitants
include: 1 yellow tang,
<Should be in a large tank. At least 75 gallons preferably much more!>
1 Coral Banded Shrimp, 2 Cleaner Shrimp, 1 Hermit Crab, 1 Coral Beauty Angel, 1
True Percula Clown, 1 Maroon Clown and live rock. All inhabitants are friendly
with the only aggression issue being from my CBS towards my Angel & Tang. But
nothing severe. They all generally get along.
<OK.>
Today, I found a cocoon like sack attached to and artificial plant close to our
filter. Its somewhere between nickel & dime size and looks kind of like a spider
egg sack. I'm completely clueless on what this might be... Any ideas?
<Perhaps a sponge? A photo would help here.>
Is it good or bad?
<Likely harmless.>
I've been searching for some clue online but I've had no luck of finding
anything
<Try looking at some of the photos on the sponge ID FAQ's. More here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/spongeidfaq2.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/spongeidfaq4.htm
Thanks so much,
<Welcome! Mich>
Cris
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What are these????
Fish food! Small crustaceans ID 8/1/07
Hey Guys,
<Hi Mark, Mich here.>
I am pretty new to having a marine aquarium and have found your site to
be a great wealth of information.
<Wonderful to hear!>
Currently have a 56 Gallon (not 55!!!)
<I have a 46-gallon (not a 45!!!)
which has been doing well.
<Very good.>
I have about 70lbs of live rock, remora pro, emperor 280, 18w
turbo-twist UV and a couple of powerheads for flow.
<OK.>
The tank is minimally stocked at the moment with 3 damsels, 1 emerald
crab, 3 hermit crabs and 10 snails. I recently added a 10 lb piece of
cured rock from my LFS. Tonight when I fed the fish I noticed a number
of tiny "shrimp-like" creatures collecting at the surface. I shut off
all water flow to get a better look and these things seemed to appear
from nowhere. There were over a hundred mostly visible at the top of the
tank near the light. As you can see from the Picture (sorry about the
bad shot but these things are borderline microscopic) they have an
opaque body with a red tail. They almost resemble shrimp, but given the
size it is difficult to tell. All of this leads to the obvious
questions:
What are they?
<What you describe reminds me very much of the reproductive behavior of
Lysmata spp. shrimp, (the red tail and collecting at the surface). But
you didn't mention any shrimp. So if that's not a possibility my next
thought would be mysis shrimp, thought in my experience these tend to
stay low in the tank and not so much gather at the top.>
Do I need to worry?
<No.>
What are their natural predators? or how do I get rid of them?
<Your fish/crabs will likely enjoying eating them. Is a beneficial
supplement to their diet.>
Any help is appreciated.
<Hope this helps.>
Kind Regards,
<Cheers, Mich>
Mark |
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ID Question,... crab? not enough information
- 7/23/07
HI Crew
<Howdy>
A really quick one, can you Id this tiny, tiny, thing for me? It's about 5/6mm
<I’m guessing you mean 5mm to 6mm> and I found it latched onto one of my corals
(sps). It's not new cause I've had nothing new in the tank for a couple of
months, and is it harmful?
<Sorry, can’t make that call without more information (including photo(s)/more
thorough physical description). Have you noticed any damage so far?>
Pretty sure it's a crab, but it's very tiny and I think I can see pinchers,
about 1mm.
<Again, need more info. Could be a commensal crab (crab benefits from the coral,
while the coral isn’t harmed), or any number of little critters. For comparison,
see this link for photos of crabs in general, and commensals at the bottom of
page: http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyummy42/hitchcrabs.html>
Got to go as I should be at work cheers
Keep up the good work btw
<Thanks, and good luck –Lynn> <<Lynn....
where is this file? Were there any pix? RMF>>
Live Rock Critter Q ?!?!? No
photo... 7/13/07
How are the masters of information doing today?
<Hmm, master of my domain perhaps. Heehee!>
All is well I hope.
<Could be better, could be worse.>
I've used you guys plenty of times as it seems I have a new question every day.
<Hee! Me too!>
I can't imagine how you respond so quickly every time.
<It's a group effort, and as Bob likes to say, he keys quickly>
Thanks.
<Welcome! ...from all of us.>
I've spent the good part of this morning looking through the archives to find
out what the heck I saw today for the first time in my 2-week-old reef tank.
<OK.>
Could find nothing and as I don't have a camera to help I'll try to explain it
the best way I can.
<Mmm, I'm sure you're familiar with the maxim "a picture is worth a thousand
words">
Hopefully you can help.
<Will try, but with out a photo...>
This new guys is 2 cm MAXIMUM. Could be smaller. VERY SLOW MOVER.
<In comparison to what? A fish or a snail?>
I got to watch this guy for quite awhile this morning. Did not seem to be in a
hurry. Brown. Looked like it had a small covering of thin hairs on outer shell.
<Is there an inner shell?>
the critter is perfectly oval shaped. rounded shell ( lady bug like) if that
helps.
<The more detail the better.>
The interesting thing to me is he had two very easy to see antennae on the back
of his shell.
<The back of his shell, not the front of his shell?>
(dragged them along as he went,
<In front or behind?>
one on each side jettisoning out at an angle but definitely. no longer than half
a cm. That’s as good as I can explain him.
<Well, I think I need a couple hundred more words here or a photo to try to give
a positive ID here. I'm having a difficult time thinking of any one creature,
that fits all the characteristics you mention. Some things that came to mind
that you might want to do a Google image search for include: Stomatella snails,
Chitons, limpets, Nudibranch are a few to start with.>
Is he good, bad.
<I'm sorry but I can't tell from the information provided.>
Do we know what he is?
<Nope.>
Thanks for your time.
<Your welcome!>
You’re my one stop shop for RELIABLE info.
<Thank you for the kind words.>
Priceless.
<Ok, hand over the MasterCard! Mich>
ID Lint? Mini Wheat? Sponge?
– 07/08/07
Hi-
<Hello Ellen, Mich here.>
Found this on my live rock.
<Umm, what?>
Looked around your site and the only real explanation I could find was
that it is a type of sponge(?).
<Could be, or could also be some lint from my gym socks... a frosted
mini wheat... my best guess, and is purely a guess, is a Syconoid
sponge.
Yes, no, or maybe so? Image attached, though it's not the best.
<Mmm, I'll say! A better picture may provide a more definitive ID. Check
to see if your camera has a macro setting... helps tremendously on close
up work... the symbol often looks like a flower.>
Thanks.
<Welcome!>
I enjoy the site.
<Glad to hear this. Mich>
Ellen |
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Strange creature, cannot
identify.. 7/6/07
Hello Crew,
<Crystal>
This site has been a lot of help for this first time salt water
hobbyist.
I would like you're help in the identification of this little creature
that has been growing on my live rock. It closes up when disturbed, some
what like a little ball. It appears to have a small slit in the center,
kind of like a mouth, and tiny tentacles coming from the edges. It has
not moved from this spot, so I believe it to be some kind of tube worm,
but cannot find a picture. Can you please give me some kind of idea? I
like to know about everything in my tank, and it is driving me crazy to
not understand what this is. Attached is somewhat of a clear picture.
<It looks like a member of the Zoanthid family. See here -
http://wetwebmedia.com/zoanthid.htm>
Thank you very much,
Crystal
<Pleasure, please resize your image to around 200kb next time please.
All the best, Olly> |
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