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FAQs about Non-Vertebrate Animal Identification
25 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 26, Non-Vert ID 27,
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, Non-Vert ID 35,
Non-Vert ID 36, Non-Vert ID 37,
Non-Vert ID 38, Non-Vert ID 39,
Non-Vert ID 40, Non-Vert ID 41,
Non-Vert ID 42, & 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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Soft Coral ID Help… More Likely Algae – 06/16/07
Good
Afternoon,
<Good day! Mich here.>
I am having some difficulty
in trying to figure out what this coral is (assuming it is a coral
at all). I have searched and searched all morning to no avail, so I
thought I would see if you happened to know what it was. I have
included a picture, but due to the limitations of my camera (and my
own photography skills), I will also try to describe it as best I
can.
<Sometimes as helpful as pics.>
I know one fact that may
help in identification. It came from waters off the Florida Keys, it
hitched a ride one some zoanthids I bought direct from a diver. It
was not at all apparent when I placed the zoanthids in the tank. It
sprouted from the small rubble the zoanthids are attached to, and in
a matter of two weeks has gone from barely visible to the size of a
cotton ball. It is very "poofy" looking and is white to grayish in
color. The polyps (still assuming it is a coral) are very tiny and
do not look like clove or star polyps do, they appear to be very
tiny single stalks with the appearance of
extremely tiny Italian
Parsley (best description I can think of). It does not react when
touched. There is no stony or calcified structure I can detect.
Hopefully I was thorough enough in the description. The picture is
attached.
<I suspect this is some type of algae, though I can't
really tell from the pic. The quick rate of growth makes me doubt it
is a soft coral, as does your description of the polyps. Soft corals
are generally octocorals, this does not sound like an octocoral. My
best guess... algae. Thought the featherlike structures shown in the
photo are hydroids! Be careful not to touch them. They can pack a
powerful sting! More here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hydrozoans.htm
and related links in blue.>
Thank you for your time,
<Welcome!
Mich>
Scot M. | 
|
Hitchhiking Brittle Stars - 6/15/07
<Hi Matt>
I have searched
for hours and hours attempting to identify these critters I have living
in my rock. I just want to know what they are and what they look like. I
would guess that there are at least six of these guys hanging out in
tiny holes, some no bigger than a 1/4 inch in diameter, in my rock. The
only thing visible is two, half inch tentacles reaching out. I actually
saw one pop out for an instant after a feeding of brine shrimp. It
looked segmented like an insect but it was so quick I cannot be certain.
Can you help me identify these critters?
<I sure can! They’re small
brittle/serpent stars, most likely a species that stays small (usually
around an inch or less across), and a neat addition to your tank. They
hitchhike in and like to hang out in crevices in, and around, the
rockwork. What you’re seeing are several of their little “arms” reaching
out in hopes of catching a bit of food floating past. Please see WWM for
more information, starting here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestarreprofaqs.htm >
I attached a
photo and I can also send a higher resolution copy if needed.
<Thanks, but I think we're good to go!>
Thanks
Matt Huppert
<You're very welcome! -Lynn>
Re: Hitchhiking Brittle Stars (Maybe not?!)- 6/15/07
<Hi Again!>
It is definitely not a brittle star. What is your second guess?
<Hmmm, sorry about that! If there's any way you can get a good close up
shot of one of these, that would be terrific. Thanks. -Lynn><<RMF would
swear this is an Ophiuroid also>>
H |
Input on FAQ "Hitchhiking Brittle Stars - 6/15/07" – 06/16/07
Hey Crew,
<Hi Andy! Mich here.>
Was perusing today's questions
and noticed the above Q/A regarding tentacles sticking out of rock
at night. I have tons of these, tan and red/brown striped with what
appears to be bristles--some are quite (relatively) large in
diameter. I assumed that they were bristle worms,
<Unlikely.>
especially since I keep seeing more and more, but thought it odd
that 3 and 4 "worms" would be sticking out of the same hole and
pretty much remaining stationary. Not that I'm afraid of worms,
<Heee! Just don't eat them! Won't make people like you more!>
but
glad to hear that they are stars.
<Yes. Beneficial members of
the clean up crew!>
Learn something new every day . . . .
<More here for your edification!
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestaridfaqs.htm
Mich>
Andy | 
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Invert. ID, SW 6/13/07
Hey guys,
I've been trying to
figure out what this little guy is.
http://www.craigberry.net/tmp/aquarium/IMG_0440.JPG
http://www.craigberry.net/tmp/aquarium/IMG_0442.JPG
http://www.craigberry.net/tmp/aquarium/IMG_0443.JPG
http://www.craigberry.net/tmp/aquarium/IMG_0444.JPG
As far as I can
tell it never leaves that spot day or night. It's in a hole in my live
rock about the size of a pencil and it blocks himself into it with some
sort of shield looking thing. It only opens up about 1/4 to 1/3 of the
way and if there is a bump or fast motion it covers back up. More
curious then concerned about it.
Thanks!
Craig
<Is a
Bivalve... likely an Arca species:
http://www.google.com/custom?q=arca+clam&cof=AH%3Acenter%3BGL%3A0%3BAWFID%3Ac12f9ba1e9294d73%3B&domains=wetwebmedia.com&sitesearch=wetwebmedia.com
Bob Fenner> |  
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Can You Tell Me What This Is? A Filter Feeder. - 6/7/07
Hello,
<Greetings, Mich here.>
Can you help identify these dime sized
growths? I have a 55gal. saltwater tank with live rock. The temp in the
tank was around 90 deg.
<Too warm as I presume you know.>
They
pretty much grew overnight.
<Looks like a harmless filter feeder to
me. It might be a sponge or perhaps a tunicate. It looks quite pretty.
Enjoy your new addition!>
Thanks
<Welcome! Mich> | 
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Marine Multicellular Organism ID? Anemone 6/6/07
Hello All,
<Hi Lisa, Mich with you today.>
I am hoping that you can help with
ID-ing an organism which hitchhiked into my tank on a piece of live
rock.
<Will try!>
The rock was bought from the South-East UK, and
was the 'Eco-Friendly' man-made type
<Eco-friendly man-made type is
a bit of an oxymoron; nature does a better job and is a renewable
resource. The processing of cement isn't exactly environmentally
friendly, to quote Wikipedia.com: cement manufacture contributes about
5% of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions.>
- I'm unfortunately unsure
of its original provenance.
<Ok.>
The rock was placed in my tank
about two months ago and this organism has been expanding ever since. At
first it was a small irregular patch of dark purple and white
'barnacle-looking cells'. Now it has split into several patches, the
largest of which has taken on a more regular rounded 'colony' shape
(centre of photo), surrounded on the outside margin by what seem to be
more filamentous structures. The colony reacts as one organism when
touched - contracting slightly and rapidly as a whole. The surface of
the organism feels a little papery, and as you can see from the colony
on the right hand side of the picture, sometimes appears to rupture open
in places. My partner claims to have seen the red spot in the bottom
centre of the photo protruding out of the surface of the organism, but I
really cannot tell if this is directly connected to the purple/white
organism in question.
<Appears to be an anemone of some sort, perhaps
an Epicystis sp. More here and related links in blue:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/twaanemones.htm
>
Apologies in advance if this is something obvious or
often-discussed. My main concern is whether or not it is dangerous to my
other tank-dwellers (a variety of soft corals, a couple of snails, and
two true perculas).
<Is a stinging celled creature, like so many soft
corals we keep.>
Many thanks for any advice you can offer.
<Hope
this helps!>
Lisa (Midlands, UK)
<Mich (Middle of Nowhere, USA)> | 
|
Re: Marine Multicellular Organism ID? – 06/07/07
Hi Mich,
<Hello again Lisa!>
Having done some more research on this (while I
should have been working today!),
<I won't tell, if you don't tell!>
my feeling is that this organism may actually be an ascidian, possibly
Botryllus or Botrylloides spp.
(http://www.edge-of-reef.com/tunicati/htmen/TUNlistacomposteen.htm
really helped), although I bow to your superior knowledge.
<Mmm,
hard to tell with just one photo, but I don't think this is the case and
I stick to the original ID as an anemone. Here's why:
a. The movement
you describe "contracting slightly and rapidly as a whole" is more
typical of an anemone than a tunicate.
b. I believe the red spot is
actually the mouth of the anemone and the protruding behavior you stated
would be consistent with an anemone.
c. Tunicates are difficult to
keep in captivity. The relatively rapid growth is more inline with an
anemone than a tunicate.
d. It sounds like this organism has split
and divided which would also be more likely with anemones than
tunicates.>
Either way, it's interesting!
<I will definitely agree
with you there! Please enjoy it!>
Many thanks for your input and I
shall continue to do my research into this hitchhiker.
<Please do.>
Keep up all the good work!
<Thanks, will try! Mich>
Lisa.
Tiny White Tubes All Over Rocks and Pumps – 5/25/07
Hi,
<Hi
Adrian>
I tried to find answer to my problem in my reef tank but
don't believe I found it, so decided to send you this email and hope you
can provide guidance/tips.
<I hope so! What’s up?>
I've a 55 gal
reef and fish tank. In the past couple of months, I noticed a lot of
tiny, 2-3mm long tubes growing on rocks, pumps, and corals. The tubes
are hard and brittle, and I don't see anything coming out from the tubes
<Can be very difficult to see in something this small.> and don't think
they are tube worms. I feel helpless but want to do something to stop
the growth before they take over the tank and destroy corals in the
tank. Any help is greatly appreciated.
<Hmmm, well let’s see if we
can figure this out. This is where a photo would be terrific, but I
know how difficult that can be! Have you seen any signs of irritation
among your corals? Also, how long has your tank been up and running? At
any rate, unless you're seeing problems with your corals, I wouldn’t
worry too much about these guys. What you describe sounds like one of
many possible, but very common and harmless, filter feeders. They
hitchhike in on rock, etc, and can become quite numerous for a
time. Just when you think the tank is going to be overrun, the
population subsides all on its own. Incidentally, you can scrape them
off the pumps (and tank sides if they appear there) with an algae
scraper. Actually, I find that a credit card works well for this and
does a lot more good there than in my wallet! I hope this helps. Be sure
and let us know if you have any additional concerns or if there are any
new developments.>
Thanks,
Adrian
<You’re very welcome! Have
a great, and safe, holiday weekend! –Lynn>
Mysterious LR Guests: Sponges 5/23/07
Hello Bob,
<Hello Aimee, Mich filling in for Big B.>
I have
attached 2 pictures of some things that are growing on my live rock
that I have not been able to identify. I have some green hair
algae, but these are still stumping me. I have a false percula
clown, yellow damsel, 2 Banggai Cardinals, 5 blue leg hermit crabs,
zebra mat anemone, leather coral, golden polyps, pulsing xenia, and
a few star polyps in the tank that have been doing well. Any help
would be greatly appreciated.
1st picture - looks
like Jell-O polyp type things
<Looks like a sponge to me.>
2nd picture - center has white pineapple looking (possibly
sea squirt?)
<Also looks like a sponge, a Syconoid sponge I
believe. Actually, is possible that both photos are Syconoid
sponges. More here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sponges.htm
Thanks,
<Welcome! Mich>
Aimee |  
|
Re: Identification... A Sponge. 5/22/07
<Hi there, Mich here!>
Wondering if you guys could tell me what
this soft sponge like thing is that is growing on a piece of my LR?
<It does look to be a sponge. There are some 5000 types, most
requiring microscopy for identification. So the ID is a little
vague... sorry. Enjoy it! Mich> |
Re: Identification... A Sponge 5/22/07
I too would have guessed it to be a sponge, thanks for the
confirmation.
<Yes, sorry I can't offer more here.>
crazy there's that many kinds out there!
<Mother Nature
loves diversity!>
Keep up the good work.
<Always
trying! Thank you for your positive comments. They are
appreciated. Mich> | 
|
Weird White Pod or sack on tank - looks like something that was
attached to Alien Or Syconoid sponges 5/18/07
<Greetings
Earthlings!>
Well, we have been up and running almost 16 weeks
now. I just posted the pics at
http://www.mmrcsl.org/fish
<I see, a nice record to have.>
I'm having an identity crisis!!!
<Dissociative Identity
Disorder, shades of Sybil or Dissociative Fugue, shades of Agatha
Christie?>
About 3 weeks ago I noticed the Gracilaria in my
refugium was no longer growing.
<OK.>
Is it possible that
running a poly filter all the time is starving it?
<Mmm, I
would be more concerned about other issues such as circulation, is
the algae tumbling, getting enough light? More here and many
related links in blue:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/redalgpropfaqs.htm >
Anyway,
attached are 3 pics. I see quite a few of these growing in the
refugium on the inlet side probably 15 or so, but I don't even know
what to begin with for search criteria as to their identity, of
course white spot and white pod are really bad search criteria.
<Heeeheeeee! Vague.. wait, no more vague! Close to 2000 hit
combined on WWM alone! Looks like harmless Syconoid sponges to me.>
Enjoy the pics at the address above, if you have the time.
<Thank you for sharing!>
As always I appreciate your help!!
<A pleasure to assist!>
Oh and for some perspective, these guys
range in size from tiny booger
<Niceee description!>
to real
small pea.... actually 2/3 of a small pea!
<Are you sure 2/3 of
a small pea, and not 3/5 or 9/16? Perhaps the size of a
lentil? Hee! Mich> | 
|
Re: Weird White Pod or Sack on Tank - Looks Like Something That Was
Attached to Alien Or Syconoid Sponges Identity Crisis - Dying
Gracilaria – 5/19/07
<Hello Earthling, now called Dan, Mich
with you again.>
Hmmm, I think the problem is one in the same
Mich. More in depth look in the fuge. This pod seems to turn into a
two antennae white slug.
<Mmm, nope! You have two different
creatures here. Sea Slugs and Syconoid sponges>
I’ve seen two
crawling in the fuge...very small & they appeared white.
<These Sea
Slugs look to be of the order Sacoglossa or Sap-Sucking slugs which feed
mainly on algae. Likely they are part of the genus Elysia. More here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/seaslugsopisthobranchs.htm >
This one
in the pic was in the tank... not so white.
<Perhaps greenish?>
Also is a pic of what I would call a bunch of Pupa entwined in the
Gracilaria.
<Nope, still Syconoid sponges.>
Thanks with the
help.
<Welcome!>
Man I am scratch'n for an answer...
<I
won’t ask where...>
with out the Gracilaria, my nitrates are
beginning to rise.
<Gracilaria can be a challenge to grow. If it’s
growing sponges, it’s not tumbling enough.>
I could put Chaeto in
there but would that be fuel for these things as well?
<No, but
Chaeto or Caulerpa may be a better food source for the slugs which can
be difficult to keep in captivity. Mich>
DanH
Picture Too
Large! 5/18/07
<Please return with a smaller picture
attached. This one is overloading out bandwidth. Thanks, WWM Crew>
Sorry
<No worries.> |  .jpg)
|
Weird White Pod or sack on tank - looks like something that was attached
to Alien Or Syconoid sponges 5/18/07
<Greetings Earthlings!>
Well, we have been up and running almost 16 weeks now. I just posted
the pics at
http://www.mmrcsl.org/fish
<I see, a nice record to have.>
I'm having an identity crisis!!!
<Dissociative Identity Disorder,
shades of Sybil or Dissociative Fugue, shades of Agatha Christie?>
About 3 weeks ago I noticed the Gracilaria in my refugium was no longer
growing.
<OK.>
Is it possible that running a poly filter all
the time is starving it?
<Mmm, I would be more concerned about
other issues such as circulation, is the algae tumbling, getting enough
light? More here and many related links in blue:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/redalgpropfaqs.htm >
Anyway, attached
are 3 pics. I see quite a few of these growing in the refugium on the
inlet side probably 15 or so, but I don't even know what to begin with
for search criteria as to their identity, of course white spot and white
pod are really bad search criteria.
<Heeeheeeee! Vague.. wait, no
more vague! Close to 2000 hit combined on WWM alone! Looks like
harmless Syconoid sponges to me.>
Enjoy the pics at the address
above, if you have the time.
<Thank you for sharing!>
As
always I appreciate your help!!
<A pleasure to assist!>
Oh and
for some perspective, these guys range in size from tiny booger
<Niceee description!>
to real small pea.... actually 2/3 of a small
pea!
<Are you sure 2/3 of a small pea, and not 3/5 or 9/16? Perhaps
the size of a lentil? Hee! Mich> | |
Don't know where to start looking. (Hitchhiker ID with pics) 5/16/07
Greetings and good day to you. I have a 55g reef tank, with a 29g fuge..
diy skimmer, 65wX6 PC lighting. The tank has been up for about 6 months.
This tank was upgraded to from a 29g. Recently, I have seen these sponge
appearing creatures in a couple of spots in my tank. Here are a couple
pics:
[IMG]http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f98/triggerjay/hitchiker/55gtank001.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f98/triggerjay/hitchiker/wierd003.jpg[/IMG]
<Okay... too blurry, dark to make much out...>
My main worry
here is that they are something bad. All the ones I have seen are near
my corals. The one pictured is at the base of my green star polyps. I
also have one near a Kenya tree, and another near my mushrooms. At
night, they extend out about 6 inches or more, and dance around. During
the day, they do not move, and are about the size of a pencil eraser.
Last night, I got the flash light out, and the video camera. The video
is shaky at first, but will progress and you can clearly see the worm
like creature. It was suggested to me they may be peanut worms, but from
what I have seen on the web, they are not. Here are the video clips I
took last night:
[URL=http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f98/triggerjay/hitchiker/?action=view¤t=wierd030.flv][IMG]http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f98/triggerjay/hitchiker/th_wierd030.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f98/triggerjay/hitchiker/?action=view¤t=wierd029.flv][IMG]http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f98/triggerjay/hitchiker/th_wierd029.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. You
guys rock!
Jason Sanders
Springfield MO
<Please peruse
our marine ID pix... starting here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marinvind1.htm
Bob Fenner> |
Re: I don't know where to start looking. (Hitchhiker ID with pics),
A Priapulid? 5/18/07
I searched your database, and could
find nothing that even looks like it. I posted on another site, and
it was identified as being from the phylum Priapula, which I also
did a search for on your site and came up empty.
<Very rare...>
It seems there is not much known about this creature, and the person
that identified it said he has been keeping saltwater tanks since
1967, and have never run across this creature in all his years in
the hobby. He is also has a major in zoology and geology. I am
bringing this to your attention, so you can compare our findings and
your own, and possibly add it to your database. Thanks in
advance.
Jason Sanders
<Thank you for this further
input. Bob Fenner> | 
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