Black thing on zoa colony.

[Bmartinez76]

Noticed this black slug looking thing on my eagle eye zoa. It's a soft type of thing. Can anyone tell me what this is?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

black sponge. common. best IMO, to scrape it off. harmless but can smother the coral.

 

[Bmartinez76]

Thank you sir! I did notice this zoa was closing up halfway. Will get my laser etcher(scalpel) ready to get this guy off!

 

[Bmartinez76]

So I took it off and it felt more like a worm. Came out in tubular chunks. I previously had a huge vermitid snail that looked like this, but since it was on a small disposal rock I flung it into the trash.

 

[ahiggins]

weird.
It sorta looks like a polyclad-but are those black?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

So I took it off and it felt more like a worm. Came out in tubular chunks. I previously had a huge vermitid snail that looked like this, but since it was on a small disposal rock I flung it into the trash.

weird. was it hard

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Is it slimy? I'm wondering is it's a tunicate, as you can see through it in places and because of the shape of the left side.

 

[Bmartinez76]

It was soft. The blade cut into it easily. When I removed the outer part you could see the tubular outline still on the rock.

 

[Bmartinez76]

Is it slimy? I'm wondering is it's a tunicate, as you can see through it in places and because of the shape of the left side.

Yes was slimy.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Is it slimy? I'm wondering is it's a tunicate, as you can see through it in places and because of the shape of the left side.

possible. looks very much like mine in the tanks. usually smaller and all on zoa rocks. never move open "eat" no visible mouth regardless of size. also few of the sponge characteristics outwardly.
slimy out side, denser than most sponges(flesh like). internall, when sliced, some sponge or "Holes". Always Id'd as sponge.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

If it were a tunicate, it could account for the tubular chunks they removed.

 

[Chris Adams]

agree sponge have same stuff

Edit: after searching some pics I am starting to wonder about mine ha ha

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

If it were a tunicate, it could account for the tubular chunks they removed.

hmm. looks like Ill have damp hands in a couple minutes.

 

[Bmartinez76]

Thanks for all the input guys. Really appreciate it. I'm still learning. Only 1 year into this. Question let's say If I didn't get all of it with my subpar operation skills, will it grow back?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thanks for all the input guys. Really appreciate it. I'm still learning. Only 1 year into this. Question let's say If I didn't get all of it with my subpar operation skills, will it grow back?

yes. you can put a sponge in a grinder and itll grow back. But really, its not anything to worry about. I have ten or more pieces of that stuff in my tank. (soon to be one less) and they generally grow quite slowly as well.
sponges are considered beneficial, i call em a miracle of nature, just scrape it off the stuff you like. easier than GSP or xenia really.

 

[Bmartinez76]

Thank you! If it wasn't irritating the Zoa I would have left it. Appreciate the knowledge!

 

[Bmartinez76]

This is post surgery. You can see the channel in the middle where this thing was growing into and bothering the Zoa.

 

[Bmartinez76]

Zoa is happy again.

 

[ahiggins]

Glad to hear it!

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Gorgeous!