ID on this brownish encrusting Sponge?

[Crofty]

Does anyone have info on this orange / tan / brown sponge? I searched, but couldn't find anything quite like it.

Some details:
- It's encrusting (only a couple mm thick in most spots)
- Firmish to the touch
- Growing pretty slow
- Under blue light it looks browner, but never black
- It shrinks and expands at times, usually skinnier in the mornings.

Its about 1.5 inches long in the pic. My camera brightened the colors a few shades too white, but otherwise fairly accurate.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

@ISpeakForTheSeas

I don’t know the name but I have a few in my system and they’ve never bothered anything.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I would guess a species of Chicken Liver Sponge (Chondrosia or Chondrilla genus), but sponge ID is not always a simple thing and in many cases may require microscopic examination and/or DNA testing to actually ID accurately.

 

[Crofty]

I would guess a species of Chicken Liver Sponge (Chondrosia or Chondrilla genus), but sponge ID is not always a simple thing and in many cases may require microscopic examination and/or DNA testing to actually ID accurately.

Thanks for the pointer to Chicken Liver sponge! I look forward to researching this further.

It's been fun watching it grow and I hope to keep it. When it gets bigger maybe I can propagate it to a little experimental undergravel filter tank I'm playing around with.