Newbie - please help with ID

DuckyinthePotty · Oct 25, 2018

Hi,

Recently got this hammer and didn’t notice anything in the skeleton initially but after a day I noticed the yellow and orange spots. I assume those are sponges. There is a small polyp in between the yellow and orange spots that wasn’t there before. I just noticed it but it’s too tiny to tell. I suspect aiptasia? The thing circled in yellow, I have scoured the internet and found nothing like it. It closes up when touched and looks nothing like a new head forming. Does anyone know what this is?

The bottom of the frag also seems to be turning black but I can’t be certain since I did t take pictures of it the day I received it. Is this normal? If not, what can/should I do?

Thanks in advance!

mta_morrow · Oct 25, 2018

Hello and welcome to R2R!

What you have circled doesn’t look like aiptasia to me.

The other spots look like sponges.

#welcometoR2R

Crabs McJones · Oct 25, 2018

Welcome to R2R!
First picture looks like a tunicate of some type
second picture is a sponge

#WelcometoR2R

Fudsey · Oct 25, 2018

Welcome to R2R ! ! !

saltyhog · Oct 25, 2018

Agree first picture circled is probably a tunicate. In the second picture, I think you're correct. That looks like a small aiptasia between the orange and yellow sponges. It may have been retracted when the frag was first acquired which would make it very difficult to see at that size.

saltyhog · Oct 25, 2018

And welcome to R2R! This is the place to ask questions!

Dual40IM · Oct 25, 2018

I agree with aiptasia between the sponges. Get it now before it's too late.

mta_morrow · Oct 25, 2018

Dang! Guess I really should wear my glasses!

Didn’t see that little guy!

It’s great that it’s on the frag rack.

Remove from tank and remove the aiptasia and give a good sw rinse to get any little pieces that may be left behind!

IslandLifeReef · Oct 25, 2018

Welcome to R2R. I had aiptasia show up on a zoa frag and just covered it with IC glue. That worked for me.

cracker · Oct 25, 2018

Welcome DU ! You came to a good place for an ID

KJ · Oct 25, 2018

Welcome to R2R!!! Tunicate and sponge.

reef lover · Oct 25, 2018

Welcome to r2r!!

DuckyinthePotty · Oct 25, 2018

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome! I didn't expect to get this many responses so quickly;Joyful Good thing I set up a quarantine! As my O-Chem TA used to tell us "Trust no one!" glad years of paranoia pay off

@mta_morrow - you probably don't need those glasses. That little aiptasia is super tiny and blends in well with the skeleton and the picture quality is terrible. Thank you for the tips. I will be sure to treat it in a holding so I don't get spores on the other frags I'm quarantining

@IslandLifeReef - thank you for the tip. Will get some glue immediately!