Sponge? Or what? On euphyllia skeleton.

[tranceFusion]

This orange stuff has quickly spread on my hammer coral skeleton. It’s getting super close to the live tissue and I’m not sure if I should be concerned? The side that it is growing on is generally shaded.

 

[JGT]

This orange stuff has quickly spread on my hammer coral skeleton. It’s getting super close to the live tissue and I’m not sure if I should be concerned? The side that it is growing on is generally shaded.

Hard to tell , can you see openings? It looks shiny.

 

[tranceFusion]

I wouldn't say it's shiny but it does look a little goopy. But also there are small holes or dots, you can sort of make out the little dark spots in the picture. Do sponges normally grow quickly though? This frag has been in the tank for like 3 weeks only.

 

[samnaz]

Could be a tunicate

 

[JGT]

I wouldn't say it's shiny but it does look a little goopy. But also there are small holes or dots, you can sort of make out the little dark spots in the picture. Do sponges normally grow quickly though? This frag has been in the tank for like 3 weeks only.

Eh, not usually that quickly. Sponges are more, well, spongelike, not goopy. Tunicates are also similar. I guess what’s throwing me is that it looks shiny in the pic. Can you get another pic or 2?

 

[tranceFusion]

Here’s some more. It’s basically orange with like a clear/translucent layer over top of it.

 

[JGT]

Here’s some more. It’s basically orange with like a clear/translucent layer over top of it.

Better pics. Definite orange sponge.

 

[Mr_Knightley]

Definitely a sponge, doesn't look like a dangerous type (I've had this same species before). Keep it happy!

 

[samnaz]

Small holes or dots as you describe sounds more colonial tunicate like. Like this

 

[JGT]

Small holes or dots as you describe sounds more colonial tunicate like. Like this

Yes, could be. Forget how it goes, 2 openings=sponge, more than 2=tunicate or is it the other way around? In any case, not dangerous to your hammer.

 

[tranceFusion]

So I found a couple more dark areas of my tank that had this. It does look similar to pictures I found of colonial tunicates except they seem to have more defined patterns of dots.

the weird thing is in a couple spots there is a jiggly/bubbly protrusion that has dark dots on the end.

 

[tranceFusion]

Could it possibly be some type of Cyanobacteria?