Weird coral identification
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Bfragale
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Never seen anything like this. It does slightly resemble a Paly Grandis I had that had fallen behind the rocks and was upside down for a few weeks. When I finally got it out it looked like this for a while before it recovered. But I can’t say that what you have. It looks similar but still different.
Good luck and happy reeding!
Good luck and happy reeding!
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sixty_reefer
5000 Club Member
That’s two of us now I’ve seen many unusual things but this one it’s definitely up there.
I've been staring at this thing for a while now and it's quite unique. Where did it come from (live rock hitchhiker?).
The smaller base tissue looks like what I'd expect of an encrusting sponge, but there are no visible openings for water to enter and exit. Based on the second pic where tissue is missing from the main mass, I don't see it as an inverted Mushroom, either. Tunicates would have two outlets, but I don't see that here unless they are missing due to the obvious damage shown in the 2nd photo.
The small egg-shaped object on top is possibly a key to identification, but I'm at a loss as to what exactly this is?
The smaller base tissue looks like what I'd expect of an encrusting sponge, but there are no visible openings for water to enter and exit. Based on the second pic where tissue is missing from the main mass, I don't see it as an inverted Mushroom, either. Tunicates would have two outlets, but I don't see that here unless they are missing due to the obvious damage shown in the 2nd photo.
The small egg-shaped object on top is possibly a key to identification, but I'm at a loss as to what exactly this is?
Wow. No idea, evaluate in a holding tank though not dt, your dt is a wonderland lol it’s not for e.t. organism assessment imo
about 6 mos ago my acan frag of eight years got the boot, universal control, had sponge on bottom that wouldnt relent even with rasping surgical and 35% after. Glad it never hit my rocks, bye frag had to take one for the team. Ralph nice call on inc vs exc siphons I thought it might be a sponge till u mentioned those
if its a smooth hard surface, coral, frag as ivory tooth for one thou each
about 6 mos ago my acan frag of eight years got the boot, universal control, had sponge on bottom that wouldnt relent even with rasping surgical and 35% after. Glad it never hit my rocks, bye frag had to take one for the team. Ralph nice call on inc vs exc siphons I thought it might be a sponge till u mentioned those
if its a smooth hard surface, coral, frag as ivory tooth for one thou each
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sixty_reefer
5000 Club Member
I had blue coral in the past this has a mass
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sixty_reefer
5000 Club Member
I've been staring at this thing for a while now and it's quite unique. Where did it come from (live rock hitchhiker?).
The smaller base tissue looks like what I'd expect of an encrusting sponge, but there are no visible openings for water to enter and exit. Based on the second pic where tissue is missing from the main mass, I don't see it as an inverted Mushroom, either. Tunicates would have two outlets, but I don't see that here unless they are missing due to the obvious damage shown in the 2nd photo.
The small egg-shaped object on top is possibly a key to identification, but I'm at a loss as to what exactly this is?
my thoughts exactly, this was apparently on a base of a large hammer coral on a fresh import, my LFS always on the look out for different things for me was they know me well and am a sucker for unusual life forms
it’s definitely not a mushroom or anything I’ve ever encountered before, it has a mass almost of an egg with ramifications attaching to the live rock at the base, it’s also very dense and feels almost like touching a onion/glass, the purple colour it’s actually a few centimetres inside it at the surface is almost translucent. Am familiar with most sponges and tunicates but this one it’s baffling me to try and find a species.
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sixty_reefer
5000 Club Member
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sixty_reefer
5000 Club Member
the shiny-ness and the “melting” shape is why I thought they looked similar.
dude this thing it’s freaky, just noticed that the dark lines are some sort of tentacles inside the translucent shell
Hmm, semi-gelatinous egg casing using pseudopod projections for secure attachment? I'd keep a close eye on it, this thing could hatch on you at any moment 
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sixty_reefer
5000 Club Member
My blowtorch doesn’t work under water
Not what you have, but a cool reference:
https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/...-cuttlefish-in-translucent-egg-casing-on-reef
Have an Exacto-knife handy? Small incision and then try gently pulling one of those little wigglers out with a tweezer?
https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/...-cuttlefish-in-translucent-egg-casing-on-reef
Have an Exacto-knife handy? Small incision and then try gently pulling one of those little wigglers out with a tweezer?
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Clownfish_Boy
Well-Known Member
Could it be something akin to the jellyfish family ?
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sixty_reefer
5000 Club Member
that’s a good shout, the thing it’s about 2inches in diameter it would have to be a big squid
