What is in my Zoa frag?

[Oberst Hajj]

Anyone know what the white and green stuff is in my zoa frag?

Bonus question, what is the green thing growing on the side of this LR?

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[Wicky48]

If I had to guess off the top of my head it looks like it may be one or two different types of sponge. Try looking through sponge types with pictures to see if you can get a match. If so taking the frag out of the water for about 3-4 minutes will subject the sponge to air which will kill most types because the air gets trapped inside them. I will continue to look at this as well and see if I can find an answer.

 

[Wicky48]

Yes. I believe you have a sponge of the Calcareous Sponge family found around the Solomon Islands and other areas. Heres a pic of one a found looks quite similar to yours.

 

[Wicky48]

The green could be sponge or some type of algae I am guessing sponge.

 

[Wicky48]

Or you can buy a fish that likes sponges. Just make sure that's not all they eat.

 

[Smarkow]

I think the algae is a thin film growing on a zoa polyp -> polyp closure into sphere shape. Suction that algae off.

Bottom one has the appearance of a baby rock flower nem. When did you acquire that rock and what else is in the tank?

 

[Wicky48]

I think the algae is a thin film growing on a zoa polyp -> polyp closure into sphere shape. Suction that algae off.

Bottom one has the appearance of a baby rock flower nem. When did you acquire that rock and what else is in the tank?

You are talking about the green film on the polyps? Yes I was not sure if that was algae or a sponge but pretty sure the white stringy animal is a sponge. The bottom pic looks like a zoa itself, not sure what that is.

 

[Oberst Hajj]

Thanks guys. I'll try and suction that stuff off the zoa.

I think the algae is a thin film growing on a zoa polyp -> polyp closure into sphere shape. Suction that algae off.

Bottom one has the appearance of a baby rock flower nem. When did you acquire that rock and what else is in the tank?

I've had that LR for over a year and a half now I think. Only thing in the tank is 2 clowns, the zoa, a birdsnest, ricordea, GSP, Vergas Cespitularia, and a hammer head.

 

[Smarkow]

Not a majano, is it?

I find that pale color very odd

 

[Wicky48]

You know when i krep looking at that pic the animal in question, majano, it looks to me like a bubble amemone thats not doing very well. The green color to me excludes the possobility of a trouble anemone, Aptaisia or anything like that. I still wonder if its an unknown type of zoa, hitchhiker maybe? I will see as well if i can identify this today.

 

[Wicky48]

OK so I did some research and this either a majano or it could be some kind of fungal coral. The only reason I am still hesitant to say for sure majano is they are usually a deeper green and have brown around the top of the base and this seems to be the same color all the way through. Or some kind of surf anemone. Strange one indeed. Has it just started to grow or has it been there a while?

 

[Oberst Hajj]

I was going to try and get a better pic of the green thing last night, but it was not extended very much. I'm a little hesitant to move that rock as I've got a nice big rico on the other side that is growing off the edge of it onto the sand bed.

 

[Wicky48]

Well keep an eye on it and see what it does. As long as its not a trouble anemone or problem coral I'd just leave it be in that case. If you get a chance to get a better pic that would be a great help in identifying it. Cheers!

 

[Oberst Hajj]

Not sure how much better this one is:

I changed out my GFO the other day and it has been withdrawn like this ever since. Not saying that is the cause, just an observation.

It has been on that rock for several months, slowly but surely growing.

 

[Wicky48]

Ok does this have a large mouth in the center or off center the middle of the disc? This is very interesting and I cannot for sure find a picture that I can say yes that's it. I am wondering and this is a long shot but it could be a form of trachyphillia. Those tentacles have never looked very long in pics and it looks exactly the same as when my trachyphillia comes out which is all the time. As well I notice that when I mess with Alklinity or PH (potential of hydrogen) he doesn't like that and usually shrivels a bit for about an hour or so then back to normal. GFO will will mess with your ph. I would keep an eye on this guy and see if he will eat. Mussels are the favorite for me. if you place the food directly on the disk, the mouth will open and the food will disappear in a few minutes. Its like watching a Sloth do anything. Hope this helps!

 

[Wicky48]

Here's a pic of my trachyphillia and you can see similarities.

 

[Smarkow]

Not buying trachyphyllia personally, but could of course be wrong. I’m still more in the line of some sort of photosynthetic anemone, but the timeline of when it would have been introduced doesn’t add up.

Would love to see any other suggestions on ID tho, fun mystery

Maybe OP should name it something like “psychotic bounce anemone homewrecker” and list the thing for a couple thousand bucks!

 

[Smarkow]

Here's a pic of my trachyphillia and you can see similarities.

Great color!

 

[Oberst Hajj]

I don't think it is a trachyphyllia. The last photo I posted shows it curled in on it's self. The outside of the "crater" is what is typically the under side and what attaches to the rock.

 

[Smarkow]

I don't think it is a trachyphyllia. The last photo I posted shows it curled in on it's self. The outside of the "crater" is what is typically the under side and what attaches to the rock.

Yeah the foot of it makes me think it is something in sea anemone family.
See below:
http://tolweb.org/Actiniaria