Oh, wow! Ok, so it was floating in Teach's Hole, where Blackbeard was beheaded. The water is very, very warm there. All the parts that are purple now were completely white with the green cord running through it. I thought it was cool, so I was going to dry it, but then I figured I'd throw it in my brand new first time ever to try this stuff saltwater tank and it started turning purple, growing longer and growing new tiny purple things along the cord.
Hmm, ok so let's go through the suggestions from facebook:
Gorgonian? Maybe
Sad anemone? Sad? Yes. Anemone? Who knows?
Cuttlefish egg cluster? Nope, unless eggs grow more eggs, no.
Cold water anemone? Very cool and one or two were somewhat close, but I don't think so
Eggs? Ok, so these are the right color, but they are not all the same size, and it grows, almost like a plant and when it sits in the current it sort of opens up in the middle almost like it has a mouth. BUT, you are right! They are the right shape.
phymanthus crucifer? It's not soft, so sorry, no.
SO, I agree with Mr. Microscope. A lilac fell in my tank, and now it's breeding snails on it's own.
So... the plot thickens.
Another clue... as it grows it's new little arm, it has a little string of mucus extending out past the arm. SO, I thought it might be some type of coral, finally well enough to let me know it is stressed. This is maddening, but highly interesting that all these people really have never seen it. The eggs are the closest shape, but how do eggs multiply on their own??
It now has a name. Mary.
