What is this little guy?

jasonrusso · Jul 23, 2018

I don't know what this is. It is a tiny little fleshy (not a feather duster) thing. It is purple and green. It looks like a tiny euphyllia, but I don't think so. It hasn't gotten any bigger since I noticed it about a month ago.

View attachment 20180723_194010.jpg

KJ · Jul 23, 2018

Euphyllia sp. @DSC reef

jasonrusso · Jul 23, 2018

KJ said:
Euphyllia sp. @DSC reef

Yeah? Hitchhiker euphyllia? I do have frogspawn and hammer , but no where near this.

I'd love it if that is what it is.

Gareth elliott · Jul 23, 2018

Looks like a frogspawn to me.

jasonrusso · Jul 23, 2018

My wife thinks it's a micro torch, but my torch is purple.

Can euphyllia hitchhike? Do they reproduce in spores? I thought they just grow heads.

Gareth elliott · Jul 23, 2018

Eupylllia can reproduce sexually or asexually.

Sexual reproduction releases eggs and sperm into the water.
Fertilized eggs then if not eaten land and possibly form a new coral.

Asexually: (besides fragging) they can preform polyp bailout, where the polyps are ejected to start again elsewhere. In my understanding only pocilopora has great success in starting new colonies in an aquarium setting. And you would notice a head with no polyps, if this had occurred.