What is this on my live rock?

[Debbie W.]

Just noticed this tonight. Can someone tell me what it is and if it will cause problems for my tank?

Thank you!

 

[James M]

Looks like a blue mushroom

 

[Debbie W.]

Looks like a blue mushroom

It moves and is crawling up the rock though.

 

[kichimark]

VERY interesting. At first I was thinking some type of sponge but then thought it could be a type of flatworm from the markings. Is it moving? If so, when it doubt remove it.

 

[kichimark]

It moves and is crawling up the rock though.

Ha, we posted at the same time. Definitely a flatworm, I would take it out.

 

[Debbie W.]

Thank you...just got it out, thing was moving fast!

 

[Hemmdog]

Polyclad

 

[kichimark]

Thank you...just got it out, thing was moving fast!

Oh yeah I remember seeing one several years ago and they do move quick. Do you have any missing snails or crabs in your tank? I remember seeing a decrease in my stomatella population during that time and when i removed the polyclad flatworm they bounced back.

 

[Debbie W.]

Yeah, did see a slight reduction but wasn't significant so we didnt think much about it.

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

It's a Scutus sp. Aka Elephant Slug. Many fissurellids are sponge feeders, but the general consensus is that Scutus is an algae grazer.

 

[siggy]

It's a Scutus sp. Aka Elephant Slug. Many fissurellids are sponge feeders, but the general consensus is that Scutus is an algae grazer.

Good Bad or just ugly?

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

Good Bad or just ugly?

From what I have read about them they are algae grazers. So good

 

[Florida Sunshine]

I had one and it never hurt anything. It got rather large and was quite interesting to watch. It must have come in on my live rock, because it just appeared one day out of nowhere. I disappeared the same way it appeared. I have no idea what happened to it, but one day it was just gone.

 

[kichimark]

Well looks like I learned something new today, awesome guys/gals. I tend to always follow if you don't know what it is then take it out. Especially if it is a flatworm looking creature since they can disappear so quick.

 

[samnaz]

It's a Scutus sp. Aka Elephant Slug. Many fissurellids are sponge feeders, but the general consensus is that Scutus is an algae grazer.

+1

Send it to me if ya don’t want? ;-)