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09-23-2007, 09:13 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Sea Dragon
Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Age: 49
Posts: 501
|  Any ideas what these things are?
I returned from a 6-week overseas trip to find that my tank was doing great -- lots of coraline algae, no unwanted algae, and all my fish and inverts were healthy. But, I noticed these Unknown Tiny Creatures under some of the rock ledges and in the shadows.
Here's a picture: 
They are very small, less than 1 cm, and there appear to be dozens. I only noticed when I took some pictures that there are even more creatures that are too small to see without magnification. They are white, almost translucent, and appear to have bristles/feelers/tentacles at one end. The base of each creature is firmly attached to the rock.
Do any of you have any theories on what these Unknown Tiny Creatures are? _________ -- SAW39 45 gal modified hex. Started and cycled August 2005.
2 Serpent Stars, Ocelaris Clown, Yellow Tang, 3 Green Chromis damsels, Macrodactyla dorensis anemone, 1 giant Bristleworm, 1 small Banded Coral Shrimp.
Last edited by SAW39; 09-23-2007 at 09:17 PM.
Reason: inserted larger photo
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09-23-2007, 09:15 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Sea Dragon
Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Age: 49
Posts: 501
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Here's another picture. Larger versions of the pictures are in the photo gallery. 
That's the tip of my finger on the right side of each photo, so you can see that they are not even as long as my fingertip is wide.
Last edited by SAW39; 09-23-2007 at 09:19 PM.
Reason: added fingertip comment
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09-23-2007, 09:20 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: TN Age: 31
Posts: 3,913
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Ive seen them called sponges and sea squirts, either way, they are beneficial filter feeders. _________ [center]Renaming Our Corals "Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it." Andre Gide | |
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09-23-2007, 09:29 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Sea Dragon
Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Age: 49
Posts: 501
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I'm not sure. They're the right size, but they don't have the dual siphons that tunicates have. However, one of the larger ones (not pictured) appears to be budding, so this may be the development of the second siphon. | |
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09-23-2007, 09:38 PM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: TN Age: 31
Posts: 3,913
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lol Ive seen them called tunicates too. Either way, they are beneficial. Its hard to know for sure what anything is when people reference non marine biologists. | |
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09-24-2007, 03:47 AM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: South Africa Age: 18
Posts: 8
Karma: 10
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Look here, it might be this. Cocoons | |
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09-24-2007, 04:48 AM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Gnarly Old Codfish
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Silverdale, Washington Age: 59
Posts: 4,777
 
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Might be some form of nuisance/invasive sea squirt --- if so, you may have real problem on your hands.
Check out: Ciona savignyi (Solitary sea squirt) Animal Type: Tunicate/Sea-squirt Family: Cionidae Classification: Unlisted Invasive Species
Hermit Crabs may eat them. _________ AG "125," AquaC EV 180, 30 gal sump, "SCWD", 80 lbs LR, CoralSeaLife "Moonlite" Hood, PFO 250W HQI Mini-Pendant (SPS HQI 14000k bulb)
12 Gallon NanoCube - 24w stock PC 50/50 light "...nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank, only bad things happen fast..."
- MIKE PALLETTA - (2008 Reef log) ("OmarD"/"Scott")
Last edited by omard; 09-24-2007 at 05:33 AM.
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09-24-2007, 05:39 AM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Montipora Capricornis
Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 30
Posts: 1,021
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I think there called pineapple sponges ( well thats what we call em anyways)  _________ 4x24w T5ho 135ltr/35gal marine cube 15kg of liverock Mandarin Goby, Zoanthids(orange and yellow) Hammer coral , red and blue coralmorphs.  Got Questions? Need Answers?
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09-24-2007, 06:20 AM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ft. Bliss, TX
Posts: 69
Karma: 11
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Well, the picture provided are sponges. Harmless, but they will grow everywhere so keep up with cleaning your equipment.
You have translucent life, as well? Could be a tunicate. Really, if you are concerned about anything becoming invasive, do a little googling, see what conditions these sorts of things thrive in and see if their are any adjustments you can make. | |
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09-24-2007, 09:40 AM
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#10 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wethersfield, CT Age: 39
Posts: 6,371
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mattgeezer  I think there called pineapple sponges ( well thats what we call em anyways) |
+1...that's what I've always called them | |
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