white puffs in between zooanthid polyps

[Fishward]

Hey, ive just noticed my small zooanthid colony is retracted a fair bit, but still creeping out, but a number of white puffy things are interspersed between them. any ideas of what im talking about? this has only started in the last day or two... hope they're not sick... :-( photo needed?

[HL649]

I would guess sponges. I have a few in mine also. Perfectly harmless.

[Fishward]

just put up a picture in my build album. can see it there. any thoughts? I dont think they're sponges, they grow much slower than this.. popped up almost over night.

[simplycoral]

Look like Tunicates to me; but hard to tell.. Can you get a closer picture..

[Fishward]

at one point one of them had extended a long red tentacle of sorts. thought it was just a cyano clump that had got caught in the water column. does that help at all?

[Fishward]

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/picture.php?albumid=192&pictureid=2514

[simplycoral]

Their sponges..:lol:

Pineapple Sponges.

S.

[Myka]

I would pick the sponges out from the Zoas if they are receding.

[Fishward]

I would pick the sponges out from the Zoas if they are receding.

just tweezers? razor blade? never performed marine surgery b4. haha..

[Myka]

tweezers should do the trick, grab on and give it a twist.

[HL649]

I would leave the sponges. I would rather have the sponges than the Zoas. You can always replace the Zoas; sponges are not so easy to replace.

[Fishward]

I would leave the sponges. I would rather have the sponges than the Zoas. You can always replace the Zoas; sponges are not so easy to replace.

touché... ill play it by ear and see how they do.. maybe they'll just move around and get used to each other. was just worried it was some sort of pest or disease. kinda new to this... any ideas why i took so long for these sponges to sprout up? i've had the frag for 2 months and just noticed them!

[Fishward]

has turned out to be quite the frag.. full of surprises... got a free frogspawn hitch hiking on it, and now pineapple sponges..

[Myka]

The Pineapple sponges aren't rare, and not difficult to grow. As your tank matures you will find them popping up all over the place, but mostly in the sump, filter chambers, overflow, etc. I'm not sure what kind of Zoas those are since they are closed up, but I know my Zoas are all nice enough that I wouldn't think twice about pulling Pineapple sponges off them! I would also try to separate the Frogspawn when it is large enough as the Zoas and Froggy will sting eachother.

[Fishward]

ah... i see... Frogspawn is already off.. he leapt off the first chance he had, but i may have to consider this zoa rescue mission.

[Fishward]

So i comprimised and pulled about half of them off. will see how that half of the zoas responds and will then decide if ill take em all out. will the sponges re-attach somewhere else if i place them? or are they gonners?

[Myka]

Good call. You could try putting them in crevices in the rocks. Most of mine are in shady areas if that helps.