FAQs about Non-Vertebrate Animal Identification
19
Related Articles: Marine Invertebrates, Quarantine of Corals and
Invertebrates, Feeding
Reef Invertebrates, Lighting
Marine Invertebrates, Water Flow, How Much
is Enough,
Related FAQs: Non-Vert IDs 1, Non-Vert IDs 2, Non-Vert IDs 3, Non-Vert IDs 4, Non-Vert IDs 5, Non-Vert IDs 6, Non-Vert IDs 7, Non-Vert IDs 8, Non-Vert IDs 9, Non-Vert IDs 10, Non-Vert IDs 11, Non-Vert IDs 12, Non-Vert IDs 13, Non-Vert IDs 14, Non-Vert IDs 15, Non-Vert IDs 16, Non-Vert IDs 17, Non-Vert IDs 18, Non-Vert. ID 20, Non-Vert. ID 21, Non-Vert. ID 22, Non-Vert. ID 23, Non-Vert. ID 24, Non-Vert. ID 25, Non-Vert ID 26, Non-Vert ID 27, Non-Vert ID 28, Non-Vert ID 29, Non-Vert ID 30 Non-Vert ID 31, Non-Vert ID 32, Non-Vert 33, Non-Vert ID 34, Non-Vert ID 35, Non-Vert ID 36, Non-Vert ID 37, Non-Vert ID 38, Non-Vert ID 39, Non-Vert ID 40, Non-Vert ID 41, Non-Vert ID 42, Non-Vert ID 43, Non-Vert ID 44, Non-Vert ID 45, Non-Vert ID 46, Non-Vert ID 47, Non-Vert ID 48, Non-Vert ID 49, Non-Vert ID 50, Non-Vert ID 51, Non-Vert ID 52, Non-Vert ID 53, Non-Vert ID 54, Non-Vert ID 55, Non-Vert ID 56,
Non-Vert ID
57, Non-Vert ID 58,
Non-Vert ID 59,
Non-Vert ID 60, Non-Vert ID 61,
& Marine Invertebrates, Marine Invert.s 2, Marine Invert.s 3, & FAQs about:
Marine Invertebrate Behavior,
Marine Invertebrate
Compatibility, Marine
Invertebrate Selection, Marine
Invertebrate Systems, Feeding
Reef Invertebrates, Marine
Invertebrate Disease, Marine
Invertebrate Reproduction, &
LR Life
Identification, LR Hitchhiker ID
1, Anemone Identification,
Aiptasia
Identification, Aiptasia ID 2,
Worm Identification, Tubeworm ID, Polychaete Identification, Snail Identification, Marine Crab
Identification, Marine Invert.s 1,
Marine Invert.s 2, Marine Plankton,
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Mmm, symmetrical, immotile... eggs of some
sort...
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Re: New growth... ID = snail eggs
1/12/06 Hello once again and once again, thanks for an awesome
site. <Hi Randy, Mich here today. Glad you like the
site.> I have one question today. I have a growth that seems to
have appeared almost over night and have no idea what it is.
<Likely did appear overnight.> I have reduced the picture
size in order to send it to you but when blown up, it shows a
definite pattern and almost looks like eggs of some sort.
<Yep.> Can you help me to identify this? <Looks like snail
eggs to me.> I can send the pic in a larger size if needed.
<No need.> Thanks again for your help,
Randy |
Thanks again for your response. <Welcome!> Ok,
so possibly sail eggs. If that's true, is that a good thing or
bad? <It's all good! Happy and healthy enough for
reproduction!> Obviously I don't want 100 or 200 snails
running around in the tank. <Understandable.> Haha! Should I
just leave it or wipe them off. <Leave it there, will most
likely be eaten by other critters in your tank.> Thanks
again,
<Welcome Randy |
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What the H, E, Double Hockey Sticks is
This? 1/8/07 Hi! I was wondering what this is. it
is slightly green in color, very flat, no shell, <That you can
make out> around 2 inches long and almost as wide. Movement is
similar to a snail, almost looks like some sort of Nudibranch.
Cannot see eyes, mouth, etc. It's kinda trippy, little
freaky! I have been having problems with margarita and
Astrea snails dying, don't know why. I found this creature
simply draped over 2 margarita snails in the sand at night, trying
to get at them. I think it was feeding on them but not sure. Do you
guys know what it is? <Mmm, is it very flat, wavy at the edges?
If so, might be a flatworm of some sort... If not, possibly a sea
slug of many possibilities...> It is certainly out of my tank!
It took some effort to capture, but I was successful. It is
currently in a cup with pinhole size holes in it, in a net, in the
sump! LOL! I had it in a sealed cup with bigger holes (approx.1/4
inch in diameter). Damn thing escaped within 3 minutes! captured it
again. I am gonna bring it to my LFS for identification tomorrow,
but not sure if they can help. Attached to this e-mail is the best
photo of it. Thank you! <Oh! Does appear to be a Platyhelminth
to me. Bob Fenner> |
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Blobs = ? ...Stomatella Snails 1/8/07
Hi there, <Hello Lesley, Mich here.> Just discovered your
website, I've learnt so much from the FAQ. Its really helpful.
<This is good to hear.> I've got a couple of really odd blobs
appeared in my 35 gallon marine aquarium. Its just over a year old,
with fish and corals, but very little live rock. I have an external
filter which seems to do the job. <Live rock would do a better
job!> These blobs are pinkish white, with two antennae in their
heads. They are about 1/2 inch long, and appear to have a small white
hard shell on their backs which is much smaller than they. I do know
that they love algae, they spend all their time on patches of algae
either on the glass or on rock! <Sounds like Stomatella
Snails. See here: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.reefland.com/rho/0305/images/stomatella.jpg&imgrefurl=http:// www.reefland.com/rho/0305/medprod3.php&h=300&w=400&sz=18&hl=en&start=
6&tbnid=mx9loS0E1H4E5M:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstomatella%2Bsnails%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DG
Therefore, I am assuming they are good, and won't do the fish or
corals any harm. <If they are Stomatella Snails you are absolutely
correct!> Regards Lesley
<Cheers -Mich>
Mystery Invertebrate... What Am I?
1/8/07 <Hey Jeff, JustinN with you tonight.> Another
stumper, at least for me. <I'll see if I can't help shed
some light> I first discovered this critter approximately 5
weeks ago. It is residing on the back glass of the tank, behind
EVERYTHING. It is actually very difficult to see, it's a weird
shot through the cave under my large frogspawn. I actually probably
never would have seen it but for the fact that it is white, and as
a diver, that is one of the colors I am trained to look for when
spotting critters. <Ok> So one weird thing is that it
hasn't moved much, if any, in those five weeks. <That may
help towards identification purposes> It's in a spot that is
early impossible to access without a complete break down of the
tank. I mean it is WAY back there. So the first time I saw it I was
like... "WTF?" but I had to get back to the hospital, so
there was no time to investigate. I expected I would probably not
see it again for some time. <Judging from the picture, my guess
is a small Syconoid sponge. They are harmless, if not beneficial,
filter feeders. I have several near identical creatures in both of
my tanks as well, they don't seem to move other than to
increase/decrease in size that I've seen.> My first guess
was some sort of Nudibranch (a dorid, specifically) but the lack of
movement makes me question that guess. A dorid moves around to eat.
This dude hasn't moved. So, I have to lean more in the
direction of some kind of sea cucumber or something similar that
filter feeds, and the appendages at the bottom support that theory.
<I thought the same thing as you when I first located them, due
to the 'appendages'. However, shortly after I discovered
them in my tank, I located this identification here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/spongeidfaq2.htm (the next to
last response on the page) convincing me otherwise.>
<<Interesting indeed... I would/do second the small Cuke
theory possibility. RMF>> Anyhow, here's the photo I took
tonight. Not great, but decent. I would love to know what everyone
thinks. <Considering the previous description of the items
location, your image is just fine.> What is this invertebrate?
<See above. Hope this Thank you!
JW |
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Howdy fellas Encr. mar. invert. ID
1/5/07 <... and ladies> I have these black type things on
my live rock, could you give me a positive ID on them?? I think its
a specie of sponge but not sure Thanks Tim <Mmm, more resolution
would help, but I do think you're right here... Likely
sponges/Poriferans... or, second likely guess, Ascidians/Sea
Squirts... could even be a Bryozoan... You can find pix of all
these on WWM, the Net... All likely not harmful... in fact,
indicatory of good conditions here. Bob Fenner |
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Unknown Sponge 12/29/06 <Hello Sue>
Yesterday, I noticed this foamy white life form on the bottom of a
piece of live rock that has been in my tank for six months now. I
had never seen it before, but thought that it might be a form of
sponge. Today, while checking out my tank, I noticed
that it had extended itself from beneath its rock onto a
neighboring one in a more lighted area. Furthermore, it
appeared to have a spiral shaped appendage flapping from its
side. In less than three minutes, during the time that I
went to get my camera, this life form had withdrawn to its shady
area. I was wondering if someone there could help me
identify this life form and could help me know if it is
dangerous. I have not added anything new in my tank
(with the exception of two emerald green crabs) for two months
now. At that time, I added five pounds of live rock that
I had cured for a month. Is it possible that this life
form came in on that? <Yes, very possible. The sponge
in your photo appears to be a Clathrina type sponge, commonly known
as the Leather Latticework Sponge. They are a filter
feeder that take in dissolved organic matter and do not require
supplemental feeding. They do not like bright light,
generally growing on the undersides of live rock, and it is reef
safe.> Thanks in advance for your help. <You're
welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Sue in Houston |
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Inverts breeding in my FOWLR?
(long...) 12/28/06 As with most of the posts I read
here, I will start off by stating how immensely helpful your site
has been for me: I have been in the marine hobby off and on for
about 12 years (since I was 15) and have seen quite a lot in those
few years. I apprenticed under Rick Oellers starting at 15 (former
president of the now defunct AMDA) <Oh, yes> for four years
while he operated "Wet Pets", <One of our old retail
stores names in San Diego...> and later "Aquatic
Concepts" located in southern Maine. While there, I was one of
four people that hobbyists from all over New England would come to
for solutions to their beginner through advanced questions. I
always felt like there was so much for me to learn still, and was
always amazed to meet people that felt a teen-aged kid in
high-school ought to be advising them about their marine
investments. <Mmm, quite a few of the folks that have been
"Crew" were teenagers... I started in the trade even
younger...> That said, I needed to take a break from the hobby
for a while, but am now fully focused on re-living the passion I
felt for marine ecology and its environment. Your website has so
much info! <Mmm... am wondering bordering on hoping that you
have time, interest, might join us in responding here> I find
myself feeling quite the apprentice again, but greedily sucking up
more and more info from this great resource you've assembled. I
think I find some of the Q/A's from readers to be the most
informative for me, since I can relate to some of their points of
view. <Ahhh> I also can appreciate your point of view (often,
that so many systems end in discouragement and disappointment
because of a few guidelines being disregarded) of the knowledgeable
mentor trying to guide without influencing the hobbyist. I
reiterate: This site is a great place, and I hope to keep getting
great use from it, and contributing by asking the right questions!
<Thank you> Speaking of questions, I have enclosed a small
picture of some little "attachments" on my glass. On
close inspection, they seem to be either egg-packs or very small
inverts. You can see a small number (4-9) of white dots in what
could be a nucleus, surrounded by about 1mm of clear protective
membrane. They measure about 1 or 2mm across. I have noticed some
small (<.5mm) creatures scurrying on the glass surface that I
assume could be, well anything, but I was thinking about copepods.
> the appearance, I'd guess the first are some sort of
snail/gastropod... The second... from the description of their
motility... am thinking these are some sort of crustacean.
Wouldn't narrow the possibility to the Copepoda though>
Maybe these are related, maybe not. Today is one day after I took
the pictures, and all of the attachments in question are gone.
I'm not sure whether my snails grazed them overnight or if they
have completed a life-stage in their cycle. I know the picture
isn't as clear as it could be, but my camera auto-focuses and I
consider myself talented with trying angles that I got what I did.
What do you think they might be? Some info on the setup: 20g FOWLR
single 18" Zoo-Med "Reef-Sun" bulb Penguin-Mini
filter Fluval 404 w/ surface skimmer -- 10lbs LR 10lbs Base Rock
2-3" Live sand -- 78°F (±
.4°F) Ph 8.2 Ca 420ppm No3 40ppm -- 1) 1.5" Niger
Trigger 1) 1.5" Picasso Trigger 1) 2" Pearly Jawfish 1)
1" Green Clown Goby 2) 2" Turbo Snail 5?) Nassarius Snail
1) Blue-legged Hermit This tank serves as an intro for my
fiancé so she can see what is involved, how much of my
time is stolen, how noisy it is(n't), and how attractive the
fish are. We moved on Thanksgiving day (happy holidays, BTW) into a
house that had a run-down 20gal mounted into the kitchen wall.
<Interesting...> No pumps or heater or lights, but the S.G.
was at 30ppt dead-on, so I dug out my relics and started some
filtration, heat and regular light after a 50% water change. A few
days later, two three-stripe damsels showed their faces and made
themselves available for return to the LFS. I got some more LR and
added some of my old (dead) LR to bulk up on hiding places and
waited to see if it needed to cycle. My next upgrade is going to be
at least 75gal with PC lights for some mushrooms, polyps, etc. My
Picasso and Niger will go to Rick or the LFS, and I will get the
pink-tail I've always wanted. That's enough for now, wow! I
meant to keep it short. Keep up the good work!!! Graham Tasker
<Hope to be diving with you... and Melichthys vidua someday...
soon... likely in HI. Do consider joining us... with WWM, if you
have time, interest. Bob Fenner> |
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Tiny white dots what are they
12/23/06 <Greetings to you Angela, Mich with you
today.> I<I> have a 50 gallon marine
tank. <I>inhabitants are: a royal Gramma, two
ocellaris clowns (1 orange 1 black), two green clown/coral gobies, a
yellow watchman goby, two fire shrimps and a variety of
snails. <T>tonight when I<I> looked closely at
the tank I<I> notice a clump of white dots on one of my rocks
(I<I> have no live rock in the tank) on close inspection
I<I> discovered these tiny almost microscopic dots were moving
I<I> assume they have legs as they are not
swimming. <T>they are on several of the rocks and on
small patches of algae and the glass they do not appear to be harming
the fish but I<I> am not sure what I<I> should
do. <W>what are these white
dots? <A>are they harmful for the fish or will they be
safe if left in the tank? <P>please help thanks <Angela,
without a photo it is impossible to say. They could be a
countless number of things. Most likely these creatures are
harmless hitchhikers that have found their way into your system. I
would not be too concerned unless you observe behavioral changes in
your fish. Angela, <S>scotland
<Angela, Please spell check, use proper punctuation, and employ
standard rules of writing on any future
queries. -Mich>
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