Invasion of the Body Snatchers

[k_thomas]

Please help me identify these pod like things before they take over my reef tank. They are in a 90 gallon tank I setup in November last year. I noticed the first one about a month ago. Since then I have found about 5 or 6 more. They mostly seem to take up residence in small holes on the rock though these is at least one on the glass at the back of the tank...

Thanks for your help .... Ken

 

[Anonymous]

hi k, welcome to the board. :wink:

are you referring to the little white "rice" balls with the openings?
those are sponges and they are good filter feeders.
they will not harm your tank.

 

[Chucker]

When in doubt, check the HHFAQ 8)

http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/pages/main_p ... _rock3.htm

You'll find the critter in question about 5 entries up from the bottom of the page.

 

[k_thomas]

Coralshrimp and Chucker, thanks for the reply. I thought the critters in question might be sponges (I did check the HHFAQ page prior to posting) but was unsure due to the fact these are more the size of LARGE grains of rice ( 1/4" wide and 1/2+" long).

Anyway, glad to hear they are nothing to worry about. I did have one other question, will they stop spreading at some point?

tks/Ken

 

[Anonymous]

you're welcome.

hmm, from what i've observed in my own tank, they haven't spread in mass numbers. i just have a few 'here and there'. they tend to grow in the shady areas of a tank - under rocks, behind powerheads, or in canister filters, for example.

hope that helps :wink:

 

[Will C1]

i have them by the hundreds on the back of my rocks and on my pumps, no harm being done. :wink: