sponge, coral or other?

[ElMonoCalvo]

This hitchhiked in with some green star polyps. The polyps aren't there anymore, they got "grazed", but I'm wondering what I've been left with?

 

[Anonymous]

You SURE there are no polyps left? - Looks like I see some fuzzy little arms reaching out on the edges.. No clue what it might be though..

Nice corraline coverage btw..

 

[ElMonoCalvo]

Hopefully the polyps are making a comeback. The culprit that I suspected was mowing them down, an emerald mithrix crab, is no longer in the tank.

 

[John_Brandt]

That is a stony coral, and if you can get a better photo of it (from above and in sharp focus) we might be able to identify it.

 

[ElMonoCalvo]

This is about as clear, and close, as I could get it...any ideas?

 

[John_Brandt]

I'm making an early guess that it is Porites sp. Take another photo when it has become larger and we might get a better idea. The polyps are very tiny, located at each of the light-colored spots. Your crab might not have truly harmed it.

 

[ElMonoCalvo]

Sweet, I'm assuming that since it's growing on it's own with no special treatment it's a pretty hardy species?

 

[John_Brandt]

Yes, Porites is relatively hardy. It will probably adapt to wherever you place it by modifying its growth form. It is found in a very wide range of conditions in reef (and even mangrove) environments.

 

[Anonymous]

Porites are even found in mangrove environs? - 8O

Wow...

 

[John_Brandt]

Yep, they will encrust the mangrove root structures. Same is true for Pocillopora.