What is this purple stalk thing?

[Mthompson]

Hello everyone,

I brought some new live rock (cured and in their reef tank) home from the LFS last week and this purple thing was on one of the pieces that broke off. What do you think of it?

It is about 4mm tall and has been the same size and color since I put the rock in the tank. You can't really tell in the pictures, but it is sticking straight off the rock.

Thanks, Miles

 

[SnowManSnow]

is it soft or hard?

if it is soft .. ill put my money on it being a sponge

 

[Mthompson]

I never touched it because it is small and looks delicate. I want to say that it is hard, just by the way it looks, but I will check tonight and let you know.

 

[HELLYEAH]

looks like a stylaster coral

 

[Mthompson]

Sorry, still haven't checked if it is soft or hard. It is still purple and hasn't change shape or size.

If it is a stylaster, what are the chances it will survive?

 

[SnowManSnow]

just touch it and c if its hard or not.. it cant be THAT fragile.

b

 

[HELLYEAH]

Sorry, still haven't checked if it is soft or hard. It is still purple and hasn't change shape or size.

If it is a stylaster, what are the chances it will survive?

they don't need light they are collected from over hanging in the water column.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry, still haven't checked if it is soft or hard. It is still purple and hasn't change shape or size.

If it is a stylaster, what are the chances it will survive?

Stylaster are pretty difficult if not impossible to get to thrive if even live in most reef tanks being that they don't have zooxanthellae as far as I know.

 

[Mthompson]

I checked the thing last night and it is hard. So your guess is as good as mine.

 

[HELLYEAH]

all you have to do is put him in a cave where a lot of flow get to him and feed him 3 times a day more of a chance for his polyps to open up and catch some grub.

 

[Mthompson]

I will find a shady spot for the little guy, but he is so small I am not sure if he is even alive. I have been putting Kent Zoe in the tank every three days, so maybe he will make it....