I.D. this please!

[Shad]

I noticed what looked to be an egg sac growing in the center of my elephant ear mushroom. Any ideas what it might be?

 

[marki24]

Not sure what it is but it looks cool> is it soft or hard?

 

[KathyC]

ok...thought this was pretty interesting so I decided to research it a bit. The closest thing I've seen to this has been the 'bubble' that can be seen on Frogspawn when they are reproducing.
Sure enough..it seems this is the same reason..

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2002/invert.htm
(you want to read what it says under Rhodactis as your Elephant Ear is actually a Rhodactis Mussoides )

From the article above..

Rhodactis spp. reproduce by fission, pedal laceration, and a type of budding that involves the formation of gemmules both internally and on the surface of the oral disc

Your polka dotted bubble looks to be a gemmule..as opposed to what a polka dotted chicken might leave behind..if you happened to have one in ...your...reef...t a n k :sigh:

 

[CrashGibson]

I would advise to send a copy of the pic to Bob Fenner at WetWebMedia.com.

 

[Shad]

Thank you for the information Kathy! they reproduce like crazy in my tank. I have never seen this budding take place, but it looked cool and is gone already.

 

[Domboski]

What livestock do you have in your tank (fish and snails)?

 

[masterswimmer]

Shad, very cool. Too bad you didn't get to see it release all it's spores. I wouldn't be surprised if you wake up one day and have thousands of those rhodactis shrooms covering every surface of your tank :banghead:

swimmer

 

[Shad]

Thats the last thing I want Russ. Waaaayyyy too much. You have seen how many I have already.