problem with button polyps

[Colleen Christensen]

I acquired a small rock of pick button polyps about three weeks ago. They were doing really well until the day before yesterday. I noticed what looks like a small clear sponge growing into the colony. Today the polyps didn't open all. The only other animal in the tank currently, that I know of, is a 'scooter blenny'.

Does someone have any idea what could be the problem?

[charlesr1958]

The only thing mentioned that I could see as a possible cause for the polyps to remain closed is the encroachment of sponge, although having sponge grow between the polyps is very common and usualy presents no problems. Before taking any action, I would want to wait another day or two just in case the polyps are just having a bad day so to speak and may open again soon. Usualy it takes something to encroach / grow onto the polyps head to cause them to remain closed. Between the stalks usualy does not bother them. If you feel the need to do so, you can very carefully, pick out the sponge between the polyps, which will likely grow back in due time though.

Chuck

[zhenya]

Colleen Christensen,

[sihaya]

Can you take a picture? I've had two experiences with what looked like sponges taking over my zoanthids. In one case the "sponge" seemed to coat the base of the the polyps and it could not be removed... but the zoanthids didn't die, they just lived on in this deformed kinda state. In the other case, I was able to carefully remove the sponge (thought I took a few polyps with it), and the colony survived... and is now growing out of control actually.

But I don't think anyone is going to be able to help you much more without a pic or more info. Can you pull this sponge off?

[sihaya]

Oh, but I agree with what Chuck said too... if it's just growing between the polyps and the polyps are still opening (and it doesn't appear to be hurting anything else), I'd just leave it be. Sponges are cool anyway.

[Colleen Christensen]

Actually, as it gets bigger I am convinced that it is not a sponge. It is clear, seems to have a primitive gut, a broad sessile base base that narrows to a mouth. Occassionally it pulsates to sift water in and out of it. I will post a picture later after work if I can get a clear one.

[Colleen Christensen]

Here is a photo of what is growing with my polyps, you can see the yellow 'gut' mouth and body etc.

[BubbaWPB]

Looks like a tunicate to me. I got a bunch of them on live rock I got drop shipped from Tonga. So far, they haven't caused any problem in my tank, but I don't know a lot about tunicates.

[smidoid]

I'd agree with that. I've got a nasty orange little one that just sits there - doing whatever it is that these things do. Yours looks far nicer. Here's some info for you.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rs/index.php

[zhenya]

I don't quite get the picture attached, I mean I see it as a negative of some kind instead of image. But, description of the "blighter"( note the use of the english, Marc ) sure fits one of the tunicates. All in all they don;t present any problems in aquaria, most of the time they don't even last very long either. Ascidians, in general, require pretty specific diets,IIRC, and aquariums simply don't have it or have very little of it. I remember having quite few that came with the rock only to last about a year or so, then poof...

[BubbaWPB]

The photo is a bit...uh...different....but these transparent critters are hard to photograph and still tell what they are. This picture pretty much is what they look like in person.

[Colleen Christensen]

The photograph I took was much nicer, but it was too big to upload. I am glad you all said tunicate because I have been fishing around in my brain to those beginning years in biology knowing I had seen the beast before. (only have a BS in biology you know, but I specialize in vertebrates, aka Salmoniods!). I do not see how it could disturb my polyps. However I did notice today that the dragonet was happily bouncy all over them now that they were closed.

Thanks for the input.

[Colleen Christensen]

Bubba, you sound like my mom, who is thinking I have five acres, now that the pond is full where do I put the lake.

[smidoid]

I don't quite get the picture attached, I mean I see it as a negative of some kind instead of image. But, description of the "blighter"( note the use of the english, Marc ) sure fits one of the tunicates. All in all they don;t present any problems in aquaria, most of the time they don't even last very long either. Ascidians, in general, require pretty specific diets,IIRC, and aquariums simply don't have it or have very little of it. I remember having quite few that came with the rock only to last about a year or so, then poof...

Nice use of English there mate! ;-)

It's not negative, its low colour diffuse dither (or maybe just low colour). I don't know quite how that happened but it looks like some software has reduce it from millions of colours (as a JPG would normally be) to maybe just 16.

[charlesr1958]

Such a tunicate should pose no problem for the zooanthids, their touching each other will be ignored by both partys. At worst, only a nearby polyp may be effected if it is over shadowed by the tunicate, but seeing as how the tunicate is nearly "see through", I doubt it will do even that. You may also just want to wait since tunicates tend not to last long in our systems (this is where every one chimes in that they have tons of them now..lol) If you do decide that the tunicate must go, simply tearing it open should kill it. One word of caution though, if by chance you ever do have to work on the zoanthids to where you may cut some of them open, do so outside of the tank and wear latex / rubber gloves as zoanthids are quite toxic and may pose a threat to you as well if you happen to have open cuts on your hands.

Chuck