unidentified snail, plant, and anemone pics

[akbarius]

hey all! here's some pics of random critters in my tank that I can't identify. please help!

the first is a snail of some sort...there are about 6 of them, each roughly 1/8-1/4 inch across. I'm assuming these are pretty good to have around.

the second is a plant of some sort....it goes thru cycles: about once a month it has bloomed with those white tufts of feather-like leaves, then it sheds them. the stems are very twiggy and brown.

the third pic is some sort of anemone-like creature...there are about a dozen of them in the tank. they grow little cone-shaped ridges out fo the rock, there is a mouth-like thing in the center, and the "arms" are clear with little white speckles on them. each is about 1/2 inch across, and the arms stick out about 1/2 inch. I haven't seen them grabbing any food at feeding time, so I'm assuming they're filter feeders, but I don't understand why they'd have a mouth. also, I've seen the fishes swim thru the tentacles without getting stung or anything, so I'm assuming they're fairly harmless. my friend is convinced it's some breed of aiptasia, but it doesn't look, act, or grow anything like the aiptasia that I used to have, and my peppermint shrimp completely ignore these.

any thought on their identity would be appreciated!

-paul-

[RazerCorals]

2 is caulerpa. The snail type figure originates in florida. I don't know their common name, they are harmless.

[steve1s]

The first pic has a skelatal structure. Looks like the beginnings of an LPS but it's too small to tell what type.

The second you can identify Here (http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/ReefAlgae/default.htm).

The third is a Limpet (http://octopus.gma.org/Tidings/limpet.html)

Cheers
Steve

[RazerCorals]

So are limpets snails like I thought. From what you see they look like snails and act like them.

[steve1s]

So are limpets snails like I thought. From what you see they look like snails and act like them.

Yes, gastropods include snails. It would be a (single) univavle mollusk.

Other gastropods like clams that have two shells would be called bivalves.

Cheers
Steve

[akbarius]

The first pic has a skelatal structure. Looks like the beginnings of an LPS but it's too small to tell what type.

Cheers
Steve

hrm....okay, well I've been trying to find some pictures of Large polyped Scleractinian (stoney) coral online and haven't found anything yet. this stuff is pretty hardy; the rock is originally from the florida gulf, and it's been exposed to extremely toxic tank conditions, crappy lighting, freshwater rinses, and various other tortures. it just keeps coming back....

-paul-

[phistio]

actually...to through my two cents in...

the first looks like a juvenile Bundodosoma similar to cesscile rock anemones...

the algae looks like Polysiphonia

and the third i think is a sponge...

[akbarius]

any idea where I could see a picture of other bondodosoma anemones? it's definately NOT some breed of aiptasia, though right?

-paul-

[on_fire_8]

I have two of what are pictured in the first one in my tank. I was also stumped by them because they have small clear tentacles like a anenome but a skeleton similar to a bubble coral. I would be very interested in any info on these also.

[on_fire_8]

I searched on the Bunodosoma anemone and found pictures that look nothing like the picture on this post. Its driving me nuts now. I would say it has to be a LPS because of the skeleton. Who knows.

[steve1s]

Never give up, never surrender... 8)

Critter#1 (http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/reef/reef2560.htm)

Cheers
Steve

[michealprater]

If you run a search on Astrangia you will find it is what picture on is.

[RazerCorals]

Hey Mike it's good to have you back, where did you dispear off to?

[michealprater]

I never was really gone. I was just on_fire_8 . I just didnt tell anybody. See my "IM BACK" thread for the whole story.

[jboylan]

UFO #1 LOOKS LIKE PARACYATHUS STEARNSI, JUST MY OPINION, i HAVE A BUNCH MYSELF

[qwarter]

I have quite a few that I recieved as hitchikers on a large lace rock I bought. Does anyone know if these are something to worry about, or just leave them be?
Penni

[tangwang]

Phyllangia sp. Visit here (http://www.sms.si.edu/IRLSpec/Phyllan_americ.htm), for more info. Completely harmless.

Matt

[poisonberry]

UFO #1 LOOKS LIKE PARACYATHUS STEARNSI, JUST MY OPINION, i HAVE A BUNCH MYSELF

I would have to agree. I got my live rock from www.tbsaltwater.com from florida, and I have several of these. one of them happens to be in the way of the powerhead output, and yet to still remains quite hardy and open. Hard to kill as it has survived a cycle as well.

[tangwang]

UFO #1 LOOKS LIKE PARACYATHUS STEARNSI, JUST MY OPINION, i HAVE A BUNCH MYSELF

I would have to agree. I got my live rock from www.tbsaltwater.com from florida, and I have several of these. one of them happens to be in the way of the powerhead output, and yet to still remains quite hardy and open. Hard to kill as it has survived a cycle as well.

Sorry guys, I have to disagree. That first pic is definitely Phyllangia (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/expltx/eft/gulf/cspecies/cupcoralfact.htm). You can tell by the skeleton formation.

And as for the Tampa Bay Saltwater liverock you have, the stonies that are on yours are most likely Phyllangia (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/expltx/eft/gulf/cspecies/cupcoralfact.htm), or Cladocora (http://porites.geology.uiowa.edu/database/corals/systemat/carbus.htm). TBSaltwater's liverock is aquacultured in Florida, and these two types are widely distributed in the Gulf of Mexico and the Keys, growing on the rock that is aquacultured here. I believe that the Paracyathus is distributed along the California coast, not the Florida coast.

[qwarter]

:?:
What is the difference between the Phyllangia and the Astrangia? The pictures both look very similar.

Penni

[tangwang]

They are from the same family Rhizagiidae. I believe the only difference between the two is the distribution. Phyllangia is found throughout the intercoastal waterway in Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Indian river basin. Astrangia is found in Monterey Bay, and other spots along the California coast. So I guess you could say they grow on opposite coasts from each other in the U.S.

[santeria]

Number one is DEFINETLY a hard coral from floridian waters. I would know kuz i took some off the reef for my tank.

[Leoskee]

The third is definitely a limpet. I posted a pic of one on the board and several people helped identify it. I picked up a few wild pieces of rubble from Puerto Rico and placed them in my tank the very next day. I didnt realize that they were covered with limpets. I started killing them because they were eating my coraline algae :oops: . After they were ID'ed I left the remaining two.

Now I am glad to have them. :lol:

[Vince]

I agree 100 % with Tangwang. Phyllangia. I have had these in my tank for years. Completely harmless and virtually indestructable. I have buried them with sand moving my rock around -not trying to kill them-. Months later move the rock again find the dead skeleton only to have it back in a matter of weeks. The limpets are ok too. The only thing to watch with these is when they spawn it can cloud up your tank and make your skimmer go crazy.