Anyone know if this is a sponge or tunicate? Its gorgeous and I have a credit! Cant find much info but listed as a tiger sponge.

[nano reef]

I have no idea what this beauty is and if the listing is correct! Cant get vendor to call me either or answer my messages. Long story!

I have a credit and might use part of it on this but from what I have read It dosnt seem like its a sponge and might possibly be a tunicate or sea squirt! Its gorgeous and listed as a tiger sponge!

Any info on care and what its is would be greatly appreciated!

 

[tzabor10]

Following

 

[Oldreefer44]

Looks more like a gorgonian to me. Similar to red finger gorgonian.

 

[Tonycass12]

It's a sponge that hosts the polyps. I can't remember what they are called.

 

[Tonycass12]

Spider sponge! https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/pure-white-nonphotosynthetic-zoas.523412/

 

[smitten with ocean life]

my LFS had one i kept eyeballing. they said it was a sponge but warned me away from it because they said it was very difficult to keep

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Spider sponge! https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/pure-white-nonphotosynthetic-zoas.523412/

+1 to the above.

Australian Spider Sponge/Tiger Sponge (the name is also used with some colonial tunicates as well) - the white parts of these sponges (the sponges being Trikentrion flabelliforme) are actually zoanthids that live in a semi-parasitic-semi-mutualistic relationship with the sponge.

To my understanding, these are remarkably difficult sponges to keep (even compared to other ornamental sponges), possibly in part due to the zoanthids on them that make them so striking.

If you want to try keeping them or other ornamental sponges, I wouldn't expect success with them, but the below may help with any attempts:

For keeping sponges, I'd suggest reading through the following threads (and any links to other threads in my posts in them):

Sponge Tank

Does anyone have experience keeping a sponge only aquarium? If so where can I purchase sponges. I've only found a few online.

www.reef2reef.com

How hard/easy to grow sponge?

I want to be able to grow sponge for my angelfish. Could I do it in a tank I grow macro algae. It's very nutrient rich water, it's my molly breeding tank. Macro algae grows well in the tank with no doesing. The mollies keep it prestienly clean of unwanted algae and only nip here and there on the...

www.reef2reef.com

Is This Ball Sponge a Goner?

Hi all! First of all, I know the typical spiel - sponges are nearly impossible to keep and feed. Despite this, at the end of December I decided to try one. I feed phyto daily and blast it with frozen food juices and kick up microfauna in the sand for it but not sure it’s enough. I had it...

www.reef2reef.com

As a note, you can click my username in the quote above to be taken to thread the quote is from, and there's a bit more reading there for anyone interested.