Does anybody know what this is? I think it is some sort of sponge.

[BringingThatDottyback]

Came on some live rock from KP aquatics. It's spreading rapidly and seems to have developed some small mouths. The zoa doesnt seem to mind it growing between the heads and honestly I like how it looks. Just cool how fast it is spreading.

 

[Subsea]

You may be right about it being a sponge. If it is outgrowing zoos, that’s quite fast growth.

I don’t see the mouths on sponges. Typically, what you refer to as a mouth is the vent. I have three species of ornamental Caribbean sponges: red tree, yellow ball and orange elephant ear.

 

[Subsea]

Does KP list normal hitch hikers like Gulf Live Rock. I am sure their customer service can assist you.

Gulf Live Rock.com

gulfliverock.com

Check out Red Encrusting Sponge

https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/90af1256-3dfc-46e5-86cb-4b2dddf55349/red.png/:/cr=t:18.65%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:80.65%25/rs=w:776,h:388,cg:true

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Came on some live rock from KP aquatics. It's spreading rapidly and seems to have developed some small mouths. The zoa doesnt seem to mind it growing between the heads and honestly I like how it looks. Just cool how fast it is spreading.

It does seem like it may be a sponge - if it isn’t bothering or smothering the corals, then it’s probably harmless.

The “mouths” are most visible in the shaded areas under the zoas in the pic (typically the big “mouths” on sponges are osculum - exhalant pores - and the little “mouths” are ostium - inhalant pores; water comes in through the ostium, gets filtered, then gets sent back out the osculum).

 

[Subsea]

Sponges - USVI Caribbean

www.snorkelstj.com

Here is a list of some Caribbean sponges.

This picture is Red Encrusting sponge from the Caribbean.