coral or 'other' i.d. please!?

[SeymourDuncan]

This is a very odd looking thing. I got a bunch of rock and this was encrusting one of them. I "fragged" it like it was encrusting gorgonian or something, however it does not seem to have polyps, and if it does would be very small.

I thought it was cyano at first but it is leathery. The color is a blackish purple, its skin is about 2.3mm in thickness and since i fragged the thing it has actually shown signs of growing its edges back down to the rock.

the only things i could even consider close was a purple encrusting monty...but then again....there are millions and millions of pictures that i have yet to compare with. lol..this stuff is weird.

It reminds me of Venom from spiderman.

 

[kschweer]

Some sort of sponge would be my best guess.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

wow, didnt think of that....what would be a good thing to do with it???

 

[ritter6788]

Just leave it. They usually only grow in the shade or dark areas and will help filter your water.

 

[Whippetguy]

+1 on the sponge ID

 

[SeymourDuncan]

ok cool. today it just started developing a new texture like micro pours on it.. so the sponge idea is probably right. it came on the "bright side of the rock" though, which was why i assumed it may have been a coral. if anyone knows more specifics that would be sweet...

now let me ask you this..say it is a sponge, would it be worth much at a frag swap or would i look like the guy trying to trade in damsels for store credit...lol?

 

[SeymourDuncan]

check this site out, i just found it. The Sponge Guide
i still cant determine exact species, but there are quite a few on here like mine. The great part is that this site has 3 options to narrow your search down. black encrusting & tough gave me 20 something different types. I do however believe it is limited to Caribbean Sponges, so what i have may not even be on there.