I need sponge help

oceaninabox · Oct 30, 2008

I am looking to carry some of the types of sponges listed in the link below. I am not sure the care or handling of these sponges. I was told that they cannot even touch air or they die. Sounds like it's a lot of trouble, but wanted to get some thoughts. I mean, for example can I take them out of the water and frag them without there being a problem, or will they in fact just die?

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11_03/EIBI-Sponge-1_2594_63_4_4.html

Nate82 · Oct 30, 2008

no you have to frag them underwater they can never touch air it's not a myth they're a PITA IMO

paintballer768 · Oct 30, 2008

Wow thats an odd sponge. Its very possible that is a sponge, yet I cant help its resemblance to a few pictures of colonial turnicates (sp?) Ive seen.

oceaninabox · Oct 30, 2008

What do they eat?

roshi719 · Oct 30, 2008

They are filter feeders

Russellaqua · Oct 30, 2008

Sponges are typically fast growers. I've had some double in size in a month or so, but that's the high end. Exposure to air is ill advised as it does damage them. As long as a few cells remain alive it will regrow though. Keeping them underwater is the best bet. They feed like any SPS or sea squirt by filtering food from the water column. If you keep a lot you might consider supplementing with filter feeder foods.

sly fox · Oct 30, 2008

if they come in contact with air air can get stuck in pockets inside them which then causes problems, if you have inadvertently got one in contact with air you can try and pull the air out with a syringe (underwater of course)

flow needs to be good as particle matter settlng on them is bad... a phyto reactor is a good idea as well :)

ahayes13 · Oct 30, 2008

You must frag them underwater, they can NEVER touch air. The sponge will trap the air in itself and eventually die off. The problem most of the time is knowing in fact how they are collected. Because if whoever collects them brings out of the water and contacting air then they are already damaged before you even get them. Ive had sponges but just had too many problems, they eventually began to die and guessing probably becuase they had been exposed to air. :(