Leather stem looks funky

sernum · 2026-08-09T16:55:26-0400

Cause for concern, or normal response to something?

Other than this "rash with horns" he's seems happy. All other corals happy, and healthy.
Water params normal, no changes in tank recently.

PolypPocket · 2026-08-09T16:58:49-0400

Weird, they kind of look like tunicates but probably not that. Maybe a sponge?

sernum · 2026-08-09T17:16:39-0400

Had to research tunicates and sponge, but that seems a reasonable assessment.
Treat it, or let it go?

PolypPocket · 2026-08-09T19:27:40-0400

sernum said:
Had to research tunicates and sponge, but that seems a reasonable assessment.
Treat it, or let it go?

Well as far as I know if it’s a sponge it usually doesn’t hurt anything (based on what I’ve read here). But it would be better if someone more knowledgeable answers. However in the meantime it should be fine, especially since you said the coral is acting normally.

Look up pineapple sponge and see if that looks like it.

#reefs#reefsquad

keagan · 2026-08-09T19:38:12-0400

@ISpeakForTheSeas
@EnterName
#reefsquad

They don't look like pineapple sponges to me. They do look like they could be tunicates IMO but I'm not confident in that.

Side note some encrusting sponges (not what's above) can be bad news. Not all sponges are harmless some can overgrow coral.

Fish Fan · 2026-08-09T20:02:26-0400

Definitely not pineapple sponges, some kind of tunicate seems likely to me.

PolypPocket · 2026-08-09T21:03:47-0400

keagan said:
@ISpeakForTheSeas
@EnterName
#reefsquad

They don't look like pineapple sponges to me. They do look like they could be tunicates IMO but I'm not confident in that.

Side note some encrusting sponges (not what's above) can be bad news. Not all sponges are harmless some can overgrow coral.

Yeah I’m really not qualified to answer haha