Newbie - please help with ID

[DuckyinthePotty]

Hi,

Recently got this hammer and didn’t notice anything in the skeleton initially but after a day I noticed the yellow and orange spots. I assume those are sponges. There is a small polyp in between the yellow and orange spots that wasn’t there before. I just noticed it but it’s too tiny to tell. I suspect aiptasia? The thing circled in yellow, I have scoured the internet and found nothing like it. It closes up when touched and looks nothing like a new head forming. Does anyone know what this is?

The bottom of the frag also seems to be turning black but I can’t be certain since I did t take pictures of it the day I received it. Is this normal? If not, what can/should I do?

Thanks in advance!

 

[mta_morrow]

Hello and welcome to R2R!

What you have circled doesn’t look like aiptasia to me.

The other spots look like sponges.

#welcometoR2R

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R!
First picture looks like a tunicate of some type
second picture is a sponge

#WelcometoR2R

 

[Fudsey]

Welcome to R2R ! ! !

 

[saltyhog]

Agree first picture circled is probably a tunicate. In the second picture, I think you're correct. That looks like a small aiptasia between the orange and yellow sponges. It may have been retracted when the frag was first acquired which would make it very difficult to see at that size.

 

[saltyhog]

And welcome to R2R! This is the place to ask questions!

 

[Dual40IM]

I agree with aiptasia between the sponges. Get it now before it's too late.

 

[mta_morrow]

Dang! Guess I really should wear my glasses!

Didn’t see that little guy!

It’s great that it’s on the frag rack.

Remove from tank and remove the aiptasia and give a good sw rinse to get any little pieces that may be left behind!

 

[IslandLifeReef]

Welcome to R2R. I had aiptasia show up on a zoa frag and just covered it with IC glue. That worked for me.

 

[cracker]

Welcome DU ! You came to a good place for an ID

 

[KJ]

Welcome to R2R!!! Tunicate and sponge.

 

[reef lover]

Welcome to r2r!!

 

[DuckyinthePotty]

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome! I didn't expect to get this many responses so quickly;Joyful Good thing I set up a quarantine! As my O-Chem TA used to tell us "Trust no one!" glad years of paranoia pay off

@mta_morrow - you probably don't need those glasses. That little aiptasia is super tiny and blends in well with the skeleton and the picture quality is terrible. Thank you for the tips. I will be sure to treat it in a holding so I don't get spores on the other frags I'm quarantining

@IslandLifeReef - thank you for the tip. Will get some glue immediately!