Odd substance

[MajorDad74]

Anyone have any idea what this is? I turned over this rock and found it. My bta was under for a while. Is it from the bta? It’s more on the pinkish side. Weird texture almost slick.

 

[KrisReef]

From your description I would guess this is a sponge. From the image, all I get is a weird substance.

 

[MajorDad74]

From your description I would guess this is a sponge. From the image, all I get is a weird substance.

Exactly

 

[MajorDad74]

From your description I would guess this is a sponge. From the image, all I get is a weird substance.

I turned on the brights. It’s thin like coraline.

 

[KrisReef]

Looks much thinner in the white light picture, and I still think it's probably a sponge? Coralline generally doesn't have that shiny glossy surface that a sponge often has, and coralline usually gets flakes or plates vs. sliming across a surface.

And the big clue is that this was growing on the underside before you turned the rock over. Criptic organism vs light seeking.

 

[MajorDad74]

Looks much thinner in the white light picture, and I still think it's probably a sponge? Coralline generally doesn't have that shiny glossy surface that a sponge often has, and coralline usually gets flakes or plates vs. sliming across a surface.

And the big clue is that this was growing on the underside before you turned the rock over. Criptic organism vs light seeking.

I was just using coraline as a comparison. This is about 4”x3” in size. It’s odd.

 

[MajorDad74]

Just wanted to update this older thread. The specimen is an encrusting sponge. No biggie until it irritates corals. It’s a good filter feeder.

 

[KrisReef]

Just wanted to update this older thread. The specimen is an encrusting sponge. No biggie until it irritates corals. It’s a good filter feeder.

Thanks for following up. Very helpful information for future reference.

 

[MajorDad74]

Just wanted to update this older thread. The specimen is an encrusting sponge. No biggie until it irritates corals. It’s a good filter feeder.

Thanks for following up. Very helpful information for future reference.

I had 2 more mats pop up. Showed my guy at Tsm and he agreed it was a sponge. Thank you for your help!