Sponge? Tunicate? Something else?

[dwag1122]

Any idea what this is? It’s really dark purple with black spots. What’s throwing me off is the fact that it’s shiny and not matte like most sponges. It’s just slightly smaller than a plum.

 

[Ron Reefman]

It looks a bit like something we see here in SW Florida. What we have are tunicates and I suspect that's what yours is. It looks like it's on a live rock that may be kind of new to your tank? I base that on some of the other things I see on the rock.

You are in Lake City... we have one of those in Florida, but I see there are also Lake City names in MI, GA, CO and maybe others?

 

[dwag1122]

It looks a bit like something we see here in SW Florida. What we have are tunicates and I suspect that's what yours is. It looks like it's on a live rock that may be kind of new to your tank? I base that on some of the other things I see on the rock.

You are in Lake City... we have one of those in Florida, but I see there are also Lake City names in MI, GA, CO and maybe others?

Yes, it’s some live rock I introduced into my tank to add a bit more biodiversity.

 

[Ron Reefman]

We see an orange tunicate that looks very much like yours, washed up on the beach very storm. I've seen a number of different tunicates when we snorkel in the Keys, but never one that looks like the ones we see on the beach.

I hope you can keep it alive. Tunicates are very difficult to keep, much like most sponges.

 

[dwag1122]

We see an orange tunicate that looks very much like yours, washed up on the beach very storm. I've seen a number of different tunicates when we snorkel in the Keys, but never one that looks like the ones we see on the beach.

I hope you can keep it alive. Tunicates are very difficult to keep, much like most sponges.

I have multiple that are going on 6+ months now. I have around 4 solitary ones in my refugium, as well as a bit of grey colonial tunicates. The big tank already had some orange ones growing in it as well

 

[LiverockRocks]

Any idea what this is? It’s really dark purple with black spots. What’s throwing me off is the fact that it’s shiny and not matte like most sponges. It’s just slightly smaller than a plum.

Colonial tunicate, beneficial and easy keepers. Aplidium sp
We see them in pink, orange, blue, grey, white and black.