what is it?

[nightowl2k]

Please help me identify..a month ago it was smaller than a dime...now its bigger than a siver dollar and growing..ty

 

[MINItron]

Without being able to see the mouth or foot my first guess would be a rhodactis mushroom. Some of the rhodactis species are extremely showy, others are quite drab. This looks like one of the drab ones. Still a nice specimen. The reproduce by leaving a tiny piece of themselves behind as they move along. It may have been growing there for some time before you saw it.

 

[nightowl2k]

Thankyou..was worried was not nice..came out of nowhere,lol .its next to zoas on same rock,can that be a problem?

 

[MINItron]

The quick test is to see if it is sticky. If it is not sticky the it is a mushroom, and you are safe. The zoas and rhodactis should cohabitate just fine, and if the mushroom decides it doesn't like the zoas it will move itself.

 

[nightowl2k]

Thanks again.youve been a great help.

 

[MINItron]

No problem. We all have to learn somehow, and it is much easier than when I was first learning almost 20 years ago. The resources are so much easier to access. Then it was all on paper or in person.

 

[spoonman]

I would like to know if it is sticky. Kinda looks like a sebae anemone.

 

[nightowl2k]

Will let you know when i get home today..thanks

 

[Reeferhead911]

Quick question guys do you just stick your hand in there and see if it is sticky or what still new to this and want to start adding corals thanks....

 

[MINItron]

That's what I do. It's not a carpet anemone so I personally wouldn't be concerned about the sting. Your mileage may vary though. Others are very sensitive to nematocysts, and cannot tolerate contact with any cnidarians. You can use a small piece of raw shrimp and see if it sticks.

Also, an anemone will react to touch very quickly while a mushroom is quite slow. One can take a clean stick and gently touch it to see how fast it retracts. The retraction can be trickier to judge if you don't have something to compare it to.

 

[nightowl2k]

MINItron,i did what you said..i touched and not sticky,i also put a mysis shrimp and it didnt stick...guess you were right.must be a coral..thanks again for your help.

 

[MINItron]

Glad I could help.