Orange Spongey Type Of Coral?

[simonas]

I was given today a big orange spongey type of coral that has yellow bits within it, I have looked all over internet and cant find it anywhere

Can anyone help me as to how to care for the thing and comment as to why a hermit wont get off it?

 

[simonas]

heres a poor pic

 

[lljdma06]

I couldn't find it either, so I emailed the link to a Marine Biologist friend of mine.

It looks beat up.

 

[lljdma06]

He says it's this...

Porifera acarnus. Californian encrusting sponge. Many colors, usually red or orange.

http/seanet.stanford.edu/Porifera/acarnus_eri580.jpg

Hope this helps a bit.

L

 

[simonas]

cheers Lissette

the yellow bits have polyps that come out looking like a small sun coral

googling the scientific name didnt reveal much regarding the aquarium hobby which is weird as Ive seen this in the shops on many occasions and never been too interested bt as this was free I now want to know lol

 

[lljdma06]

So a sponge with either tubastraea or dendro polyps on it. Weird, I want.

Whats the texture of the red material, is it definitely a sponge? Also look into cyphastrea, & pagoda corals.

Now, how come you don't love my tanks like you used to? Waaaaaa! Waaaaa! *Sniff sniff*

L

 

[simonas]

So a sponge with either tubastraea or dendro polyps on it. Weird, I want.

Whats the texture of the red material, is it definitely a sponge? Also look into cyphastrea, & pagoda corals.

Now, how come you don't love my tanks like you used to? Waaaaaa! Waaaaa! *Sniff sniff*

L

Its definately spongey to the touch and the theres a few yellow bits on there they look like tiny sun coals they are cute. Its not a pagoda coral but does look similar to a cyphastrea however I think its a sponge from another forum

I dont spend as much time on the forums anymore Lissette so havent looked through anyones journals for a while

I will tonight