weird alien thing

[pilotrob]

hey anyone ever seen this thing before? it just started growing on one of my rocks about 5 months ago and has gotten huge! it responds to touch by shrinking and shrivling up kind of. i didnt think it was a sponge and it sure doesnt look like any coral ive ever seen. anyone with an idea take a shot and name the critter.

[nanoman123]

looks like calpura to me

[MikeS]

possibly some sort of large hydroid? Not sure on that one, sorry...

Mike

[icereefer]

Rob could you get use a better shot at it ?

[pilotrob]

i'll try but that was the best of about 5, i dont have the best digital camera. its an old 1.3 megapixel.

this thing keeps growing and doesnt seem to bother anything but at the same time i am very curious about what it is. its about 3 inches high and about 2 and 1\2 inches wide. it started off from nothing december or so and has just gotten huge in the last month. im pretty sure its not a type of macro alge. not sure exactly what a hydroid is. but it is certianly alive and sensitive to touch. it will shrink and get skinny when touched and will expand later on. color is pretty close to picture - its sort of an off white yellowish color.

as i said i will try for a better shot. in the mean time id love to hear what you guys think.

[icereefer]

does it grow from some kind of base?
and if you want I've got that 5.0 sony you can come by and use or I could come over and get a better look at it and maybe tell you what it is, I've got about 8 different discription book here that has to be in one of my books?
PS I know this is off the subject but 8) I should be getting my new tubes in today,Im going to try 2-URI .03 and 2-URI(aquasun) 10.000K,Im going to try and tone down on the actinics a little and hopefully the 10.000k will give me a little more growing power.
sorry had to tell someone about my boy toys :lol:
PSS do you know anyone that's looking for a 29 gal? I'll let it go super,super cheap?

[leaffish75]

could be aptasia (spelling).

[MikeS]

its about 3 inches high and about 2 and 1\2 inches wide.

Big aptasia... :lol:

Actually, I have seen some huge aptasia in an LFS in Colorado.... :shock:

I still think it looks like some sort of hydroid...maybe....

Mike

[icereefer]

it's not a little finger leather ?

[pilotrob]

i know its not aptasia - its too rigid and yeah huge. maybe a leather maybe a hydroid or ... i have no idea. all i know is its one day going to dominate my tank!