Coral? Sponge?

[dahouck]

Hello,

I've tried this on other sites and haven't gotten a clear answer yet. I'm a new member so I figured I'd give you guys a shot.

This came on a rock from my LFS. The top diameter is about the size of a quarter. The base is one peice. The whole peice is visible in the first shot. The other is a close-up.I was told it was a sponge. However, 2 days ago it 'shed' and then polyps opened up. One of the pics is w/ lights on (polyps open) the other is after lights out (it's a close-up of the top) .

My guess is it's a palythoa sp.

What do you think?

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks and looking forward to learning from you veterans out there.



30g eclipse (2 months)
35 lb LR
2 clowns
1 D. goby
1 cleaner shrimp
snails, hermits, dusters

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20 ish
ph 8.4
temp 79
sg .024

 

[nahtanoj]

looks like a leather coral to me, toadstool perhaps.
welcome to the site!

 

[barometer]

First one looks like a goniopora or flower pot frag. Second might be a toadstool leather. Hard to tell, just my guesses

 

[dc_909]

First ones are probably "crater polyps"

http://www.marinecenter.com/corals/polyps/craterpolypfiji/

 

[dahouck]

Same Piece

Both pics are of the same piece, just to clarify.

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[barometer]

wow, it closes up like that? Cool piece whatever it is, I think dc is on the right track

 

[dfladermaus]

They are a type of polyp, a mat type. I have had them before. The will continue to grow in that pattern.

It is labeled as palythoa when Ive tried to id it.

P