zygote2k December 31, 2008 Share December 31, 2008 (edited) Just got a frag the other day that was mounted to a piece of dead blue ridge coral. The tube worm on the right is not the subject- it's the short patch of what looks like hair algae and cyano. I tried to scrub it off but it was very resistant, so I stopped and placed it back in the DT. I was looking at it today and then suddenly it did this: Edited December 31, 2008 by zygote2k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanCallan December 31, 2008 Share December 31, 2008 Looks like algae and a tube worm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckN December 31, 2008 Share December 31, 2008 Looks like algae and a tube worm. I would have to agree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zygote2k December 31, 2008 Author Share December 31, 2008 the "hair algae" retracts. Look at the series of pictures carefully and you'll see that it retracts then reappears. It's definitely not HA- it's an animal of some sort. The colony reacts in the presence of shadows or motion. If this is HA, then it is intelligent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanCallan December 31, 2008 Share December 31, 2008 Are these pictures over days? weeks? minutes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zygote2k December 31, 2008 Author Share December 31, 2008 The picture are in sequence over the course of a few seconds. I apologize for the clarity- I don't have a macro lens that will allow this kind of closeup. The colony is only about 1/64" or so tall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogurnda December 31, 2008 Share December 31, 2008 Vermetid snail? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevearlen December 31, 2008 Share December 31, 2008 In the interest of full disclosure: - If these are a rarely and highly sought after marine aquarium addition, the frag came from me. - If there are a nuisance, the frag came from me and I am sorry for any troubles. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coral Hind December 31, 2008 Share December 31, 2008 Other then the worm...It just looks like algae blowing on the rock to me. It may appear to retract as the filaments blow toward you and then reappear as they move perpendicular to your line of sight. Kind of an optical illusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capsfan December 31, 2008 Share December 31, 2008 Looks like algae and a tube worm. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanman December 31, 2008 Share December 31, 2008 Y'all are lookin' in the wrong place... just like I was... Here is a close-up. See the line of 'algae' just below that white shell, or whatever it is? With: Without: bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zygote2k January 1, 2009 Author Share January 1, 2009 Other then the worm...It just looks like algae blowing on the rock to me. It may appear to retract as the filaments blow toward you and then reappear as they move perpendicular to your line of sight. Kind of an optical illusion. I thought that this was the case originally, but after watching it for awhile, it definitely isn't an illusion. When a fish swims too close or I place my hand in front to create a shadow or when the algae magnet goes by, they suddenly retract then reappear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanman January 1, 2009 Share January 1, 2009 (edited) I thought that this was the case originally, but after watching it for awhile, it definitely isn't an illusion. When a fish swims too close or I place my hand in front to create a shadow or when the algae magnet goes by, they suddenly retract then reappear. Intelligent algae?? (Insert Friday the 13th theme music here) I'm guessing they are little colony filter feeders of some sort. Get us the macro-photo! Or perhaps the micro! bob Edited January 1, 2009 by lanman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanCallan January 1, 2009 Share January 1, 2009 I'm actually putting together my own USB Microscope over the next week or so, when I have it up and operational I'll take some photos of this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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