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View Full Version : Red Blob Hitchhiker ID - Short Video

Beverly
10/11/2006, 12:54 PM
We have this red blob thing growing from one of our rocks. It appeared on the rock a couple of months after we moved it from our 37g to our 120g. Don't know why it didn't grow in the 37g.

Anyway, the blob is getting bigger. The blob brushes up against a devil's hand, but does not sting it. Any ideas of what kind of animal this is?

Hitchhiker Red Blob, October 11, 2006 (http://www.lostmymarblz.com/v-120g-red-blob.wmv)
(320 x 240 pixels, 3.9 MB, :50 minutes)
Kgoarmy17
10/11/2006, 01:45 PM
I'd refer you to the Macro Algae Forum. Sam can prolly nail a definate answer for you.

I'd also refer you to this thread http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=745530

I'd check the thread first. :D
Beverly
10/11/2006, 04:02 PM
The red blob in our tank isn't cotton candy algae. It's some kind of animal. I've seen that algae at the LFS and it's definitely not the blob thing in the video. Thanks for the link, though :)
dc
10/11/2006, 04:55 PM
No idea but it looks kind of cool.
Kgoarmy17
10/11/2006, 05:43 PM
You're right, after taking a better look at it, it is more "blob" like then hairy. The left side of it kinda looks like a small ball is in it or something. Looks like some type of algae though. It seems to be attached to the rock pretty snug.

Good luck and let me know what you find out. :D

Nice video btw, good quality.
Beverly
10/12/2006, 01:43 PM
Made another video of the blob today. This time a piece of it broke off. A clip of the piece of blob is at the end of the video....

Red Blob Hitchhiker - Part II (http://www.lostmymarblz.com/v-120g-red-blob-1.wmv)

Maybe someone can offer a better ID after seeing the blob frag :)
Mike4284m
10/12/2006, 02:26 PM
Maybe some sort of colonial tunicate? Very bizarre!
kmk2307
10/12/2006, 08:07 PM
That is definatley a red alga (phylum Rhodophyta). Probably Order Gigartinales. Look up the genus Predaea which is common.

Kevin
Beverly
10/12/2006, 08:35 PM
Kevin,

This pic looks quite a bit like my blob, complete with bubbles inside. Pic is from.....

http://www.com.univ-mrs.fr/IRD/atollpol/ecorecat/ukalgesp.htm

http://www.com.univ-mrs.fr/IRD/atollpol/ecorecat/images/predlac.jpg

ID would be Predaea laciniosa if the above image and what I have are the same.