What’s growing behind my rock?

[himynameis]

See video. I spotted this some time ago and it’s grown quite a bit over a few months in my nem tank. Came on the live rock. Any ideas?

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

That video is way to dark to tell. Try filming it again under white light. Maybe even shine a flashlight there, it seems like it's in a dark spot.

 

[Uncle99]

A giant Aptasia!
Maybe?

 

[himynameis]

That video is way to dark to tell. Try filming it again under white light. Maybe even shine a flashlight there, it seems like it's in a dark spot.

Yeah good call with the flashlight, tough to get any light back there

 

[himynameis]

A giant Aptasia!
Maybe?

This would make it the biggest Aiptasia I’ve seen! I don’t think that’s what it is though

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

Yeah good call with the flashlight, tough to get any light back there

Looks like a type of scallop. Maybe a flame scallop? Do you see any flashing coming from inside of it?

 

[himynameis]

Looks like a type of scallop. Maybe a flame scallop? Do you see any flashing coming from inside of it?

I think you may be right! I haven’t seen flashing. But it looks a lot like photos of a flame scallop or similar.

 

[himynameis]

I recall seeing this at about the size of a quarter, maybe 8 months ago when first setting up this tank. Thought it was a sponge of some kind early on and just left it alone as it didn’t seem to bother things and really tough to see from an angle. Now it’s about 2-3 inches across, wondering if it could be problematic at some point?

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

I recall seeing this at about the size of a quarter, maybe 8 months ago when first setting up this tank. Thought it was a sponge of some kind early on and just left it alone as it didn’t seem to bother things and really tough to see from an angle. Now it’s about 2-3 inches across, wondering if it could be problematic at some point?

If it's a flame scallop, it's completely harmless.

 

[jdubDaReefGuy]

I recall seeing this at about the size of a quarter, maybe 8 months ago when first setting up this tank. Thought it was a sponge of some kind early on and just left it alone as it didn’t seem to bother things and really tough to see from an angle. Now it’s about 2-3 inches across, wondering if it could be problematic at some point?

You would be able to see the shell of the scallop if it’s a flame scallop. The tentacles look similar but I don’t see a shell. Maybe it’s a tube anemone? I’ve attached a picture of
Mine for reference

 

[himynameis]

If it's a flame scallop, it's completely harmless.

Do they move? Seems like they have a foot, and attach to rock that way. But this one hasn’t moved from the same spot I first noticed it.

 

[jdubDaReefGuy]

You would be able to see the shell of the scallop if it’s a flame scallop. The tentacles look similar but I don’t see a shell. Maybe it’s a tube anemone? I’ve attached a picture of
Mine for reference

Flame scallops also react to light. You should see it retract when hit with flashlight

 

[jdubDaReefGuy]

Do they move? Seems like they have a foot, and attach to rock that way. But this one hasn’t moved from the same spot I first noticed it.

They can swim around on their own. The inhale water and use it like a jet

 

[jdubDaReefGuy]

My guess is it’s something like this.

 

[jdubDaReefGuy]

Like this

 

[himynameis]

I got a better video, here it is reacting to some water flow. Does this resemble a scallop?

 

[vetteguy53081]

See video. I spotted this some time ago and it’s grown quite a bit over a few months in my nem tank. Came on the live rock. Any ideas?

Video is too short an dark to tell. Can be a tube anemone or similar but cant confirm

 

[himynameis]

Video is too short an dark to tell. Can be a tube anemone or similar but cant confirm

Yeah bad first video. Take a look at the latest!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yeah bad first video. Take a look at the latest!

Its a reef safe flame scallop and a bonus score. They are filter feeder and will accept plankton like foods. Often not long lived but in good conditions can go a year or two

 

[himynameis]

Its a reef safe flame scallop and a bonus score. They are filter feeder and will accept plankton like foods. Often not long lived but in good conditions can go a year or two

Very cool! Shame it’s tucked in the very back of my largest rock, and I can’t reposition because of all the BTA in the front. Any way to coax it out or reposition?