Sponges have bubbles coming off of them....

[af_hall14]

Is this normal for sponges to release air bubbles? They have not been exposed to air at all.....

 

[wrightme43]

Not in my limited experince. I dont know what kind it is, and it would help others to tell, if you posted a photo if you can. Steve

 

[af_hall14]

Here is a pic.... you can't see the air bubbles in the pic though but it'll give you a look at the sponge. It's yellow rope sponge, which I can't seem to find much info on.

 

[af_hall14]

Ok here is one with the air bubbles showing....

 

[wrightme43]

Now I may be wrong, to me it looks like the bubbles are coming from areas that are going necrotic. See how they are coming from areas that are grey in color and sunken in? If so it is probley from bacteria that are eating the dead stuff. Steve

 

[af_hall14]

I agree they are coming from the holes. I'll just keep a check on it.... Can't find any info on this darn sponge.

 

[NaH2O]

I've looked for info, too . How long have you had it? When you added it to the tank, did it get exposed to air?

 

[af_hall14]

No air whatsoever nor when I bought it. I watched to be sure it didn't hit the air. I'm not sure what's going on.... I guess no one can ID them. I haven't had any responses on the ID thread that I posted. It's a few weeks old.

 

[wrightme43]

There is a strong possiblility that it was exposed to air somewhere in the collection, shipping, wholsale, shipping, retail chain. Also it could just be starving, large sponges are notoriously hard to keep in home systems. Ok on pg 26 of J. Sprungs Inverts. book it has this sponge in red. It says comes in yellow, red, orange. From FL and the carribean. Filter feeder (duh) lol, dissolved organic matter, bacteria, Requires supplemental feeding of dissolved organic food to thrive. Hardiness in captivity Poor, life span months, years (with care) Book says Higginsia, and Ptilocaulis. I am just guessing of course not a biologist, and only going from photos. Steve

 

[af_hall14]

Thanks, I'll check on those names. I have got to get that book and the one on corals. My next buy, I guess!!

 

[Anthony Calfo]

it looks indeed like the air could be coming from areas of deacy (regardless of air exposure as a cause or not). Bacterial decomposition/activity.

 

[NaH2O]

Anthony, is there anything that can be done to help the sponge, like cut away necrotic areas? Or is there not much to save it?

 

[af_hall14]

I'm sad... they are not looking so swell today. I know that sponges can be toxic when dead. Should I remove them or just wait and see?

 

[wrightme43]

I have cut mine and fragged them for other people. If you take a bag and bag it underwater, take a bowl of saltwater and keep it underwater, you can cut pieces off, Cut out the good parts and rubberband or superglue them to small bits of rock, put them in shadow so the algae doesnt invade them and some may live. cut out and throw away all the bad parts. I used a very sharp pair of sicssors. I have some sort of red sponge that is similar to yours. Not the same though. Since its the only one I have done that with, I dont know how yours will react. Steve

 

[Anthony Calfo]

you may as well frag the better parts with hope of "saving" it. But that still leaves you with an organism that is difficult if even possible presently to feed adequately (without an ID, how can we begin to research what it eats and if you can provide for it?). These are but some of the many reasons for not buying sponges (speaking at large here) for casual use or non-specialized aquaria.

Sorry for the poor prognosis... but the extreme difficulties and toxicity of sponge are well known. Few folks should take these larger collected specimens into the home aquarium.

It is indeed important to research the name and needs of each organism before buying or bringing them home... lest we risk their lives as well as the health of other creatures in our systems.

 

[af_hall14]

I agree with you completely. I have been saying for a long time, no sponges. But my mother-in-law was with me that day and bought them for me. Dummy me!! They were only $10/ea so I'm not losing much. I'll give them another day or so, see if I can save some of the good parts. If not, I'll have to bury them. Definitely learned my lesson the hard way on this. Thanks for everyone's help!!

 

[MCSInc]

Excellent photos. Good Luck.