Monti like - Purple Sponge

Bongo Shrimp · 07-04-2009, 12:48 AM

I bought a small piece of this awesome rare sponge and want to know a name to look up to get more info on its needs and care.

Here is a link to the only thing I could find that resembles it, this site calls it purple chalice sponge, that however, must be made up because I can't find anything else about it under that name.

Link: Purple Chalice Sponge

Here is a pic that I took of the main colony at the shop I bought it at:
(The main colony is not for sale but they let me buy that small chunk in the bottom right corner of the pic)

Anyone know what it is or have any info on it???

Boomer · 07-04-2009, 02:11 AM

Probably an "Elephant Ear Sponge" / "Saucer Sponge" Lanthella basta or similar. I have a pic in a book that looks just like yours.

Bongo Shrimp · 07-04-2009, 02:44 AM

Those are close, but they have a matrix of holes in them. Mine is a shiny, solid, rubbery type.

Boomer · 07-04-2009, 03:25 AM

All sponges have holes in them, they have to, to feed, they are filter feeders. That is not a good pic for ID.

Lanthella basta or **similar**

Here is another pic

Reefimages Secure Image

and

Bongo Shrimp · 07-04-2009, 11:09 AM

Ok I know all sponges have holes but if you look closely, they are too small to be seen by the naked eye. This sponge just looks like rubber. After researching Lanthella basta, I have found that you can see the holes with the naked eye.

Noodle · 10-30-2009, 03:29 AM

Bongo Shrimp, The common name of this sponge called "Ear Sponge"
Collospongia auris. You can find some informations and photo in a book called "The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium", Volume 3. Svein A. Fossa, Alf Jacob Nilsen.
You are right about this sponge is totally smooth like rubber, I also have two of them in my reef tank.
This sponge is a filter feeder but it also containes symbiotic blue-green algae, easy to keep in a coral reef aquarium. Rapidly growing; under optimum conditions this sponge will overgrow large parts of the aquarium's interior. Very well suited for a coral reef aquarium, but require very bright lighting.

Wai

07-04-2009, 12:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bongo Shrimp Bryozoan Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 57 View Gallery Karma Komment	Monti like - Purple Sponge I bought a small piece of this awesome rare sponge and want to know a name to look up to get more info on its needs and care. Here is a link to the only thing I could find that resembles it, this site calls it purple chalice sponge, that however, must be made up because I can't find anything else about it under that name. Link: Purple Chalice Sponge Here is a pic that I took of the main colony at the shop I bought it at: (The main colony is not for sale but they let me buy that small chunk in the bottom right corner of the pic) Anyone know what it is or have any info on it???

07-04-2009, 02:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,599 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Monti like - Purple Sponge Probably an "Elephant Ear Sponge" / "Saucer Sponge" Lanthella basta or similar. I have a pic in a book that looks just like yours. __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

07-04-2009, 02:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
Bongo Shrimp Bryozoan Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 57 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Monti like - Purple Sponge Those are close, but they have a matrix of holes in them. Mine is a shiny, solid, rubbery type.

07-04-2009, 03:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,599 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Monti like - Purple Sponge All sponges have holes in them, they have to, to feed, they are filter feeders. That is not a good pic for ID. Lanthella basta or similar Here is another pic Reefimages Secure Image and __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

07-04-2009, 11:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
Bongo Shrimp Bryozoan Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 57 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Monti like - Purple Sponge Ok I know all sponges have holes but if you look closely, they are too small to be seen by the naked eye. This sponge just looks like rubber. After researching Lanthella basta, I have found that you can see the holes with the naked eye.

10-30-2009, 03:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
Noodle Tunicate Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Monti like - Purple Sponge Bongo Shrimp, The common name of this sponge called "Ear Sponge" Collospongia auris. You can find some informations and photo in a book called "The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium", Volume 3. Svein A. Fossa, Alf Jacob Nilsen. You are right about this sponge is totally smooth like rubber, I also have two of them in my reef tank. This sponge is a filter feeder but it also containes symbiotic blue-green algae, easy to keep in a coral reef aquarium. Rapidly growing; under optimum conditions this sponge will overgrow large parts of the aquarium's interior. Very well suited for a coral reef aquarium, but require very bright lighting. Wai

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