Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Not Reef Tank Suitable
Not Suitable for Fish-Only Tank
Range: Western Pacific Ocean
Natural Environment: Inhabits upper reef slopes attached to corals where currents are strong and water is high in sediment.
Aquarium Suitability: Very rarely seen on corals in the trade, and this whitish/yellowish spherical sponge is known to release a chemical as a defense.
May look somewhat interesting, but should be removed prior to the coral specimen entering the aquarium.
Best left in the wild.
Note: For a photo of this sponge, visit the Baensch Marine Atlas Vol. 2, page 28.
Taxonomy: Subphylum Cellularia, Class Demospongiae, Subclass Tetractinomorpha, Order: Astrophorida
FYI: Was previously identified as Astreopus sarrassinorum.
Furthermore, keep in mind, if a hitchhiker sponge arrives attached to a coral specimen or live rock, it is reasonable to assume that at one time it was subjected to 'air' when the specimen or rock was harvested/shipped/transferred to various storage areas, thereby endangering the ongoing lifespan of the hitchhiker sponge, as it should never to subjected to air! Therefore the ongoing culture of hitchhiker sponges is dismal at best!
