Unidentified 'thing'

[Guinness]

This is a strange 'thing' i have aquired.

Bottom section is hard and coral like, which tapers to an edge with 2 spikes. Believed to act as an anchor in a sand bed.

Top section is clam shaped but has retractable anemonie like frons.

Does not require strong lighting but seem to enjoy strong currents. I thought it might be some kinda filter feeder but today observed it snag a small piece of mysis shrimp but i am not sure if it actually consumed it.

Any help in pointing towards a likely species group would be appreciated.

[BarraCudaTM]

bleached scallop, I would advise you to research before buying as these scallops are very hard to keep. Btw yr suncorals are dying already.

[Guinness]

bleached scallop, I would advise you to research before buying as these scallops are very hard to keep.  Btw yr suncorals are dying already.

Thanks for the pointer.

But i can't find anything online re 'bleached scallop'. Also, the bottom section... it's not like a scallop shell. It cannot open or shut. It's just an opening on the top. Can you help me narrow down the search? Thanks in advance.

However, i didn't buy either of them; i rescued them.

The 'sun' has been like that for close to 1 year now.... I never could keep it very happy. Still, it's current fate is much better now than before. Any tips ?

[aStRoBo|]

sun coral need good lights and target feeding.

[Siput]

It's a kind of clam that ancvhors itself to the sea bed; remember reading something about it some time back. If it's a clam, then it is primarily a filter feeder; if I can find the url again, will post...cheers!

[Joe_P]

Looks more likt a Fungia (short Tentacled Plate Coral) or a Bleached Open Brain (Trachyllia) species thats in feeding mode...

Are the tentacles always out??? or are they responding to some food??

BTW, Suncorals don't need lights... but would require feeding for them to last.....

[Guinness]

The tentacles are nearly always extended. Although i have noticed that during lower lighting periods they seem to be more so... This is consistent with the natural enviroment where it was recovered from, 110ft of water.

Yep, not many items in my tank require much lighting. Well, apart from the the little tuff of turtleweed i recent bought to add some green into my tank.

Re: Suns, I alternate between using Coralife Invert target food and Invert Smorgasboard every other day. Read that they like brine shrimps but i've never managed to get it to 'catch' or feed on them.Maybe i need to give it a little more target feed....

Thanks Joe for the feedback. Will check on the info re the species you mentioned.

Edited March 13, 2004 by Guinness

[swordtail]

sun coral need good lights and target feeding.

I thought suncorals requires low light.

[RAV-65]

Hmm.... i agree, was told dat sun corals dun need that much light... can someone confirm?

Vincent Ho

[ryz]

yea they dun need much light.. just good current.

[FuEl]

wow..you plucked the fellow while you were diving?

[Guinness]

wow..you plucked the fellow while you were diving? 

Sort of, but nope. I don't condone pillaging our waters.

I deal with marine construction and i recovered this along with one of the structures i work with. Thats why i said rescued, cos otherwise it would have been dead by now

[ben]

This is a strange 'thing' i have aquired.

Bottom section is hard and coral like, which tapers to an edge with 2 spikes. Believed to act as an anchor in a sand bed.

Top section is clam shaped but has retractable anemonie like frons.

Does not require strong lighting but seem to enjoy strong currents. I thought it might be some kinda filter feeder but today observed it snag a small piece of mysis shrimp but i am not sure if it actually consumed it.

Any help in pointing towards a likely species group would be appreciated.

its called flame scallop too and its always need feedings

[flubberina13]

Hmm.... i agree, was told dat sun corals dun need that much light... can someone confirm?

Vincent Ho

They definitely dun need strong lights, infact, under shades of the rocks is also alright and moderate currents will do too...imo...strong currents is so that they can catch whatever you dose.

They do need to be target-feeded...try mysis, small bits of prawnmeat or maybe, some minute-sized food pellets...

[Acanthurus pyroferus]

I thought suncorals requires low light.

Hi swordtail ,sun corals do not need strong lights but good water flow is important.....