haven’t researched what this is yet but i figured i would post it up. I at one time thought it was a wierd growth even tried to peel it off and thought it would hurt the coral and left it. Now i looked today and the growth was moving!! the pictures are taken through a magnifying glass more specifically the little double mag dot.
I’m not sure that it has done any harm to the coral and may actually be beneficial luckily in the 5 mos + ive had it the thing has never left the branches…
enjoy 
I’ve never heard of a benificial relationship between a gorgonian and a invert, but anything is possible. I would bet it is eating the flesh though. Odds are it won’t leave the coral and if it doesn’t it mostly likely wouldn’t leave anything else and would return to the same coral.
You’ve got my interest peaked. I studied flamingo tounge cowries(Cyphoma gibbosum) a couples years ago in the caribean for a month. If you can get a closer image that would be great. I have seen purple cowries before, but never a long skiny one like this.
Does it feel hard to touch like a shell or is more more leathery like the gorgonian? Any idea of the origins of this coral?(Where did you get it and where did they get it?) There is a good bit of recession on the coral has this been happening slowly or was that way when you got it?
it looks like a nudibranch to me, most nudibranchs are very colorful and despite what some may believe ALL nudibranchs are carnivorous and most specialize in one food source and once that source is gone they starve.
just my guess
Are the images you posted full size or were they shrunk? Can you provide links to the originals?
hey sorry i was in DE earlier and now at work. I can give you the links to Photobucket but if you want the originals i can email them. Should be able to zoom in on them pretty good the camera is a 5.0MP
The shell is semi hard to the touch almost like a plastic and not hard like a normal snail. my brother bought the coral from DPA i believe. it was a wedding present, nice huh haha… the recession has been ongoing. started at the tips so i do think this little creature did it. This purple sea whip is suppose to use light for food also not to mention i feed the tank heavy so i have no fear that it can recover. here is a little link someone from NJRC gave me and i think it fits the bill…
found a few more links…
http://www.shelltrips.com/Florida/pics.html
Simnia uniplicataThis lovely little (up to 3/4 inch long) shell lives and feeds on purple gorgonians, or sea whips, which are a soft coral. In Sarasota we occasionally find gorgonians in the bay, and they sometimes carry a Simnia. The mollusk aligns itself with the axis of the coral and its color and body color mimic its host, so it’s very difficult to see. Furthermore, the coral has white polyps that emerge from the purple skeleton and the mantle of the mollusk is also purple with white pustules that look exactly like the coral.
In this photo the mollusk has crawled off the sea whip.
I’m so jealous. I think I’ve got about 6 different gorgonians and never got anything cool. I had a feeling it was something similar to a cowrie and it turns out it is in the “Superfamily Cypraeoidea–cowries and cowry-like animals”. I have never seen these guys before. REALLY cool find.
Just so you know it is probably eating the gorgonian. If it isn’t it is likely starving. Also because of the anatomy of gorgonians they typically will not heal over a dead spot. You should consider sniping a cm or so below the dead parts into the living tissue of the gorg with some sharp scissors.
By all means if you decide not to keep the animal let me know before you remove it.
That is really cool. Thanks for sharing it with us. I love to find stuff like this in my tank.
We’re celebrating something negative right? lol just made me smirk
[quote=“Marchingbandjs, post:11, topic:2454”]
We’re celebrating something negative right? lol just made me smirk[/quote]
Yes. ;D
It is only negative because we are trying to keep the coral alive. The creature itself is still down right interesting. I spend way to much time searching the LR in my tanks for cool stuff.
lOl
i took 30 min to scrutinize my tank today… i found so much… tons of feather dusters… those stupid worms… and lots of neat looking things…
[quote=“Gordonious, post:9, topic:2454”]
Just so you know it is probably eating the gorgonian. If it isn’t it is likely starving. Also because of the anatomy of gorgonians they typically will not heal over a dead spot. You should consider sniping a cm or so below the dead parts into the living tissue of the gorg with some sharp scissors.
By all means if you decide not to keep the animal let me know before you remove it. [/quote]
i will be removing it tomorrow probably or if you want it when it’s convenient for you.
i can save you a trip jon and see if i can grab it from him at work…if thats cool with both u guys…
save u a trip over the bridge…u can come see what ive been up to, ha…lmk
up to you guys. I’m on nightworks tonight 6pm and ill be headed to DE towards Concord Pike tomorrow night.
Actually I believe I will be going over the bridge on Friday. Having the invert itself would be cool, but it likely won’t live too long with out the host. Any chance I could get a one arm clipping of the gorgonian?(I’ll glue it down) I’ll place it close to one of my two purple gorgs and see it if takes to it and see if it does any damage.
Like I said it may not have done significant damage to your coral. Some cowries are known to only lightly graze on gorgonians to allow them to grow back. It’s like a selective harvest.
Regardless I’ll throw in $5 for the little cutting just to give the guy a better chance to survive. Could you PM me and Mr. Longballz your mailing addy or an address where we could meet you?