Spider sponge

If anyone has any of this stuff I would love to trade or purchase a frag of it. Really kewl stuff.

thats some pretty delicate stuff, needing 100% perfect water and very high flow. Careful how much you pay for it - lower sucess rate with it for many reefers

Yea I would prefer a trade, but would consider purchase. I have found it on a few site for sale and your right it is kinda pricey. Havn't seen it in a few months though.

ReefPets had some recently. Not sure if they sold all of it or still have a colony that they're planning on taking frags from or not.

I will check them out. Thanks brudda

just a heads up before you buy, not saying dont do it. just making sure you have the system needed and the time to dedicate to its needs.

From : Divers Den

Australian red spider sponge. This animal is very challenging to maintain, and should only be purchased by the expert marine reef aquarist who can house the animal in a display with other NPS (Non-Photosynthetic) animals. For optimum health this NPS (Non-Photosynthetic) sponge and polyps should be target fed several times per day a diet of Zooplankton and Phytoplankton. This animal requires perfect water chemistry with moderate to strong water flow, and is very sensitive to even small traces of Nitrate and Phosphate in the water, as well as is sensitive to rapid fluctuations in Alkalinity.

I have frags of spider sponge growing out as we speak i have 5 different plugs all for 35 dollars

Aqua,

How delicate are these guys actually? What special needs do they require. Not saying I don't believe or trust Bryan. It's just that you are actually caring for them now and I would like your opinion on them. Thanks in advance.

Well he pretty much hit the nail on the head with his description, I do not actually spot feed these frags at the moment, because I'm using a prawn shrimp roe every-night and when I feed they all open up and close around it. Since the sponge is encrusted in zoathids it makes it easier for it to feed on larger foods. If you have a wide variety of SPS and are able to keep it growing and colored up you shouldn't have any issues with a spider sponge, although it is not photosynthetic the care level is right up there with acros, and millis. You should look into the nutra-mar prawn shrimp roe for most of your corals, even finicky eaters like copper-banded butterflies, dragnets, moorish idols, etc. I have seen go after it and get them accustomed to frozen and dry foods.

Grimreefer wrote:Aqua,

Not saying I don't believe or trust Bryan.

LOL

I know what I am talking about sometimes, I try no to get involved with the purchasing decisions of others if I am not sure of the facts. With that said, I wasnt trying to talk you out of buying one. I just hate to see people spend tons of money on fish or coral just to be disappointed later when they realize how fragile that piece was. Just looking out, thats all.

If you do get one please keep us posted on your care for it. May like to try one myself someday, just not ready for it now.

Good Luck.

found a nice BIG piece for $90 in Dallas and refrained from getting it till I can do more research. : )