Freaky nodules

D

Darby

I received some live rock yesterday, strait from Florida waters. On the bottom (I think) of one of teh larger pieces are these 2 "nodules". They look like leathery human hearts, and are just a bit smaller than a fist. I thought at first that they were perhaps egg sacks of some shark, or some sort of Sea Prick that was all balled up. But, this morning I think I saw a hole open at one end of one. Perhaps they are some sort of giant Tunicate?

(Sorry no pix, the camera is down...)
 
You want to check that rock out very carefully, florida rock is notorious for hitchhikers like gorrilla crabs, mantis and other not so nice critters. Did you get it from Tampa Bay Saltwater by chance? If so, also keep an eye out for cirolanid copepods, they are parasitic and will attach to fish or take a bite out of you. They are nasty little bugs and seem fairly common in the TBS rock.
 
Nope, this batch came from Sea Life Inc. I found a dead pistol shrimp, but that seemes to be the extent of the mobile hitchhikers. Some good macro, a few feather dusters, and the freaky sponges, but that's about it.

I took a good look at each piece after having put them in a bucket of water for a few hour to rehydrate them, as I was a bit concerned that something eeeeveeil might make it's way in.

Of course, who knows what will hatch later....
 
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