Odds and Ends

Also occurring on the 9th, the Cleaner shrimp had its first molting in our aquarium! Shrimps molt in order to grow. The shrimp are more vulnerable for about two days following a molt while their new exoskeleton is hardening.

The finger leather coral is now looking much better after we move it up the rock face to get more light and underneath the output port to get it out of the direct water flow. It has steadily improved over the 4-5 days since it was moved to its current spot. It looks as good or better than when we bought it.

On at least two occasions now, I have witnessed an Astrea snail climbing to the top of a piece of live rock and releasing either sperm or eggs into the aquarium! It is really fascinating to watch everything that is going on in the aquarium.

For the last 3 or so night, I watch at the corner of one of the pieces of live rock to see the orange arm come out of a hole in search of food. There is some sort of worm that is inhabiting the live rock that feeds only at night. It can stretch almost 2 inches from the mouth of the hole where it resides. I have seen it sort of "suck up" pieces of sand or food. The worm itself is transparent, so the piece of sand can be watched as it moves back down the body of the worm. So weird!