Cactus Sponge (Acanthella cavernosa)

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Cactus Sponge

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Cactus Sponge

Acanthella cavernosa

208 Litres (55 US G.)

0-0 cm (0-0")

pH

8.1 - 8.2

22.2-28.3°C (72 -83 °F)

3-5 °d

1:1 M:F

Omnivore
Other (See article)

20-40 years





Alternative names[edit]

Cactus Sponge, Yellow Lattice Sponge, Red Lattice Sponge

Sexing[edit]

Hermaphroditic.

Tank compatibility[edit]

Do not keep with aggressive fish or invertebrates that may damage it.

Diet[edit]

A filter feeder, can easily starve if not enough food is available in the water column. Feeds on plankton, bacteria and suspended detritus.

Feeding regime[edit]

A baseball-sized sponge can filter 50 US gallons an hour, so plenty of particles need to be available to it. Requires at least one direct daily feeding.

Environment Specifics[edit]

Must have strong water movement and requires a shaded area. This sponge is not photosynthetic. In the wild it is found near caves with strong currents. Will not tolerate algae growth. A challenging animal to keep and generally does not do well in captivity.

Behaviour[edit]

Delicate filter-feeder, will generally stay static.

Identification[edit]

Brilliant yellow, orange or red colouration with many nodes making its surface appear pitted and spikey. Specimens should not contain grey or white tissue as this indicates sickness.

Pictures[edit]

External links[edit]