Blue Photo Sponge, Collospongia auris, seems to be growing well in reef tanks

Posted on December 15th, 2010 by 23

When the Blue Photo Sponge, Collospongia auris, first started to become available in the marine ornamental trade, we were apprehensive that this reef organism wouldn’t take over and smother corals like the chicken liver sponge often does. We’ve now seen the Blue Photo sponge growing in a few reef tanks and it so far it hasn’t displayed the kind of invasive growing habit that makes the chicken liver sponge so deadly.

What makes Collospongia unique is that not only is it photosynthetic, but it’s also very beautiful; under dim light it’s at least purple and in strong light the Blue Photo sponge gets iridescent blue as in these wonderful images from Morgan Mok of Reef Gardener. We’ve recently acquired a piece of the Blue Photo sponge but we still don’t quite know very much about it. If you’ve grown or are growing Collospongia in your reef please do share your experiences about this fascinating creature in the comments.

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  • http://EleganceReef.com Blue

    I had tons of that sponge aprox 9-10 years ago when I first imported her in my country, very beautiful sponge. Very easy for keping and yes she will outgrow everything, under most condition she grow like wild fire.

  • http://EleganceReef.com Blue

    I had tons of that sponge aprox 9-10 years ago when I first imported her in my country, very beautiful sponge. Very easy for keping and yes she will outgrow everything, under most condition she grow like wild fire.

  • http://EleganceReef.com Blue

    I had tons of that sponge aprox 9-10 years ago when I first imported her in my country, very beautiful sponge. Very easy for keping and yes she will outgrow everything, under most condition she grow like wild fire.

  • Gurg

    I’ll take a frag of that.

  • Gurg

    I’ll take a frag of that.

  • Gurg

    I’ll take a frag of that.

  • http://www.nano-reef.com animalmaster6

    I like that sponge. If it’s pretty easy why not try it?

    Morgan and Reef Gardener are incredible Btw.

  • http://www.nano-reef.com animalmaster6

    I like that sponge. If it’s pretty easy why not try it?

    Morgan and Reef Gardener are incredible Btw.

  • http://www.nano-reef.com animalmaster6

    I like that sponge. If it’s pretty easy why not try it?

    Morgan and Reef Gardener are incredible Btw.

  • Kelly Jenkins

    I’ve been propagating this sponge for awhile. In my nutrient poor reef tank is grows controllably and doesn’t smother anything. One word of caution, red slime removers will kill it. I believe (anecdotal evidence) that it may contain photosynthetic cyanobacterial symbionts which the red slime remover products will kill and the sponge doesnt’ survive long after treatment.

  • Kelly Jenkins

    I’ve been propagating this sponge for awhile. In my nutrient poor reef tank is grows controllably and doesn’t smother anything. One word of caution, red slime removers will kill it. I believe (anecdotal evidence) that it may contain photosynthetic cyanobacterial symbionts which the red slime remover products will kill and the sponge doesnt’ survive long after treatment.

  • Kelly Jenkins

    I’ve been propagating this sponge for awhile. In my nutrient poor reef tank is grows controllably and doesn’t smother anything. One word of caution, red slime removers will kill it. I believe (anecdotal evidence) that it may contain photosynthetic cyanobacterial symbionts which the red slime remover products will kill and the sponge doesnt’ survive long after treatment.

  • Yoshii

    I NEED SOME OF THIS.

  • Yoshii

    I NEED SOME OF THIS.

  • Yoshii

    I NEED SOME OF THIS.

  • Chen

    Be careful with this, It grows like weed.
    However it is not hard to keep in check. problem is that it is plating growth so it takes a lot of space.

  • Chen

    Be careful with this, It grows like weed.
    However it is not hard to keep in check. problem is that it is plating growth so it takes a lot of space.

  • Chen

    Be careful with this, It grows like weed.
    However it is not hard to keep in check. problem is that it is plating growth so it takes a lot of space.

  • Todd

    Where can I get a frag?

  • Todd

    Where can I get a frag?

  • Todd

    Where can I get a frag?

  • Bryan

    I have been growin this stuff for almost 2 years now. I started with a frag about the size of a quarter and now its about 7 x 7.It grows Pretty fast but I haven’t had any trouble controlling it. This stuff is almost bullet proof. For as hardy and pretty this stuff is its suprizing that it isn’t more common in the trade. The only red flag with it is it could possibly have a strong toxin. I haven’t had any problems but there’s always that possibility.

  • Bryan

    I have been growin this stuff for almost 2 years now. I started with a frag about the size of a quarter and now its about 7 x 7.It grows Pretty fast but I haven’t had any trouble controlling it. This stuff is almost bullet proof. For as hardy and pretty this stuff is its suprizing that it isn’t more common in the trade. The only red flag with it is it could possibly have a strong toxin. I haven’t had any problems but there’s always that possibility.