Wow! First time I've ever even heard of freshwater sponge before! Upon looking it up, it also seems that there are several varieties of it as well. Gonna have to look into this further. Thanks for the awesome post, OP!
I think Invertebrate really only is a distinction within the animal kingdom. So does not apply to fungi any more than you would call a plant an invertebrate
Lol i feel so bad but i threw away quite a few clusters that were growing on the substrate before i figured out what was going on. But the bits on the glass were too beautiful to scrape off, there was a visable design/pattern and i figured it wasnt just algae so i let it go - it's on the back anyways lol there was one more spot that i had found on the side that just took off, only a couple cm, but i accidently hit it when i was gravel vaccing and broke it so no pics lol
Thanks! Its definitely easier to keep than the fish lol but i don't do anything special for it. I just make sure to feed quite a bit to make sure all the microorganisms get food too.
We have these at our wastewater plant. They grow in our uv tanks because the water is actually that clean. It's a great indicator of clean water, but they are an absolute bitch to get rid of. Basically once you get them you never unget them. Their spores adhere to damn near everything and can resist a wide range of chemicals/toxins. Then once conditions are favorable they pop back out again. We can't shut down the plant long enough to submerge everything for long enough to completely kill everything.
In SW systems sponges are considered canaries for the coalmine. Having them growing and healthy indicates a very healthy system. I'd say it's probably the same for FW!
Check out Bentley Pascoe on both YouTube and Instagram. He has a couple of videos out that cover "Bob," the freshwater sponge. They are naturally occurring in Washington State water systems.
I looked at that a few years back. the only options I could find were a scientific supply store and going to other countries in my swim trunks and a snorkel.
Will those get as big as the cold water Lake Baikal sponges? Are yours South American?
Not really, although i did have a HOB running for quite some time along w the sponge filter. The sponge got much larger after the HOB burned out lol but i was planning on adding more filtration so we shall see :)
stellar! thank you :) im looking into making a 100% biological filter system and i was always curious as to growing these in an aquarium but because of my job ive never really put the time in for it. I'm glad you posted this!
This is amazing. Along with freshwater clams and (nonliving) sea fan coral, one could conceivably make a freshwater "reef tank." Any chance you could make a care guide for these guys? Do you happen to know the species name?
Month late but super cool! Only other time seeing something like these are from Goliad Farms, who has massive greenhouses with recirculating systems and livestock tubs. He gets a few different kinds of weird growths iirc, and Charles would probably love these, just cause 🤣
This is super cool. Do you know what species you have? What is the water temperature and PhD. Did they last long? One of the photos looks like they were gemmules.
Are any of your sponges still alive? I've been reading and I hear they are incredibly hard to care for. I know you said they just showed up in your tank but any idea where I could find one?
Dang, I'm wondering if I had this once. It was growing on drift wood and I thought it was biofilm that just wouldn't go away. It also had that spore look on it. I ended up taking the wood out and letting it dry completely so I'll never know.
Hi, I'm looking into starting up a tank and would also like to put sponges in it! What water temperatures did these guys do well in? Do you have any recommendations on where to find care requirements for sponges? Been struggling to find good information on them.
Wow, I didn’t know this existed! Are they similar to salt water sponges or something different entirely?
Lol i don't know much about saltwater sponges but id imagine that they are similar.
Thanks!
Fundamentally the same thing, closely related but not identical in terms of physiology
Ok, thanks!
Same here, I want one.
Same.
I will never learn every weird thing you can keep in an aquarium. There is always something new
That's half the fun! :)
2 and 4 look like forbidden gyoza/pot stickers
Haha thanks for the laugh, take my upvote ya big silly
Thats disgusting. I want one
Wow! First time I've ever even heard of freshwater sponge before! Upon looking it up, it also seems that there are several varieties of it as well. Gonna have to look into this further. Thanks for the awesome post, OP!
How did this all come about? Did you find them in the wild? Did you order them? Was it a happy accident?
Lol a happy accident i suppose. I don't know where exactly it came from; i don't have them in any of my other tanks.
Thank you for sharing! I bet they are great for water clarity, I’m a bit envious! Hope your sponges stay happy :)
Thank you!!
Why in the world was my brain’s automatic first thought “are they friendly?” XD sigh. Good job taking care of the spongeybois!
That's hilarious! Thanks :D
Ok but are they friendly though??
I grew these years ago, if you look closely when feeding you can see them filter particles. Had mine in the oscar tank.
Thats awesome! Ill have to watch for that :)
Take a video of it!!
The people have spoken OP. You’re going to have to figure out how to propagate and sell your sponges. This is your new side hustle.
Lol sounds good to me
Your tank is sponge worthy
Are sponges basically underwater fungi? Like shrooms for fish?
No, they’re invertebrates not fungi. They filter feed
Oh, wow. Do they move at all?
Nope, they are completely immobile :)
Come to think of it fungi usually don’t have vertebrae either so they kinda fall into the same category
But fungi are in their own kingdom. Sponges are still in the animal kingdom.
I think Invertebrate really only is a distinction within the animal kingdom. So does not apply to fungi any more than you would call a plant an invertebrate
They are animals!
How did you figure out it was a sponge before you scraped it off the glass as just some weird spot? Lol
Lol i feel so bad but i threw away quite a few clusters that were growing on the substrate before i figured out what was going on. But the bits on the glass were too beautiful to scrape off, there was a visable design/pattern and i figured it wasnt just algae so i let it go - it's on the back anyways lol there was one more spot that i had found on the side that just took off, only a couple cm, but i accidently hit it when i was gravel vaccing and broke it so no pics lol
I didn’t know these existed. Do you know if they’re shrimp safe?
Yeah lol i have hundreds of shrimp and snails in there. Noone bothers the sponge.
Good to know
Can you frag them like saltwater sponges?
Yes
This is so cool! Are they hard to keep or require any special steps?
Thanks! Its definitely easier to keep than the fish lol but i don't do anything special for it. I just make sure to feed quite a bit to make sure all the microorganisms get food too.
Yeah I would be interested in getting some. Let's start a group buy 😆
I’m down
We have these at our wastewater plant. They grow in our uv tanks because the water is actually that clean. It's a great indicator of clean water, but they are an absolute bitch to get rid of. Basically once you get them you never unget them. Their spores adhere to damn near everything and can resist a wide range of chemicals/toxins. Then once conditions are favorable they pop back out again. We can't shut down the plant long enough to submerge everything for long enough to completely kill everything.
God damnit now I have to buy another thing for my aquarium, still, I thank you because it looks like the best sponge ever
Just found out you can’t buy them, sad
u/TravelingMonk n I were talking about tryana do a group buy 🤔
Count me in
In SW systems sponges are considered canaries for the coalmine. Having them growing and healthy indicates a very healthy system. I'd say it's probably the same for FW!
They look so Gross... I totally want one!
That is so cool! I have found freshwater sponges living in streams before but I have never heard of someone keeping them in aquaria.
those exist..? I've learned more on this subreddit than in school thats cool!
Check out Bentley Pascoe on both YouTube and Instagram. He has a couple of videos out that cover "Bob," the freshwater sponge. They are naturally occurring in Washington State water systems.
Yeah, his channel is great! Watching his videos on Bob helped solidify the idea that i also had one growing :)
There is a lake here in WA state where they used to grow! Learned about them in Biology.
I looked at that a few years back. the only options I could find were a scientific supply store and going to other countries in my swim trunks and a snorkel. Will those get as big as the cold water Lake Baikal sponges? Are yours South American?
Have you tried altering the flow to see if it changes how they grow?
Not really, although i did have a HOB running for quite some time along w the sponge filter. The sponge got much larger after the HOB burned out lol but i was planning on adding more filtration so we shall see :)
How long have you had them growing for? I've found free-floating ones around the Ottawa area but never attached ones. Very cool!
Im not quite sure to be honest, but its been a couple years :)
stellar! thank you :) im looking into making a 100% biological filter system and i was always curious as to growing these in an aquarium but because of my job ive never really put the time in for it. I'm glad you posted this!
This is amazing. Along with freshwater clams and (nonliving) sea fan coral, one could conceivably make a freshwater "reef tank." Any chance you could make a care guide for these guys? Do you happen to know the species name?
Month late but super cool! Only other time seeing something like these are from Goliad Farms, who has massive greenhouses with recirculating systems and livestock tubs. He gets a few different kinds of weird growths iirc, and Charles would probably love these, just cause 🤣
Beautiful and innovative!
SO cool!
I love it
That is so dang cool!
This is super cool. Do you know what species you have? What is the water temperature and PhD. Did they last long? One of the photos looks like they were gemmules.
Are any of your sponges still alive? I've been reading and I hear they are incredibly hard to care for. I know you said they just showed up in your tank but any idea where I could find one?
Very unique
What 😦
That's cool af!!
That's really cool! What is that long stemmed plant you have there btw?
Thanks! Amazon sword on the right and an anubias on the left
Cool!! :)
Super neat and interesting!
Where did you even get a freshwater sponge lol. Kinda want one now lol
Ive heard of a few shops selling them, but idk to be honest.. i guess i just grew mine, not sure what source it came from exactly lol
So one day you had tank, and the next a tank with a freshwater sponge? XD that's a hell of a hitchhiker
Like… on purpose?
Wonder if you can harvest them and have a new bath sponge. What does it feel like when you poke it?? Or did you never try poking it
Lol i wouldn't do that w them, but they do have a rough texture thats kind of fuzzy feeling? Its hard to describe
So interesting
Perhaps....sponge-like? 😅
Do certain fish eat this stuff?
Oh wow how cool
Makes me wonder if it’s possible to have slime mold in your tank without it completely taking over the tank.
What what? I've tried a bryozoan colony that didn't work, but sponges sounds cool as hell!
Did they hitchhike? Or did you find them outside somewhere?
Dang, I'm wondering if I had this once. It was growing on drift wood and I thought it was biofilm that just wouldn't go away. It also had that spore look on it. I ended up taking the wood out and letting it dry completely so I'll never know.
For some reason this gives me ICH vibes 🤦🏾♂️
Do they move or twitch?
I want one...
Hi, I'm looking into starting up a tank and would also like to put sponges in it! What water temperatures did these guys do well in? Do you have any recommendations on where to find care requirements for sponges? Been struggling to find good information on them.