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

Cactus Sponge, Yellow Lattice Sponge, Red Lattice Sponge

Sexing

Hermaphroditic.

Tank compatibility

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

Diet

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

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

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

Delicate filter-feeder, will generally stay static.

Identification

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

External links