How do I identify an unknown saltwater Egg Pod i found in a piece of Coral/live rock?

Question

I reciently purchesed a piece of live rock with corals growing on it and it broke in half revealing a strange egg sack similar to a shark egg but much smaller. How do i know if it is alive or dead? and how could I identify it before it hatches?

Answer 1

This is defiantly a case for - better safe than sorry. Your best bet is to remove the egg case before it hatches. If you are really curious to see whats in there try keeping it in a separate container until it hatches.

Try taking a picture of it to the local pet shop they might know what it is. Or if you can post the picture here because its almost impossible to say what it is without actually seeing it.

If it is dead it will start to degrade rather quickly, if it's appearance doesn't change for a few days I would assume (I know Me and You LOL) that it is still alive and gestating.

Answer 2

More than likely they are either cuddle fish, octopi or eel eggs. (I don't think they are eel eggs unless there are about 4 million of them in a cluster) (Cuttle fish eggs are usually blue but some cuttle fish like octopi will inject black ink into the eggs to Camouflage them) the eggs are always 100% fertel. Around 30-40 days depending on temperature, perfectly formed cuttlefish will emerge. I had the similar thing happen to me, These very small cuttle fish started popping up from my live rock. When I researched this I was told it was very common for cuttle fish and Octopus to lay their eggs in very small places where they think they will be safe. Remember your small piece of rock was once attached to a larger piece of rock. here is a site that shows pictures of what the eggs might look like.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/9/aafeature#h12

If worse comes to worse get a breeder net and place the eggsack into and see what developes. unless you already have another mature tank up and running I would warn against taking the egg sac out. You just might end up with babby cuttles or octopi.

To keep your other fish from eating them a breeding net would not only allow the eggs to remain warm and in a mature tank but safe from the jaws of your other fish. Chances are you really don't know if it is alive or dead at this point.

Post or email me a photo Fishqueen_2000@yahoo and I will help you decide what kind of eggs they are.

Answer 3

Well, since we don't have a picture of it to help us help you identify it, you would need to research saltwater egg pods online and try to find pictures that looked like yours.

Answer 4

I'd agree with the second answerer - it would be best to keep in a separate tank until you know what this is. I'd be interested in seeing a photo if you could post one!