Sponges

Sponges are fascinating and unique inhabitants of saltwater aquariums. These simple, multicellular organisms belong to the phylum Porifera and are known for their porous bodies and ability to filter large volumes of water. Sponges come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, making them visually appealing additions to reef tanks. They can be encrusting, branching, or even vase-shaped, and their vibrant hues can range from bright yellows and oranges to deep blues and purples.

One of the most interesting aspects of sponges is their feeding mechanism. Sponges are filter feeders, drawing water through their pores and extracting microscopic particles, such as plankton and detritus, for nourishment. This not only helps keep the aquarium water clean but also provides a natural form of filtration, which is beneficial for maintaining water quality.

When keeping sponges in a saltwater aquarium, it is important to ensure they have a stable environment with consistent water parameters. They thrive in well-established tanks with good water flow, which helps them efficiently filter feed. Sponges are sensitive to changes in water quality, so regular monitoring of parameters like salinity, temperature, and nutrient levels is crucial.

Sponges also have interesting symbiotic relationships with other marine organisms. Some sponges host photosynthetic algae, which provide them with additional nutrients through photosynthesis. Others may serve as habitats for small invertebrates, offering them protection and a place to live.

While sponges are generally hardy, they can be sensitive to air exposure, which can cause air bubbles to become trapped in their tissues and lead to damage or death. Therefore, it is essential to handle them carefully during placement and maintenance. Overall, sponges are a unique and beneficial addition to saltwater aquariums, offering both aesthetic appeal and functional advantages.

1. Common name: Red Ball Sponge

   Scientific name: Aaptos suberitoides
2. Common name: Cactus Sponge

   Scientific name: Acanthella acuta
3. Common name: Cave Sponge

   Scientific name: Acanthella cavernosa
4. Common name: Klethra Sponge

   Scientific name: Acanthella klethra
5. 
   Common name: orange elephant ear sponge

   Scientific name: Agelas clathrodes
6. 
   Common name: Brown Tube Sponge

   Scientific name: Agelas conifera
7. Common name: Rough Tube Sponge

   Scientific name: Agelas dispar
8. Common name: Fan Sponge

   Scientific name: Agelas flabelliformis
9. 
   Common name: Slimy Branching Sponge

   Scientific name: Agelas gracilis
10. Common name: Mauritian Sponge

    Scientific name: Agelas mauritiana
11. 
    Common name: Gold Sponge

    Scientific name: Agelas oroides
12. 
    Common name: Elephant Ear Sponge

    Scientific name: Agelas schmidtii
13. 
    Common name: Branching tube sponge

    Scientific name: Aiolochroia crassa
14. Common name: carrot-sponge

    Scientific name: Amphilectus fucorum
15. 
    Common name: erect rope sponge

    Scientific name: Amphimedon compressa
16. 
    Common name: Yellow tube sponge

    Scientific name: Aplysina aerophoba
17. 
    Common name: Stove Pipe Sponge

    Scientific name: Aplysina archeri
18. 
    Common name: row pore rope sponge

    Scientific name: Aplysina cauliformis
19. 
    Common name: Vase Sponge

    Scientific name: Aplysina cavernicola
20. 
    Common name: Yellow tube sponge

    Scientific name: Aplysina fistularis
21. 
    Common name: Stove Pipe Sponge

    Scientific name: Aplysina lacunosa
22. 
    Common name: Yellow Calcareous Sponge

    Scientific name: Arthuria canariensis
23. Common name: Living Fossil Sponge

    Scientific name: Astrosclera willeyana
24. Common name: Aru Sponge

    Scientific name: Axinella aruensis
25. 
    Common name: Axinella cannabina

    Scientific name: Axinella cannabina
26. 
    Common name: yellow sponge

    Scientific name: Axinella damicornis
27. 
    Common name: branching sponge

    Scientific name: Axinella dissimilis
28. Common name: Yellow Sponge

    Scientific name: Axinella flustra
29. 
    Common name: Axinella Polypoides

    Scientific name: Axinella polypoides
30. Common name: Rough Sponge

    Scientific name: Axinella verrucosa
31. Common name: Axinyssa ambrosia

    Scientific name: Axinyssa ambrosia
32. 
    Common name: Branching Vase Sponge

    Scientific name: Callyspongia aculeata
33. 
    Common name: Rope Sponge

    Scientific name: Callyspongia monilata
34. 
    Common name: Branching Vase Sponge

    Scientific name: Callyspongia muricina
35. 
    Common name: Azure Vase Sponge

    Scientific name: Callyspongia plicifera
36. Common name: Reticulated Sponge

    Scientific name: Callyspongia pseudoreticulata
37. Common name: Schulze's Sponge

    Scientific name: Callyspongia schulzei
38. 
    Common name: Blasser Röhrenschwamm

    Scientific name: Callyspongia siphonella
39. 
    Common name: Leaf sponge

    Scientific name: Carteriospongia foliascens
40. 
    Common name: chicken liver sponge

    Scientific name: Chondrilla nucula
41. 
    Common name: Kidney-shaped sponge

    Scientific name: Chondrosia reniformis
42. Common name: Australian Sponge

    Scientific name: Cinachyrella australiensis
43. Common name: Cored Chimney Sponge

    Scientific name: Ciocalypta penicillus
44. 
    Common name: Red Encrusting Sponge

    Scientific name: Clathria basilana
45. 
    Common name: Red Tree Sponge

    Scientific name: Clathria cervicornis
46. 
    Common name: Curacao Sponge

    Scientific name: Clathria curacaoensis
47. 
    Common name: Red Tree Sponge

    Scientific name: Clathria macropora
48. 
    Common name: Red Sponge

    Scientific name: Clathria mima
49. Common name: Red Tree Sponge

    Scientific name: Clathria procera
50. Common name: Reinwardt's Sponge

    Scientific name: Clathria reinwardti
51. Common name: Red Sponge

    Scientific name: Clathria tuberosa
52. 
    Common name: yellow Clathrina

    Scientific name: Clathrina clathrus
53. Common name: white lace sponge

    Scientific name: Clathrina coriacea
54. 
    Common name: Caribbean Cliona Sponge

    Scientific name: Cliona caribbaea
55. 
    Common name: Yellow Sponge

    Scientific name: Cliona carteri
56. 
    Common name: boring sponge

    Scientific name: Cliona celata
57. 
    Common name: red boring sponge

    Scientific name: Cliona delitrix
58. Common name: Cliona viridis

    Scientific name: Cliona viridis
59. 
    Common name: Elephant Ear Sponge

    Scientific name: Collospongia auris
60. Common name: Crambe Sponge

    Scientific name: Crambe crambe
61. 
    Common name: Giant Barrel Sponge

    Scientific name: Cribrochalina vasculum
62. 
    Common name: Sponge Coral

    Scientific name: Cymbastela coralliophila
63. 
    Common name: Vase Sponge

    Scientific name: Desmacidon fruticosum
64. Common name: Star Sponge

    Scientific name: Diplastrella megastellata
65. Common name: Reticulate Sponge

    Scientific name: Dragmacidon reticulatum
66. 
    Common name: brown encrusting octopus sponge

    Scientific name: Ectyoplasia ferox
67. Common name: Deadman's Finger sponge

    Scientific name: Halichondria bowerbanki
68. Common name: Yellow Sponge

    Scientific name: Halichondria cartilaginea
69. 
    Common name: Breadcrumb Sponge

    Scientific name: Halichondria panicea
70. 
    Common name: Amboinensis Sponge

    Scientific name: Haliclona amboinensis
71. 
    Common name: Blue Sponge

    Scientific name: Haliclona caerulea
72. Common name: Finger Sponge

    Scientific name: Haliclona cymaeformis
73. 
    Common name: Haliclona fascigera

    Scientific name: Haliclona fascigera
74. Common name: Haliclona Fibulata

    Scientific name: Haliclona fibulata
75. 
    Common name: Mediterranean Sponge

    Scientific name: Haliclona mediterranea
76. 
    Common name: encrusting turret sponge

    Scientific name: Haliclona oculata
77. 
    Common name: Pink Sponge

    Scientific name: Haliclona rosea
78. Common name: Haliclona simulans

    Scientific name: Haliclona simulans
79. Common name: Haliclona Tubifera

    Scientific name: Haliclona tubifera
80. Common name: Haliclona Urceolus

    Scientific name: Haliclona urceolus
81. Common name: Blue Sponge

    Scientific name: Haliclona viscosa
82. Common name: Blue Sponge

    Scientific name: Halisarca caerulea
83. 
    Common name: Columella Sponge

    Scientific name: Hemimycale columella
84. Common name: Sponge

    Scientific name: Hyattella intestinalis
85. Common name: Hymedesmia paupertas

    Scientific name: Hymedesmia paupertas
86. Common name: crumb-of-bread sponge

    Scientific name: Hymeniacidon perlevis
87. 
    Common name: elephant ear sponge

    Scientific name: Ianthella basta
88. 
    Common name: Elephant Ear Sponge

    Scientific name: Ianthella flabelliformis
89. Common name: Iophon Sponge

    Scientific name: Iophon laevistylus
90. 
    Common name: green finger sponge

    Scientific name: Iotrochota birotulata
91. 
    Common name: Stinker Sponge

    Scientific name: Ircinia campana
92. Common name: Stinker Sponge

    Scientific name: Ircinia felix
93. Common name: black-ball sponge

    Scientific name: Ircinia strobilina
94. Common name: Serpentine Sponge

    Scientific name: Jaspis serpentina
95. Common name: Stellate Sponge

    Scientific name: Jaspis stellifera
96. Common name: Chalk Sponge

    Scientific name: Lamellodysidea herbacea
97. Common name: Dendy's Sponge

    Scientific name: Lendenfeldia dendyi
98. Common name: Lemon sponge

    Scientific name: Leucetta chagosensis
99. 
    Common name: Urn Sponge

    Scientific name: Leucilla nuttingi
100. Common name: Johnston's Sponge

     Scientific name: Leuconia johnstoni
101. Common name: White Sponge

     Scientific name: Leuconia nivea
102. 
     Common name: orange pipe sponge

     Scientific name: Leucosolenia botryoides
103. Common name: Leucosolenia complicata

     Scientific name: Leucosolenia complicata
104. Common name: Leucosolenia eleanor

     Scientific name: Leucosolenia eleanor
105. Common name: Paradox Sponge

     Scientific name: Liosina paradoxa
106. 
     Common name: Red Encrusting Sponge

     Scientific name: Monanchora arbuscula
107. 
     Common name: Orange Puffball Sponge

     Scientific name: Mycale laevis
108. 
     Common name: Red Beard Sponge

     Scientific name: Mycale laxissima
109. 
     Common name: Red Encrusting Sponge

     Scientific name: Mycale rotalis
110. Common name: Fimbriated Sponge

     Scientific name: Myxilla fimbriata
111. Common name: Rough scallop sponge

     Scientific name: Myxilla incrustans
112. Common name: Rosy Sponge

     Scientific name: Myxilla rosacea
113. Common name: Touch-Me-Not Sponge

     Scientific name: Neofibularia nolitangere
114. Common name: Red Sponge

     Scientific name: Neopetrosia exigua
115. Common name: Rosario's Sponge

     Scientific name: Neopetrosia rosariensis
116. 
     Common name: Pink Vase Sponge

     Scientific name: Niphates digitalis
117. Common name: Niphates olemda

     Scientific name: Niphates olemda
118. Common name: Amboina Sponge

     Scientific name: Oceanapia amboinensis
119. 
     Common name: flesh sponge

     Scientific name: Oscarella lobularis
120. 
     Common name: Giant Elephant Ear Sponge

     Scientific name: Pachymatisma johnstonia