Gelatin-like Blob?

chocophile · 10-04-2004, 07:20 AM

While taking our dock out this weekend, I spotted something very strange in about 2 feet of water. It was a large mass of gelatin, about 8 inches in diameter. It was somewhat spherical. It was not attached underwater, and moved with waves. The surface had brown algae on it.

At first we wondered if it was a discarded solid ball of some kind. We got it on shore with a fishing net. It partially broke up. The jelly-like material was clear inside. There was no obvious smell.

I have never seen anything like it. What was it??

Sammy · 10-06-2004, 08:05 AM

I saw this also for the first time two years ago while swimming in late August. I've been on the lake for over 40 years and that was the first time I ever saw it. It looked to me to be some type of algae that grows when the water temp get into the 70's. I also saw smaller clumps attached to rocks and plant life. Probably related to the downgrade in water quality.

melvinbayboater · 10-06-2004, 09:37 PM

It sounds like it might be a bryozoa colony, which could be a good thing.

http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/84...ews469992.html

http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/con...r/bryozoa.html

10-04-2004, 07:20 AM	#1
chocophile Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: 19-Mile Bay Posts: 111 Thanks: 15 Thanked 30 Times in 13 Posts	Gelatin-like Blob? While taking our dock out this weekend, I spotted something very strange in about 2 feet of water. It was a large mass of gelatin, about 8 inches in diameter. It was somewhat spherical. It was not attached underwater, and moved with waves. The surface had brown algae on it. At first we wondered if it was a discarded solid ball of some kind. We got it on shore with a fishing net. It partially broke up. The jelly-like material was clear inside. There was no obvious smell. I have never seen anything like it. What was it??

10-06-2004, 09:37 PM	#3
melvinbayboater Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	A Bryozoa Colony? It sounds like it might be a bryozoa colony, which could be a good thing. http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/84...ews469992.html http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/con...r/bryozoa.html Last edited by melvinbayboater; 10-06-2004 at 09:53 PM.

10-06-2004, 08:05 AM	#2
Sammy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 73 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	I saw this also for the first time two years ago while swimming in late August. I've been on the lake for over 40 years and that was the first time I ever saw it. It looked to me to be some type of algae that grows when the water temp get into the 70's. I also saw smaller clumps attached to rocks and plant life. Probably related to the downgrade in water quality.