I’m been remiss in noting some things about Cortez. He’s been staying in a niche at the top of the Tonga rock a lot. Like for about 4 days. I was a little worried about him and even thought perhaps he might be molting, but there’s been no sign of a molt. Finally a couple of days ago he moved…into the deep niche that Calypso had occupied for a while some time back…and Calypso settled briefly into the niche Cortez vacated! Don’t know what that was all about. Everyone is out and about now. Though Cortez is still staying on the Tonga rock. He has left it since I got him, but most of the time he’s somewhere on it. Staying on the backside a lot so I have to look through the side of the tank and across other rocks to see him.
The sponge, I fear, isn’t doing so well. 
I noticed this morning that it has a grayish area near the base on one side, not the side facing the front, so I’m not sure how long it’s been there or if it’s growing. I have been looking through the side of the tank hunting for the hermit crabs, so I don’t think it’s been there all week. I don’t think it could have been there more than a day or a half-day. I hope this isn’t the beginning of a decline. I didn’t expect if it wasn’t going to thrive to see any sign of it so soon! I’ll just have to keep an eye on the spot.
A side note on an established creature, the snail, Drew…he’s been out grazing on rock quite a bit this past week. This is the longest stretch that he’s been above the substrate in a long time.
