Sorry about your loss, Taz
I too saw the blue ones at j&l but comtemplated purchasing it.
I have sponges coming out all over my 175 g tank and one of the rocks just covered with pink sponge and still growing like crazy. When I transported the rock, the pink sponge was out of water for 1/2 hour but I constantly wet it when in the car.
I wonder for different species , they would react differently after exposing them to air ?!!