Acans with Pink Spot on Skeleton

[underthereef]

Hi!

I recently just picked up this Acans coral and after I got home I realized it had this pink spot on the corner/base of its skeleton. Anyone know what it is?

I tried looking it up and the most common thing I came across is a doomsday bacterial issue that causes the coral to eventually die and basically has no cure. But I'm not sure if that's what this actually is as I'm fairly new to corals. If that is what it is; should I shave off the pink portion of the skeleton kind of like a tooth cavity? Or any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[KrisReef]

If it was the doomsday bacterial issue it might work to frag the pink-based head completely away from the others, but it seems like if it's bacterial you would have a difficult time executing a successful sterile surgery. I'm not saying that it is the DBI but I admit the picture did make me pause. Please let us know how this turns out!

 

[Hud]

It might just be coraline algae

 

[JGT]

^+1 on coralline algae. Don’t sweat it.

 

[underthereef]

Doesn't the pink look like its actually in the skeleton though like soaked in saturated in the skeleton? Like as if the skeleton is dyed pink? Rather than the pink looking like its grown over the skeleton? Or is that in fact how corolline algae looks at first growing on a coral skeleton?

 

[KrisReef]

Doesn't the pink look like its actually in the skeleton though like soaked in saturated in the skeleton? Like as if the skeleton is dyed pink? Rather than the pink looking like its grown over the skeleton? Or is that in fact how corolline algae looks at first growing on a coral skeleton?

This is why I try not to purchase corals from pictures. Looking at my monitor is not the same as holding the frag in your hand and looking at it under different lights and angles without the glare from a screen. I hope it is coralline for the frags health!

 

[underthereef]

Update: this doesn’t look so good? what’s happening here? (Compare to original pics)

 

[KrisReef]

That doesn’t look good at all.
I would remove the pink skeleton and the sick coral head above it and hopefully save the other two.

A dremel, a wet saw, the lfs might have tools if you don’t?
I once purchased a dying sps colony that had a similar “bone infection?” and I fragged it heavily but sadly none of the arms were spared. What you have looks like an invading sponge, my colony had a dark brown bone infection.
I would cut and pray but a lot of people would toss the whole thing to get the invasive stuff out of the tank

 

[underthereef]

That doesn’t look good at all.
I would remove the pink skeleton and the sick coral head above it and hopefully save the other two.

A dremel, a wet saw, the lfs might have tools if you don’t?
I once purchased a dying sps colony that had a similar “bone infection?” and I fragged it heavily but sadly none of the arms were spared. What you have looks like an invading sponge, my colony had a dark brown bone infection.
I would cut and pray but a lot of people would toss the whole thing to get the invasive stuff out of the tank

So that coral head is in fact dying or eroding like it looks like it is? Lol. I noticed that bottom part of it was just gone out of no where I was like what the heck? Forgive me my knowledge about coral diseases is not my strong suite yet.

What is an invading sponge? Like a sea sponge? It's a disease or what does that usually do to the coral?

Also, I have some dips like coral MD should I try that or will that not help? I have a dremel I can try to cut out the sick and infected section.

Last question, would this be something that is acan specific or can this potentially spread to all other corals?

 

[KrisReef]

Don't feel bad about our knowledge on coral diseases. Much of the pioneer work seems to done amongst hobbiests like us. I am not an expert, just a long observer with a few observation points but very little science (like grey literature) to back up what I am saying.

The reef landscape was largely inaccesible for research before the advent of SCUBA, a relatively new invention. Before that, folks had developed the hardhat diving and people were also able to collect coral at lower tides but the reef tank is a fairly new invention also.

All that to say, I know their are bacterial infections that impact coral reefs. Your issue looks like there is a sponge growing on the area of concern. That frag was mounted on the plug with the acan hanging over the edge a tad bit, and what you/we are looking at could simply be the impact of the overhanging acan in the bag during transport, or it could be retreating from the chemical or physical warfare between sponge and coral for living space on the reef. (It;s like Ukrain v Russia- they both want to inhabit the same space so the other guy has to go!)

As I mentioned before, it appears to be some kind of disease / warefare between two living organisms. The reddish pink sponge? seems to be displacing the acan. If you remove the aggressor by cutting and throwing away the pink area you may save the coral, you may not. Will it spread to other acans?

I'm not sure? I generally cut and watch. If the other heads start to fail after the cutting operation then its clear that the whole piece is infected and I sadly toss it. Sometimes folks frag retracting corals and the healthy parts thrive and grow into new colonies. It's a crap shoot without specific id's of the invading organism and the reason why it is now successful, but hobbiests often toss the dice, win or lose, and move forward. We learn as we go. HTH.

(BTW, if that skimmer can't be adjusted where it is sitting then it will need to be raised up on a stable platform in the sump to get the water level a bit lower inside the body of the skimmer. This I am sure about, without any grey literature needed. )

 

[underthereef]

I was able to get better shots this morning just in case it helps:

 

[underthereef]

(BTW, if that skimmer can't be adjusted where it is sitting then it will need to be raised up on a stable platform in the sump to get the water level a bit lower inside the body of the skimmer. This I am sure about, without any grey literature needed. )

I have it in about 7.5 inches of water; you think I can just put another piece of foam under it like the one I already have? Maybe another .5-1 inch?

 

[KrisReef]

I have it in about 7.5 inches of water; you think I can just put another piece of foam under it like the one I already have? Maybe another .5-1 inch?

as long as it sits stable and isnt going to fall over, could help!

 

[underthereef]

Just to keep a record of its progression. The frag is too small to cut up with my Dremel and pink has spread vertically all over the skeleton anyway. I’m pretty sure I should toss it at this point? I’m worried it can spread or be causing poor water quality in the QT.

I don’t know of any other treatment options?

 

[KrisReef]

Agree.
Unless it is the only coral in the QT, then I would let it ride and see how it progresses. I hate killing things, but I do when they threaten others with a plague.
Your call, and sorry.

 

[nickman]

I have seen this a number of times over the years in many Genera of corals. To my recollection I have only see it on LPS (Goniopora, Micromussa (Acans), Symphyllia, Favites/Favia, Goniastrea).
I have no idea what it is despite a rather drawn out search (Some sort of Cyanobacteria?) and have had limited success treating it with Chemiclean baths.

Pictured below is the skeleton of Goniopora that slowly lost tissue revealing the red skeleton underneath. This was well after it had been fragged and was actively growing. You can see the older growth is white on the profile shot which leads me to believe it was infected after fragging.
I have also noticed that it tends to pop up in isolated specimens along side otherwise healthy frags from the same colony. In this particular system it was in a lower flow/light area. It popped up on the opposite corner of the tank in a Favites/Favia colony.

 

[KrisReef]

@nickman -That Red Skelton (sic) disease is very interesting. Whatever is happening it seems to be impacting the color in the growing skeleton. I wonder if the composition of the red portion is chemically different than the white, or if that is just a surface stain?

Thanks for posting!