Cardinal Picking at SPS

[thewackyreefer]

So I just got home to find one of my SPS with a big white patch and my bangaii cardinal picking at it. Is this common? Is it picking at it because it's dying or could the cardinal could have caused the issue?

 

[ritter6788]

That's a new one to me. My bangaii doesn't even look towards the corals. Never heard of it either.

 

[thewackyreefer]

Yeah, I've had it for at least 3 years and have never had any trouble. It's just strange because it's the only coral with issues.

 

[landlord]

Odd that a cardinalfish would do that. They are carnivores in the wild so perhaps this behavior is territorial. I keep 23 cardinals in my SPS tank and have not witness this to date. I have seen other fish (clowns) go nuts during courtship and bulldoze corals out of the way but for a cardinal it is truly bizarre. Is the fish by any chance using this coral structure to rest in during the day / night. Perhaps he is pecking at it becuase as it grows he is "losing his hangout spot" so tio speak?



BTW Whent through your sig thread very nice tank!