Coral Eaten

[Vanessa O.]

Hi,

I am new to saltwater. This past Sunday, I purchased a star polyp frag for my tank. This morning, looks like something ate on it during the night. In my tank, I have a peppermint shrimp, a fire goby, a margarita snail, and some hermit crabs. Concerning the crabs, one has orange legs and the others have brown legs. I also just got a tiny baby starfish too. Don't know what kind it is yet, but will find out.

Which do you think ate on the coral? I want to get a mushroom coral frag but want to figure out what is eating the coral first.

Thank you for your knowledge and help.

 

[saltyphish]

Quick question are you sure they ate the polyps and their not just retracted back inside the tubes? As far as potential candidates out of your list I am sorry I cannot help you. I know none of my hermit crabs touch my Gsp except when I first bought the coral, they picked at some green hair algae that was on it from the LFS. Them crawling all over my coral at first made my polyps retract until they adjusted to it.

 

[Waters]

I agree.....sounds like they just may be retracted? I don't really see anything in your list that would eat them. I haven't had any issues with hermits touching my coral.

 

[Vanessa O.]

Thank you. After looking more closely in the morning light, it looks like they may be retracted. I'm thinking now maybe I was wrong?! How long does it take for a coral to acclimate and open up so I can enjoy it's beauty? I feel better now that I asked you guys about it.

 

[Vanessa O.]

Here is a picture of the coral I thought was eaten. See what you think. Maybe the polyps just haven't opened yet
.

 

[LetItReef]

Hi,

I am new to saltwater. This past Sunday, I purchased a star polyp frag for my tank. This morning, looks like something ate on it during the night. In my tank, I have a peppermint shrimp, a fire goby, a margarita snail, and some hermit crabs. Concerning the crabs, one has orange legs and the others have brown legs. I also just got a tiny baby starfish too. Don't know what kind it is yet, but will find out.

Which do you think ate on the coral? I want to get a mushroom coral frag but want to figure out what is eating the coral first.

Thank you for your knowledge and help.

Keep an eye on the Pepp shrimp. Had a Hammer that did not made it. I am sure I got a Peppermint not a Camel and I used to feed the Pepp shrimp.

 

[Vanessa O.]

Hi LetItReef,

What did you feed your peppermint shrimp? I feed mine twice a day and feed it brine shrimp.

I read where a peppermint shrimp might pick at or eat the coral.

 

[LetItReef]

Hi LetItReef,

What did you feed your peppermint shrimp? I feed mine twice a day and feed it brine shrimp.

I read where a peppermint shrimp might pick at or eat the coral.

Once a day either Brine, Marine mix, couple Flakes and Algae wafers to share with two other Cleaner shrimps. Had to donate that Pepp shrimp back to the store . I was lucky to catch him within two minutes.

 

[Diamond1]

It looks like your star polyps are closed up. Mine do that all the time in the morning. If it stays that way you may want to try another placement in the tank. They do better in strong flow with a good amount of light.

 

[Vanessa O.]

Thank you. I will definitely keep an eye on him.

 

[Vanessa O.]

Thank you Diamond1. I was thinking they look closed too. I had just woke up and checked the coral and thought it had been eaten.

 

[Vanessa O.]

Moved the star polyps up close to top and current and they are happier now.