Help please

Slevin007 · Jun 13, 2017

Hello all

Was given this frag of sps WWC yeti acro. All was doing sort of ok mild polyp extension, then today I came joke and half the tissue from the bottom up was gone. Saw this little starfish on the bottom of the frag. Can you all please help. Have never kept sps but Params are spot on. Lps is fantastic

Reefltx · Jun 13, 2017

Slevin007 said:
Hello all

Was given this frag of sps WWC yeti acro. All was doing sort of ok mild polyp extension, then today I came joke and half the tissue from the bottom up was gone. Saw this little starfish on the bottom of the frag. Can you all please help. Have never kept sps but Params are spot on. Lps is fantastic

You can try to save it by gluing off the dead tissue. Most of the time it works, sometimes not.

ReeferMaddness843 · Jun 13, 2017

Tissue necrosis. What the cause is I don't know. What are parameters? Was it a fully healed frag when got it or fresh cut? That's an asterina starfish. Fine for me in my tank, others would disagree. But, to save what you have, I would cut the frag to where nothing but live tissue is and place it on a new plug.

Tahoe61 · Jun 13, 2017

If chemistry is stable with no significant swings I would be inclined to suspect the Asterina star. Acropora can and frequently do go bad quickly with no real smoking gun as to the cause. Hobbyist will post that the Asterina was just cleaning up dead tissue, and that they have had Asterina in their system for years without issue, the problem with that is that there are 100's of different types of Asterina. Personally I saw my zoanthids eaten by Asterina so I know some Asterina are either coral eaters or become opportunistic eaters.

You can try to superglue over the exposed skeleton up to healthy tissue or snap of the tip and re-attach to a plug.

Flippers4pups · Jun 13, 2017

Asterina star fish, should be fine with SPS and I've never seen them go after SPS/LPS.

I suspect that its there eating the dieing fresh of the Acro. I'd check for red bugs or flat worms on this coral.

Do you dip your corals before placing them in your tank?

Slevin007 · Jun 13, 2017

Thanks all

7.8 alk, 450 cal, around 1350 mag, low phos and low nit

I'll try the super glue right now. I appreciate the help. I'm lost.

When I got it it looked fresh. Still some skin hanging.