Is something eating this coral? See Picture

Budman's Corals · Oct 23, 2012

Right now this is contracted and it hasnt spread out that good for a bout a week,Is something eating this that i cant see and will it heal up,SHould i cut off some of it above so ill have something left in case it all dies? any help please

Thanks

solar · Oct 23, 2012

Were the back spots always in it?

Couldn't hurt it to cut it, but if something is eating it that is the root of the problem and it will just eat the cutting also.

Budman's Corals · Oct 23, 2012

well i noticd it after i moved it to a different spot in the tank,then a week later i decide to move it back to the original spot,thats when i noticed,It was kinda leaning against the live rock and didnt know if the rubbing against the rock could casue that also.The Black spots you saying? i think thats just holes from the camera flash thats showing black

ritter6788 · Oct 23, 2012

Definitely looks like something eating it. Check it at night for worms munching on it. What all is in the tank? Any crabs?

If it was leaning on a rock for a long time it may have started to attach and ripped when it was moved also.

Budman's Corals · Oct 23, 2012

it was only leaning for a week so i dont think it had time to attach,it was down in a hole in the rocks will it heal over time or is there something i can do to help it heal

I do have emeral crabs,snails typical cleanup crew,never had the problem till i moved it...

ritter6788 · Oct 23, 2012

A sinularia can easily attach in a week. Many of my frags are attached in less than a week. Emerald crabs have been found guilty of picking soft corals too.

Budman's Corals · Oct 23, 2012

wow Thanks I hope it wasnt attached and i ripped it off..will it heal if i did rip it off

Pkunk35 · Oct 23, 2012

I hate it when i find sick coral and don't know the cause!

Maybe lack of light from being leaned up against a rock? Actually lack of flow might be a more likely culprit. I have my doubts about something eating a green nepthea and so cleanly at that (this is a nepthea, right?) but anything is possible.

I'd run some fresh carbon and make sure it's getting good flow, maybe spray some iodine with some tank water over the wound. Check at night for predators as Ritter suggests. If the wound begins to melt or widen you may have to research dipping methods for softies (i'm thinking a light lugols dip) along with fragging.

Hope it heals up for you!

Budman's Corals · Oct 23, 2012

Thanks yall..I really appreciate all help,Im a newbie year into this..
Thanks

ritter6788 · Oct 23, 2012

It's either Nepthea or Sinuaria. I can't tell the difference when it's closed. I never kept Nepthea but my sinularia that looks just like that is almost impossible to kill. Worse that can happen is you cut off the bad part and reattach the healthy piece.

Budman's Corals · Oct 23, 2012

here it if you can see from this pic in the top left

Budman's Corals · Oct 23, 2012

budman said:
here it if you can see from this pic in the top left

not the best pic

Pkunk35 · Oct 23, 2012

budman said:
not the best pic

hahaha, i've said that same thing so many times about my bad pics...

As Ritter said, whether nepthea or spaghetti leather these guys are hardy. Soon you may be asking the question of how to stop this coral from dropping frags all over your tank.