Something is boring into my elegant coral?

Paleozoic_reefer · Jul 3, 2019

Yesterday I noticed at the base of my elegant coral (where the flesh meets the skeleton) a white fluffy/moldy looking material along with what looks to be a hole? The elegant seems to be fine but when I tried to blow some of the material off with a baster I noticed the flesh wasn't attached to the skeleton in that small area. Any thoughts???

KJ · Jul 3, 2019

Look like Gall crab. https://www.google.com/search?q=cry...qdTNAhWm5oMKHRjwDJMQ_AUICSgC&biw=1920&bih=955

Paleozoic_reefer · Jul 3, 2019

@KJ it does look like it! Are they something to worry about?

KJ · Jul 3, 2019

Paleozoic_reefer said:
@KJ it does look like it! Are they something to worry about?

Specimens has been reported in elegance corals (Catalaphyllia jardinei), as well as Favia, and Scolymia. They apparently live in the skeleton of the coral and may displace the coral from the skeleton. They also may be eating the coral. If you find one in your coral, and it appears to be causing damage, you probably should try to remove it, if it is possible to do so without damaging the coral.

Paleozoic_reefer · Jul 4, 2019

So I took the elegant out last night to get a better look at it and the "hole" wasn't actually a hole but one of the skeletal ribs being exposed. I cleaned off the web-looking material around the sore and noticed what looked to be the innards (whitish material)of the elegant's body. I cleaned it as best as I could with a small baster and did a iodine dip. It seems to be doing fine today. Any thoughts on what this might be now??

Poriferabob · Jul 5, 2019

Still may be a gall. I had a recent similar experience. couldn't see it at first but sure enough, it was in there. It kind of looks like the coral skeleton and can blend in. Males are tiny and cute. Female are disgusting with huge tan bellies with eggs. I just pulled one out of my elegance the other day. Did a sechem Iodine dip then dug it out. pretty nasty thing. They're bigger than you would think.