Tank emergency? Worm? Ectoplasm? Should I call ghostbusters?

[Ralph Ritoch]

What is this slime! My goniopora has gone to sleep for the night and it has a known hole. I thought the hole was due to a previous spawning but tonight I saw this slimy thing oozing out of it. The slime retracts when the light is turned on! If I didn't know better I would say this was pink ectoplasm!

(edit) I tried to grab this little *bleep* with a dental pick, it certainly isn't a welcome guest, but it immediately retracted. It is a bit like a tube worm except it moves like slime, contorting to the surface.

Could I fill the hole with fresh concrete or something? I don't want this thing in my micro-ecosystem but I don't want to kill its victim, the goniopora, either

 

[smartwater101]

Can you grab some better pics? Its impossible to see anything.

 

[Ralph Ritoch]

Can you grab some better pics? Its impossible to see anything.

Not right now I can't. It retracts into this hole which has a small cave when the lights are on. I literally had to snap the picture as soon as I turned on the light to catch this. No chance to zoom or anything. I pulled the coral out of the water to investigate but all I found was some old tubes, what looked like some dead tube worms, but no hole in the bottom leading to this cave. Whatever it is, it is only active in the dark. Right now the coral and this resident is 100% retracted. I'm more interested in how to kill it without hurting the coral than identifying what it is, it is clearly hurting the coral judging by the size of the hole.

 

[smartwater101]

I'd find out what it is before you resort to murdering the thing lol

 

[Jon Fishman]

Super glue

 

[Jacked Reefer]

Possibly a flatworm of some sort?

 

[Ralph Ritoch]

Super glue

Not a bad idea but the cave can probably hold about 1-2oz. It would take a lot of super-glue.

 

[smartwater101]

Not a bad idea but the cave can probably hold about 1-2oz. It would take a lot of super-glue.

Just need to cover the hole. Plumbers putty/coral epoxy will do the same.

but ...find out what it is first!

 

[Jon Fishman]

Not a bad idea but the cave can probably hold about 1-2oz. It would take a lot of super-glue.

In that case, I change my recommendation to “a lot of super glue”

 

[Ralph Ritoch]

Possibly a flatworm of some sort?

Maybe. I looked up red flatworm's and it does look like it could have been a worm. But why would it crawl out edges first. It moved like a tube worm in slow motion until I stabbed it with the dental pick. I thought it was a good idea at the time, that I could drag it out, but it moved so fast... No luck.

 

[Jon Fishman]

but ...find out what it is first!

Why? Even if it’s a “good guy”, it’s a lot of peace-of-mind for little effort

 

[Ralph Ritoch]

Why? Even if it’s a “good guy”, it’s a lot of peace-of-mind for little effort

There is NO WAY this is a good guy! The hole is surrounded with goniopora graves (holes which previously held living polyps).

 

[smartwater101]

Why? Even if it’s a “good guy”, it’s a lot of peace-of-mind for little effort

There is absolutely zero logic in that. For all you know it something beneficial to the reef. A few clear photos and an ID will help OP decide whether or not to kill it fire.

If hes right... simple to kill off. Its not like waiting another 24 hours is going to crash the system...

 

[Jon Fishman]

There is absolutely zero logic in that. For all you know it something beneficial to the reef. A few clear photos and an ID will help OP decide weather or not to kill it fire.

I explained the logic...... Little potential downside, huge upside.


If his tank is relying on one unknown creature living inside a frag, he has bigger issues to worry about

 

[smartwater101]

 

[Jon Fishman]

What? Is it the sea-creatures feelings we are worried about? I’m confused

 

[Ralph Ritoch]

@Jon Fishman & @smartwater101 you both have valid points. I've only had this coral for about 9 days and this hitchhiker has obviously been there for a long time before that. I can't imagine a situation where I would let this thing live but I'm OK with waiting a few days to try to ID it.

 

[WV Reefer]

What is this slime! My goniopora has gone to sleep for the night and it has a known hole. I thought the hole was due to a previous spawning but tonight I saw this slimy thing oozing out of it. The slime retracts when the light is turned on! If I didn't know better I would say this was pink ectoplasm!

(edit) I tried to grab this little *bleep* with a dental pick, it certainly isn't a welcome guest, but it immediately retracted. It is a bit like a tube worm except it moves like slime, contorting to the surface.

Could I fill the hole with fresh concrete or something? I don't want this thing in my micro-ecosystem but I don't want to kill its victim, the goniopora, either

Polyclad flatworm maybe? They hate the light and can contort into odd shapes as they slide along the rocks and coral. Often they will appear clear when stretched out.

 

[Ralph Ritoch]

That is two votes for flatworm. A quick google on the subject says a fresh water dip will kill the flatworm. Can a goniopora survive a fresh water dip? If so how long does it take to kill the flatworm with fresh water?

 

[W1ngz]

Have you considered just dipping the coral in some coral dip, or leaving it out of water a few minutes to see if it comes out on it's own?