Torch Dying? Flatworms

[Slidecf]

Hi Guys,

I bought a torch coral a few weeks ago, and everything was fine until this week when I noticed that one of the heads looked a bit closed up and "ticked." At first, I didn’t pay much attention, thinking maybe a hermit crab had passed by. However, a few days later, the other head also looked closed up, so I did some research and learned about Euphyllia Eating Flatworms. Upon closer inspection, I noticed three flatworms on the coral’s skeleton.

I removed the torch from the tank, rinsed it with RO/DI water to get rid of the flatworms (I saw this method recommended in some posts), scrubed the eggs off the skeleton, dipped the coral in Seachem Reef Dip, and put it back in the tank.

Since then, the torch has remained a bit closed, but I haven’t seen any more flatworms around. Do you think it will survive? Is there anything else I can do to help, or should I just wait and see?

Here is how it looked BEFORE the Flatworms:

Here is how it looks right NOW:

I also made a video

 

[Matt Bravo]

There’s a chance it recovers since you should have technically gotten rid of the fw, but now there’s a chance it might not recover from the fw dip. I’ve seen some people do it on fish but I don’t believe people use it as a coral dip.

 

[Slidecf]

There’s a chance it recovers since you should have technically gotten rid of the fw, but now there’s a chance it might not recover from the fw dip. I’ve seen some people do it on fish but I don’t believe people use it as a coral dip.

I didn’t exactly dip it in RO/DI water... I more or less blasted it with a pipette, focusing on the flatworms. Of course, some RO/DI water hit the coral itself, but I kept dipping it back into saltwater from the tank. So, it wasn’t really exposed to RO/DI water for long, I think.

 

[Slidecf]

UPDATE:
Torch is looking a bit better and has opened up more today. I think it will survive—it was probably just stressed out.

 

[Outlaw Corals]

There’s not much flesh left, low light and low flow for a while. That’s how you get flesh to come back

 

[Slidecf]

There’s not much flesh left, low light and low flow for a while. That’s how you get flesh to come back

Nice... thanks for the tip!

I will place it in a lower part of the tank where there is less flow and light.

 

[Matt Bravo]

I didn’t exactly dip it in RO/DI water... I more or less blasted it with a pipette, focusing on the flatworms. Of course, some RO/DI water hit the coral itself, but I kept dipping it back into saltwater from the tank. So, it wasn’t really exposed to RO/DI water for long, I think.

Oh, my apologies it sounded like you did a full fw dip so I went based off that. I’m glad the torch is recovering though, if possible I would recommend picking up a coral dip and dip all new corals going into your system.

 

[Slidecf]

Oh, my apologies it sounded like you did a full fw dip so I went based off that. I’m glad the torch is recovering though, if possible I would recommend picking up a coral dip and dip all new corals going into your system.

No big deal!

I do have Seachem’s Reef Dip and dipped all the corals before placing them in the tank... I guess this one already had some eggs that hatched a few days later after being introduced to the tank.

I’m still watching the torch closely. No more flatworms or eggs since I removed them, but I’ve noticed a lot of brown hair algae growing right next to the coral’s flesh. Should I do something about that? How can I remove the algae without harming the torch?

 

[tautog83]

If it doesnt extend more than that at any time then ya not gonna end well in my opinion

 

[Slidecf]

If it doesnt extend more than that at any time then ya not gonna end well in my opinion

The tentacles are extending during the day, but when I moved to record the video, it closed up. When it does open, it’s still not fully extended—more like 60% or 70%. It’s much better looking than it was a few days ago, but still not perfect

 

[Matt Bravo]

The tentacles are extending during the day, but when I moved to record the video, it closed up. When it does open, it’s still not fully extended—more like 60% or 70%. It’s much better looking than it was a few days ago, but still not perfect

Probably still recovering, I would try keeping mag and alk as stable as possible and put in low flow and light for tissue to recover. Always have hope for these little guys, some make breathtaking recoveries. I wouldn’t do anything about the algae since you want to try leaving the torch completely alone right now

 

[Slidecf]

Probably still recovering, I would try keeping mag and alk as stable as possible and put in low flow and light for tissue to recover. Always have hope for these little guys, some make breathtaking recoveries. I wouldn’t do anything about the algae since you want to try leaving the torch completely alone right now

Nice. I moved the torch to a spot with lower flow and light. As I mentioned, it’s looking much better than it did a few days ago, but it’s still not fully recovered.

Also, I haven’t fed or supplemented anything since I bought it, just relying on the lights. Do you think I should start dosing or feeding something? I was considering getting Seachem’s Aquavitro Fuel — Do you think that could give it some "extra energy" to help with its recovery?

 

[Matt Bravo]

Nice. I moved the torch to a spot with lower flow and light. As I mentioned, it’s looking much better than it did a few days ago, but it’s still not fully recovered.

Also, I haven’t fed or supplemented anything since I bought it, just relying on the lights. Do you think I should start dosing or feeding something? I was considering getting Seachem’s Aquavitro Fuel — Do you think that could give it some "extra energy" to help with its recovery?

It might, it might not. Just keep the system stable right now, it probably wouldn’t hurt to dose some trace elements though.