What is wrong with my torch coral???

[Eike]

Hi All,

One of my prize torches has what I can only describe as an abscess / growth / tumour on it. I have never seen this before. I have taken some pics, anyone have any ideas on what it could be? Should I dip it or just leave it and see how it goes?

Thanks!

 

[Ljaus]

Looks like something has either stung or had a nip at it. I'm going with the latter, have you even seen the crab that's underneath it have a go at it? A dip mightn't be a bad idea.

 

[helen ann]

Looks like something has either stung or had a nip at it. I'm going with the latter, have you even seen the crab that's underneath it have a go at it? A dip mightn't be a bad idea.

Hmmmmmmmmm, you might be on to something @Ljaus.
I too think the crab might be your culprit.

 

[Eike]

Thanks guys. The crab and the torch have been in the tank for months. He has never had a go at any of the corals. Upon closer inspection it looks like the polyps are peeling away from the skeleton. Not convinced dipping will make any difference now.

 

[Ljaus]

Thanks guys. The crab and the torch have been in the tank for months. He has never had a go at any of the corals. Upon closer inspection it looks like the polyps are peeling away from the skeleton. Not convinced dipping will make any difference now.

I would still be suspect of the crab, they will have a go at anything at anytime. If it looks like it's peeling away I would move it to a lower flow area where to take some stress off and see if it heals itself

 

[Eike]

Ok will try that, probably best to dip then too to avoid any spread of infection

 

[Ljaus]

Ok will try that, probably best to dip then too to avoid any spread of infection

Yeah a dip won't hurt anything. The flesh doesn't look brown so it's no too bad. Just dip and give it time as well as keeping an eye on it

 

[Keenan]

Also agree with crab as the culprit.

 

[Eike]

Just a quick update on my torch. It appears the entire head is coming away from the skeleton. No infection to be seen but the whole head is bailing. All the tentacles appear inflated and intact. Doesn't appear to be anything I can do at this point.

 

[Luna]

I would also like to know why that happen. I have a hammer coral which came off the skeleton, it's not dead or anything it's just hanging around in my frag tank. Y??

 

[Luna]

?

 

[Elementalj]

Polyp bailout. Seen it happen, make sure the coral itself is in a safe place with rubble nearby.

 

[Luna]

Will it attach itself to something else & be ok?

 

[Eike]

Unfortunately I lost the entire colony. All the heads started detaching! All my other torches are doing fine. Unfortunately I am now battling with high nitrates and high phosphate and cant figure out why. I have no algae problems, the tank looks clean!

 

[Eike]

I suspect the reason the polyps bailed was due to the change in environmental parameters I.e high phosphates and nitrates