Help Please

[Alfie]

Overnight this decay/damage has occured to the coral. What would have caused this?

See the white skeleton in the centre groove

 

[Mekaeel]

looks like somethings been eating it.is it only on this coral?

 

[irie ivan]

Seeing it's a montipora, the first suspect would be Monti eating nudi's. Have a look for tiny white thingies on it, less than 1mm in size.
If your cam has a macro facility, take a close shot of the "eaten part"

 

[Alfie]

Mekaeel, yes it is the only one so far.

Ivan, how big are they will I be able to see them? are they out all the time or just at night? The only thing new that has gone into the tank are the frags that I got from you.

Here is a clearer picture

 

[Alan]

Something is definatly eating it. For monti bugs look underneath the coral they hide under the plates or branches check for a crab at night.

 

[Shaun]

Take a look at night, and see if you can see them, will try find the thread that has pic's of them.

 

[Shaun]

Why Should We Quarantine SPS - Marine Aquariums of South Africa

Something to read.

 

[Alfie]

Thaloin, thanks for the thread.

Just an update. My two rather large Hermits moved to the Coral and grazed around it Since midday yesterday and were there the whole night and this morning. I checked a couple of times during the night but saw now bugs or crabs. There has also been no deteriation of the coral thus far. I do not know if the hermits had something to do with that though.

 

[Mike]

Just a thought, what fish do you have? any nibbly angels?

 

[Alfie]

Wee-Man the only angel I have is a coral beauty.

 

[Mike]

Wee-Man the only angel I have is a coral beauty.

Well don't discount the Monti theory, that is the most likely, but keep an eye on the CB

 

[Alfie]

Will do. there was no further damage when I got home this afternoon.

 

[sunburst]

Is it possible that another sps fell onto it. Damage from this type of event can take some time to show (24hrs)

 

[Alfie]

Sunburst no. What is strange it is not from the bottom but in the middle of the coral with damage elsewhere.

 

[Mekaeel]

ive been thinking,could it not be light thats not reaching into groove?judging by the way its shaped

 

[Alfie]

Mekaeel I doubt it, it is directly under a light and it just appeared overnight. If it was light it should have been slow and noticeable

 

[sunburst]

Sunburst no. What is strange it is not from the bottom but in the middle of the coral with no damage elsewhere.

Thats what made me think of a branch of another sps that had fallen over and got wedged between the digi branches. The damage can take some time to show. I would not be worried though, if that is the case. They recover lost skeleton very quickly.

 

[Alfie]

Thanks will keep watch.

 

[Alfie]

Cool. no more damage to the coral .

 

[Kanga]

good to hear