Black growth on walking dendro

[Afiado]

Hi! I'm new to the forum, and I have some questions that hopefully someone can answer. My walking dendro appears to have some kind of growth or parasite on it. It is black in color, and is spreading!! I don't know what it is, but I have attached a picture. All my parameters are fine. Any ideas as to what this is and how I should treat it?

Thanks a lot!

 

[wolfenstein87]

Bump

 

[MechEng99]

It looks like some type of decay, or maybe even an invasive sponge. It's hard to tell with all the sand particles around it. Did you try dipping it? Are you located in the US? (I'm not familiar with dips available outside the US). I'd probably try CoralRx if I were you. Also, see if it peels off like a sponge or try squirting it with a pipette to see if it's tissue decay.

 

[Afiado]

Thanks a lot for your reply. I'll try that today.

 

[akitareefer]

Can walking dendros be safely dipped? Does it effect the worm?

I would just dip the top in coral RX and repeat in the next few days if there's no improvement . Also, do the tentacles come out? If so I'd give it some mysis or brine shrimp.

 

[MechEng99]

Can walking dendros be safely dipped? Does it effect the worm? .

Good point (although most of the worms on these don't survive long in captivity that I've seen anyway.) I'd be leary...but at this point it may be save the coral and possibly lose the worm...or save the worm but the coral goes. :headwalls:

Are any other corals showing signs of distress?

 

[Afiado]

No. Fox Cora, elegance, blue Hawkins, Ricordea, Duncan, monti, zoas, and Xenia are all healthy and doing fine. I dipped it in coral rx last night and softly scrubbed with a toothbrush. The growth, on closer inspection actually appears to be calcified with the consistency of the skeleton. Ill try weekly dips, but I think it's a goner!��

 

[MechEng99]

If you are desperate, you could dip it in a 10:1 ratio of tank water to 3% hydrogen peroxide (normal stuff from the grocery store) for about 20 seconds. But, that'll most likely kill the worm if the CoralRx dip didn't. The hydrogen peroxide dip can kill various algaes, etc. that threaten coral.

 

[Afiado]

Thanks for all the replies. If the coral rx does nothing after a couple dips ill try to scrub it with hydrogen peroxide instead
Of immersing it first so that I don't kill the worm. I appreciate it y'all.

 

[MechEng99]

I would still mix the water:hydrogen peroxide at a 10:1 ratio.