Coral Warfare, Chalice attacks Torch

[oh207]

Hey RC,
I shared this with the local forum and wanted to share here as well. This week I noticed that my very healthy looking Gold Torch was starting to look like it was dying. I figured it was a goner and was bummed out about it. So I was up late and decided to glance at the tank. I don't usually look at the tank in the nights anymore. I'm afraid someone will see me with the flashlight and think I'm still crazy.

So I looked at the Gold Torch because I know that it was looking pretty bad and I saw the most freakish thing! There were these long tendrils coming out of the chalice and they were attached to the Torch. The tendrils were easily 2 inches long!!! I couldn't believe what I was seeing. So I grabbed my phone and recorded the video below. If you look closely you will see the tendrils coming out of the chalice and swaying back and forth. And you can clearly see one that was attached to the Torch.

I've since moved the chalice, but I don't know where to safely place it.

YouTube Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOj2UnCMX9k

Here is a pic of how the Torch looked before and a few shots of the Chalice attacking the torch.

 

[lhm nole]

Stunner chalice they have very long sweepers had to get rid of mine was way to aggressive and grew like a weed..

 

[Tweaked]

+1 - stunner chalice is crazy and can sweep at amazing distances. Also rid my tank of stunner.

 

[triggreef]

As my stunner grew I have seen some 6" + stingers. I sold some off but am keeping a smaller piece, very far away from everything.

 

[Art13]

I had a chalice fall and land right on top of an acan, it wasn't pretty, chalice was nearly affected, it took about 2 months for the acan to fully recover.

 

[Reef Bass]

Even worse than sweepers are the "threads of death" (mesentery filaments I believe) I've seen acan echinatas send out to vanquish competition and claim territory. Sweepers will blow in the current, so corals upstream are fine. The filaments can creep along the sandbed up current to kill upstream neighbors. They seem more potent too, as where they touch the victim rapidly dissolves / liquifies, compared to being stung. Sure, repetitive stinging can cause tissue necrosis as well, but not as quickly.

 

[SandyPup]

Wicked!!! I am amazed what these creatures can do :eek1: I can't be sure, but I still suspect my colt killed my torch coral. The colt practically pulled itself loose from its rock stretching over to assault the torch.

 

[ViktorVaughn]

Chalices can be really nasty. Like the above poster, I had a chalice get knocked over and landed on top of an acan while I was work. The acan that had blue, red, orange, and purple colors in it was reduced to a white jelly looking blob. The chalice looked as though nothing happened to it once the acan residue fell off.

 

[Dustyboots]

I guess they're called stunners for a reason...

 

[ahmed_iAM]

So what is good to keep around a chalice? I Dont keep anything down current of mine. I have palys and zoas upcurrent of it though. Think it may be time to sell it or move it. Have seen 5inch sweepers.

 

[Afenstem26]

I wouldnt want it in my tank if it can do that kind of damage

 

[Reef Bass]

For me, the beauty and intrigue of faviids, acan echinatas and chalices outweigh the potential downside of damage caused to neighbors by their potent defense mechanisms. They are often brightly and contrastingly colored. They undergo a cool physical transformation during the night with previously unseen tentacles revealing themselves. They're fun to feed. And for stony corals, they're reasonably hardy and easy to care for. They also make for great photos. Tyree AE Purple War Coral:

 

[oh207]

Stunner chalice they have very long sweepers had to get rid of mine was way to aggressive and grew like a weed..

Its been a while and I forgot about this thread. Thanks for the identification.

 

[oh207]

As my stunner grew I have seen some 6" + stingers. I sold some off but am keeping a smaller piece, very far away from everything.

I've since relocated the chalice to my sump. I can't say for sure how its doing. I have some healthy chaeto and dragon's breath growing in there. I can't have it stinging my beautiful gold torch.

 

[oh207]

Even worse than sweepers are the "threads of death" (mesentery filaments I believe) I've seen acan echinatas send out to vanquish competition and claim territory. Sweepers will blow in the current, so corals upstream are fine. The filaments can creep along the sandbed up current to kill upstream neighbors. They seem more potent too, as where they touch the victim rapidly dissolves / liquifies, compared to being stung. Sure, repetitive stinging can cause tissue necrosis as well, but not as quickly.

Seriously? Now you're scaring me. I have 2 acan colonies and never thought that they could do that. I will have to spy on them at night to see if they are affecting their neighbors.

 

[oh207]

Coral Warfare, Chalice attacks Torch

I figured out how to embed the YouTube video.
Coral Warfare, Chalice attacks Torch
:uzi:

 

[Reef Bass]

Chalice sweepers attacking torch in video above. I'll see if I can dig up a pic with mesentery filaments for comparison.

I have 2 acan colonies

The most popular form of acans one typically sees is Acanthastrea lordhowensis. I've not had an issue with mesentery filaments from them. Acanthastrea echinata, in my experience, is fundamentally more aggressive and more likely to deploy threads of death. They are fairly easy to tell apart. A. lordhowensis has distinct individual polyps whereas A. echinata polyps look more fused together, more favia like. Also, color patterns often appear "painted" across multiple polyps with echinatas.

 

[Reef Bass]

I found this pic from 4 years ago. Came downstairs around dawn and saw this echinata attacking the coraline algae on the side of tank. I also see filaments at 2 and 4 o'clock.

Note how the filaments are not the clear sweeper tentacles that one typically sees from LPS. The filaments also cause way more severe damage much more quickly than traditional sweepers.



Please also notice how there are no other corals near the echinata. Those fresh cut chalice frags behind it are at least 4-6 inches away.

 

[oh207]

I found this pic from 4 years ago. Came downstairs around dawn and saw this echinata attacking the coraline algae on the side of tank. I also see filaments at 2 and 4 o'clock.

Note how the filaments are not the clear sweeper tentacles that one typically sees from LPS. The filaments also cause way more severe damage much more quickly than traditional sweepers.



Please also notice how there are no other corals near the echinata. Those fresh cut chalice frags behind it are at least 4-6 inches away.

This is sick. Those "filaments" looks more like tentacles that could reach out and suck onto something. I don't think I have this kind of acan.