How deadly are green star polyps?

[karimwassef]

I didn't think they had killed off so many of my torch's lower polyps

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/503B17D5-C664-40D6-8963-5200D14D551E_zpsacfzxpy6.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/503B17D5-C664-40D6-8963-5200D14D551E_zpsacfzxpy6.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 503B17D5-C664-40D6-8963-5200D14D551E_zpsacfzxpy6.jpg"/></a>

even encroaching on Aeptasia?

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/56F6D957-AB1D-42AA-8FF7-B20141653ED8_zps4qyklppw.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/56F6D957-AB1D-42AA-8FF7-B20141653ED8_zps4qyklppw.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 56F6D957-AB1D-42AA-8FF7-B20141653ED8_zps4qyklppw.jpg"/></a>

Much more virulent than I expected

correction - frogspawn or hammer (not torch)..

not the point though.

 

[2_zoa]

Unless I'm more drunk then I think I am. I don't see any torch coral??

 

[SeaCucumberFan]

Thats a frogspawn. I dont see any torch coral??

 

[Sk8r]

I think it's a hammer---but don't let softies and stonies touch: they hate each other, and softies exude chemicals, while stonies sting.

 

[karimwassef]

frogspawn/hammer/torch .... the point is the lethality of the GSP

I really expected the LPS to put up more of a fight.

 

[2_zoa]

frogspawn/hammer/torch .... the point is the lethality of the GSP

I really expected the LPS to put up more of a fight.

It's been documented time and time again. Don't leave certain corals unchecked. GSP is one of them.

It's a matter of will. I bet you've noticed you GSP haven't been open for quite some time in the area that has been encroaching on your hammer coral. Yet the matt continues to grow and overtake.

Edit:
By the way. Proper ID goes a long way in making things true and worth while. Maybe reword your post as to being more specific on the "what" or "why" your posting. It will keep the nerds that will help you happy.

Stay dry. Prost!!

 

[karimwassef]

that's what pictures are for. ID is self evident.

The GSP have actually been fully open all the time that they were killing the LPS. That's why I missed it for so long. By day, the damage was completely hidden by the GSP.

 

[rt67ghy]

GSP can be bad for LPS. If they are small and not flourishing, your LPS should be ok. They are especially dangerous when they grow fast. They are a threat to LPS near them by releasing chemicals and may even kill them. So, I would say they are deadly.
A word of caution: If you decide to trim it it's best to take it out of tank and trim it.

 

[ReefCowboy]

I dont think GSP has toxins to kill other corals, it instead encrusts them and chokes them out

 

[karimwassef]

The first pic shows how the LPS polyps are dead but not encrusted over... I don't know how they did it with chemicals or stings.

 

[Timfish]

I think it's a hammer---but don't let softies and stonies touch: they hate each other, and softies exude chemicals, while stonies sting.

+1 on it being a hammer not a frogspawn. And GSP definitely will kill by contact and not just overgrowing. I think though part of the problem is the hammer colony is not getting enough light on the lower polyps. This situation looks similar to what I've seen other times where the upper polyps expand and partially shade lower polyps making them more susceptible to attack from other animals.

 

[karimwassef]

There are multiple polyp heads hidden by other heads of the same species. None of them have died. They were just smaller but were still full.

These receded, turned into white paste and then dry skeleton. It's not shading.

 

[truffle22]

I agree on it being a hammer coral 90% sure. And I don't have any experience with gsp to say any thing I just know it's a pest coral that grows like crazy. So Iv stayed away from it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SnoopyDaPimp]

I had some gsp bothering some of my montipora. I ended up smothering it with this Just make sure you completely cover it so it doesn't have anywhere to sneak out. Did mine a few months ago and everything is doing good.

 

[dastrder]

Def A Hammer. (Not the point).

I have the same Hammer near Brown Star Polyps. The hammer seems to be stinging the BSP and keeping it at bay. So currently my Hammer is winning that fight.

Once GSP or BSP gets a hold, its tough to trim back off rock. Covering it with Epoxy sounds like an interesting idea though.

 

[karimwassef]

I have a large tank, so the GSP is usually ok. In this case, it seems to have extended its flesh "OFF" its rockwork to attack the other corals.

So, it is NOT "encrusting"... it is "plating" with a soft fleshy sheet protuberance that is stinging and covering the LPS.

I've had GSP for years and this particular colony has been in my tank for 2 years. It seems to have suddenly gone into virulent mode ever since I moved it to this location.

 

[2_zoa]

.... Double post

 

[2_zoa]

that's what pictures are for. ID is self evident.

The GSP have actually been fully open all the time that they were killing the LPS. That's why I missed it for so long. By day, the damage was completely hidden by the GSP.

In your pictures I can see the GSP not open fully near the area that the two corals are coming in contact with each other. Like I mentioned in my post. It's also the same in the pic where the aiptasia is.

I have a large tank, so the GSP is usually ok. In this case, it seems to have extended its flesh "OFF" its rockwork to attack the other corals.

So, it is NOT "encrusting"... it is "plating" with a soft fleshy sheet protuberance that is stinging and covering the LPS.

I've had GSP for years and this particular colony has been in my tank for 2 years. It seems to have suddenly gone into virulent mode ever since I moved it to this location.

You seem to have everything figured out. I for one mis read the thread. Or the point of the thread. You must have just been warning others of how much of a threat that GSP can be. For one having such a vocabulary I would have thought that you could communicate more clearly. Or spelled aiptasia correctly.

Thank you for sharing your experiences.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=713780

 

[karimwassef]

In your pictures I can see the GSP not open fully near the area that the two corals are coming in contact with each other. Like I mentioned in my post. It's also the same in the pic where the aiptasia is.

This is the picture at night when the GSP is closed. I'll post a vid where you can see it by day.

You seem to have everything figured out. I for one mis read the thread. Or the point of the thread. You must have just been warning others of how much of a threat that GSP can be. For one having such a vocabulary I would have thought that you could communicate more clearly. Or spelled aiptasia correctly.

Thank you for sharing your experiences.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=713780

Aiptasia is a tricky one

The intent of the thread was to share my experience, and also to seek some explanation for the sudden aggressive plating form of the GSP and its ability to kill LPS so quickly without even being on the same rock.

 

[karimwassef]

you can see it on the left side of this vid starting ~00:20

I get close at ~01:05

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mSzO3DBbSE0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I'll keep looking for more ...