Id and cause of missing flesh

[Miguelh1302]

Does anybody have any idea what might have happened to it, have it for 4-5 months and there's nothing new on the tank

 

[Genera]

Looks like some sort of NPS gorgonian, too much polyp retraction for me to tell. The cause of the missing tissue may be due to insufficient food/starving.

 

[rt67ghy]

Gorgonians require high flow and lots of food in the water column for them to survive;they normally thrive in NPS tanks.

 

[Miguelh1302]

I was thinking maybe somebody in the tank took a bite out of it?

 

[Nemato]

It's a photosynthetic one. Do you have enought light for it to thrive?

Normally a lot of photosynthetic species have brown polyps due to having zooxanthellae in its tissue. Nps generally have brighter and vivid colours.

 

[Miguelh1302]

I do believe my light is plenty for it

 

[billsreef]

Looks like one of the Caribbean gorgonians, typically found in shallow water (think strong light, like SPS) and high current areas.

 

[Genera]

I am mistaken, I thought it looked like an nps gorgonian, but after another look it looks more photosyntheticy. Then it might be the lights, flow, water chemistry, disease, or something eating it. Some gorgonians periodically shed their 'skin' to rid themselves of algae too.

 

[Miguelh1302]

She sheds like crazy, almost every time, I actually think that's why it lost some flesh, from shredding so much, can that be a possibility?

 

[Nemato]

Check the flow, they like a good current. May be when it shed some dead skin remains on it and make tissue to rot ( like if it was a plastic or cyanobacteria film.
Also if you do not, add iodide. it's important for them.

 

[Miguelh1302]

Will have to check if one of my products have iodide

 

[Nemato]

Good idea. May be you are already dosing.

 

[Miguelh1302]

Yes I check and in fact am already doing it

 

[noy]

its a plexaurella - probably a grandifora. Caribbean.

normally doesn't shed that much - too much algae or cyano overgrowth. the lost flesh looks like shipping damage (the branch got fully bent and flesh snapped). Its fairly common. Will take a while to recover.

its malnourished. The thinned tips means that the internal flesh is receding. When healthy these are fairly thick corals. Also, this coral generally has full polyp extension during the day. While its photosynthetic - it can benefit from some feeding. The larger polyps will take larger food (up to cyclopeez sized).

 

[Miguelh1302]

Wow just what I needed noy thanks so much, I just noticed that indeed the shedding and missing flesh is do to shedding so much, do u think I should move it somewhere where it gets direct current? Thanks again

 

[noy]

it shouldn't be touching anything or over on its side. mount it so that its free standing. You should have at least moderate flow.

If its "happy" you should get full polyp extension all along the coral.

 

[Miguelh1302]

Thanks noy I just move it and put it free standing on the sand, so far it looking comfortable, let's see in a couple weeks, now am sure that was the issue

 

[Miguelh1302]

Thanks mate I moved it and it looks way happier here