Is My Bubble Coral Checking Out (dying)? Peppermint Shrimp to Blame?

[kylewest]

I have a relatively new 120 gallon tank and just added a bubble coral on Sunday. It looked great yesterday, and horrible today (pics below).

I also have a hammer coral frag that looks about dead. I think the culprit in both is a peppermint shrimp. My LFS gave me some "Microvore Microdiet" to feed the corals. After I shoot it around the corals the shrimp jumps on top and goes to town. I'm going to catch him tonight and stick him in the sump.

If it's not the shrimp, why the quick change? Amm/Nitrites/Nitrates are zero. It's in the sand (radion lights) and not a lot of flow. I just ordered hanna calcium, alk, and phosphate tests so I'll know those numbers on Thursday.

Yesterday

Today

Thanks!

 

[kylewest]

Just now ...

 

[NH reefer kid]

well from what you said it could be possible that the shrimp popped a bubble witch can kill it, also that the radions are too bright causing the coral to reced...just throwing some thoughts out there

 

[kylewest]

I'm trying to catch the shrimp and toss him in the sump. Harder than I anticipated. I was thinking about the radions too, but it looked so good just a day before. I may end up playing with the settings but I'm pretty convinced the shrimp is to blame. Bummer, I hope it comes back.

 

[nebraskareef]

Keep it isolated from the shrimp, or just avoid feeding it. What it needs now is time to recover. I would make sure it's shaded or limit the light as much as possible.

Doesn't look like a goner yet!

 

[kylewest]

He had his tentacles out last night so I am thinking just the bubbles are damaged and will get better. Mission move the shrimp to the sump has commenced.

 

[Maaka]

use a bottle trap to catch the shrimp. and once the trap is in place just shoot that stuff he loves in the trap. He should come running.

 

[RandysReef]

IME its just closed, i have had a bubble coral for years now and it just has its days. One day its opened beautifully, another looks half dead

 

[kylewest]

I fed it a big piece of Rods Food last night and stood guard keeping the shrimp away with a turkey baster and he's looking great today.

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

Peppermint shirmp will eat and kill bubbly lps. I've had them attack both frogspawn and blastos.