LPS frags being dragged off

[dogfishhead]

In the last two or three weeks I have had two frags dragged off from their placement in the substrate. The last was a Caulastrea frag which was stuck directly in the media and had been in the same spot for about 6 months (the first was a new Merletti frag). It happend overnight and I found it this morning jammed way under an adjacent rock. When I pulled it out the four heads were intact, but the main branch of the skeleton (the stalk) which had been between about 2" long was just gone... and what, eaten?

Any ideas what might be doing this?

 

[Sk8r]

Got a conch? They can move deeply buried things.

If the coral head was shoved into the substrate, it will retreat and may die. Stand it up in moderate flow and see if it reappears.

You might try bracing with a little rock or coral to make movement unlikely. Or glue it to a more stable rock.

 

[sufunk]

When doing research for the same problem, i found articles about large eunicid worms doing this. Apparently, they believe that this may help to form reefs in the wild.
How big of a tank? Is it possible you have a fairly large eunicid worm? Sounds like you need a redlight and some extra strength coffee for a stakeout!
p.s.- that was what was moving my small xenia frag

 

[dogfishhead]

SK8r,

No conch in the the tank. And it wasn't just moved, but also taken apart. That's the part that's bothering me.

Thanks for the advice on the re-placement. I will probably glue it to something when I get home.

 

[dogfishhead]

sufunk,

It's a 90 Gallon tank with 150 lbs. or some of rock. I have never seen any signs of a large worm and I have not adding any new large pieces of rock in a couple of months.

 

[sufunk]

It would probably come in very small and grow in the tank. Once they reach a certain size they will start munching on corals. Mine was eating a small leather and a shroom.
Again, I sense a stakeout in your near future, lol. Its the only way you're gonna find out probably.

 

[Biggie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7551883#post7551883 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sufunk
It would probably come in very small and grow in the tank. Once they reach a certain size they will start munching on corals. Mine was eating a small leather and a shroom.
Again, I sense a stakeout in your near future, lol. Its the only way you're gonna find out probably.

Have any aggressive fish chasing about that could have knocked it off? May even be a sign of a fish flashing on it and knocking it down and declaring its territory. Sounds like Sufunk and I agree you need to do an all night vigile to see who or what the culprit is. Only way to find out for sure.

 

[jaymz101]

I spotted my first worm after my tank was up and runnng for a year. it was 8 inches of fireworm fury. Obviously I dont move things around as recklessly now as before. Never know whats staring at me from the depths of my rocks.

 

[woodywoo]

I well I have the same problem I came home from work and my blasto Merti which was on a rock about 1/2 way up the tank had fallen and was on its side! My tank is bare bottom so I didn't have a sand issue. but this isn't the first time I have seen this in my tank! SO what ever you find let me know and I will look for it.

Thanks
Aaron