Melanarus nipping at Milleporas

BillyC

New member
My melanarus has recently developed a taste for millepora polyps. I don't really mind as long as its ok for the Mille. It's polyps are more retracted than usual but am I ok just letting this ride? Or does the fish have to go?
 
Are you sure he's nipping at polyps or migt he be nipping at pests. AEFWs seem to love Mille's.
 
+1
Mine nips at everything, but he's just always on the quest for something good to eat like a copepod or any bug ect that's moving. So it's unlikely he's developed a taste for the milli's polyps, maybe just something he sees on the acro.
 
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Are you sure he's nipping at polyps or migt he be nipping at pests. AEFWs seem to love Mille's.

I was under the impression that AEFW preffered smoothe skinned acros but I could very well be wrong. I'm almost positive it's the polyps he's nipping because he is only interested when they are fully extended.

or maybe its eating some pest off of the millie ? and the pest is causing low PE ?

I doubt a pest is causing retracted PE because a minute after he nips it it, the polyps fully re-extend. I actually don't mind seeing the polyps retracted from time to time because it shows the bright blue body better. Unless its really bad for the Mille.

he is either eating pests, starving, or a bad wrasse.

He's probably just being bad. Probably not starving because all my fish are fat and enjoy a very heavy feeding 2x day.

I sure hope they are going for cope pods! Good luck!

Thanks man as long as he only nips in moderation and it won't kill my Mille I'm not too worried.
 
seems like u knew the answer yourself ...

I not sure what you mean by that. If you look at my original post, I was never asking why the fish was nipping or why the polyps were retracted. I was asking if it was ok to allow the wrasse to occasionally nip at the millepora without killing it.
 
I not sure what you mean by that. If you look at my original post, I was never asking why the fish was nipping or why the polyps were retracted. I was asking if it was ok to allow the wrasse to occasionally nip at the millepora without killing it.

that's what I was refering to :)

and that's something u will have to see /decide.

FWIW, I have many angels in my reef, they all nip on my SPS, but my SPS are healthy enough to take it. they do not have the PE you see on some other tanks during the day, but neither do corals in the ocean.

and sorry ! lol usually ppl post something here asking for answer, not sure what you are looking for ...
 

I doubt a pest is causing retracted PE because a minute after he nips it it, the polyps fully re-extend. [B]I actually don't mind seeing the polyps retracted from time to time because it shows the bright blue body better.[/B] Unless its really bad for the Mille.



He's probably just being bad. Probably not starving because all my fish are fat and enjoy a very heavy feeding 2x day.



Thanks man as long as he only [B]nips in moderation and it won't kill my Mille I'm not too worried.[/B][/QUOTE]

that's what I meant by you knowing ther answer already :)
 
Just a side note, polyp extension is not a sign that you don't have aefw. I used to have those critters and my corals always showed excellent PE. I would be willing to bet that you've got some critters and when the wrasse nips 'em off, the polyps close up.

I would personally be pleased to see the wrasse exhibiting this behavior.
 
I imagine their eyes are just designed for it, besides being obviously much closer to the coral than our eyes can be :) Maybe it's just my melanarus' personality, but mine is very very brave, and not shy or fearful in the least (probably why he got caught). My girl and I always joke that he probably swam into the net that caught him he's so friendly. He is constantly on the look out for food and will even steal food from a large rose bubble tip anemone. So if your fishes personality is anything like mine, it would nip at anything if it thought there might be food on it.

However, I wouldn't assume that you don't have a pest either. Always closely examine your acro's if you've introduced an un-quarantined/non treated coral into the tank. Otherwise, maybe he is nipping at the polyps. I have a tang that does. But my growth, color ect, is fine so I'm not overly concerned. Every fish has the potential to break "the rules" you may have read about them.
 
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