Parasite on Suncoral?
- Thread starter ahmed_iAM
- Start date
ahmed_iAM
New member
Sorry for the bad image quality. My email is ahmed.boomer@gmail.com if anyone wants a higher resolution picture to help answer my question.
coltrref
New member
apparently parasites and Predators that can attack tubastreas are:
Phestilla melanobrachia (Bergh, 1874) This is a large Nudibranch (40mm) and is distributed throughout the Western Pacific. The colour of this "œsea slug" matches that of the Tubastraea species upon which it feeds.
Cochlodinium catenatum: Adinoflagellate(a species of microscopic algae) that causes coral mortality, and / or tissue sloughing
Ostreobium Quekettii: A ubiquitous boring algae that lives in the skeleton of stony corals. Once a coral is stressed, this algae may become problematic by increasing its growth, exacerbating recession, and allowing for other disease and necrosis to occur. (Le Campion-Alsumard et al. 1995).
Oscillatoria spp.: A blue-green cyanobacteria that grows upon the coral, using its mucus as a nutrient source. It is believed that products of this algae's metabolism are toxic to the "œhost" coral, and, if left unchecked, this encroachment will end in the death of the coral.
Oscillatoria submembranacea: As previously mentioned this is a reddish / brown cyanobacterium that will feed and develop upon any detritus on the body of the coral. As this filamentous algae spreads, smothering the coral, the coenosarcwill be destroyed, and eventually this will lead to the death of the coral.
polychaete worms emerge from the reef to spawn. Here the large polyps of a Tubastrea coral are taking advantage of the bounty. At least three polyps are eating worms in this photo.
Phestilla Nudibranchs: Cryptic Enemies of Porites, Goniopora, Tubastrea and Dendrophyllia Corals and an Identification of 'Montipora-eating Nudibranchs'
By Dana Riddle
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/6/inverts
Phestilla melanobrachia (Bergh, 1874) This is a large Nudibranch (40mm) and is distributed throughout the Western Pacific. The colour of this "œsea slug" matches that of the Tubastraea species upon which it feeds.
Cochlodinium catenatum: Adinoflagellate(a species of microscopic algae) that causes coral mortality, and / or tissue sloughing
Ostreobium Quekettii: A ubiquitous boring algae that lives in the skeleton of stony corals. Once a coral is stressed, this algae may become problematic by increasing its growth, exacerbating recession, and allowing for other disease and necrosis to occur. (Le Campion-Alsumard et al. 1995).
Oscillatoria spp.: A blue-green cyanobacteria that grows upon the coral, using its mucus as a nutrient source. It is believed that products of this algae's metabolism are toxic to the "œhost" coral, and, if left unchecked, this encroachment will end in the death of the coral.
Oscillatoria submembranacea: As previously mentioned this is a reddish / brown cyanobacterium that will feed and develop upon any detritus on the body of the coral. As this filamentous algae spreads, smothering the coral, the coenosarcwill be destroyed, and eventually this will lead to the death of the coral.
polychaete worms emerge from the reef to spawn. Here the large polyps of a Tubastrea coral are taking advantage of the bounty. At least three polyps are eating worms in this photo.
Phestilla Nudibranchs: Cryptic Enemies of Porites, Goniopora, Tubastrea and Dendrophyllia Corals and an Identification of 'Montipora-eating Nudibranchs'
By Dana Riddle
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/6/inverts
Reef Frog
New member
Good post Colt, very informative. Of course virtually every animal in existence has a predator or parasite that affects it. I was thinking more of the many kinds of virulent bugs that affect the SPS world for example.
Yes algae & Cyanobacteria, even the garden varieties, are bad news for NPS like suns, dendros, sea fans etc. It happened to me starting out with NPS. I just did not put plants & bacteria in the parasite category! Do you know if the ones you site appear in our captive systems?
It's weird though....it seems every 4th post on the SPS forum is about a parasite or small animal threat. LPS, zoa & softie forums are packed with scary tales as well. After almost 3 years keeping & 4 years reading, I just haven't encountered forum accounts of verified parasite deaths of large polyp stony NPS like suns or dendros, or other NPS for that matter. Mortality seems to be all related to improper handling, feeding, algae & water params to a lesser degree. I have always considered these guys very hardy for those willing & able to feed appropriately & keep the algae at bay, even though they have a reputation of being "difficult"'or "expert" corals.
Just curious, anybody out there have any knowledge of confirmed parasite related deaths from the organisms cited above or other critters, in the home aquaria? Did it happen to you? What did you do about it and did it work? I'm planning a dedicated NPS tank & want to know more on the subject. TIA!
Yes algae & Cyanobacteria, even the garden varieties, are bad news for NPS like suns, dendros, sea fans etc. It happened to me starting out with NPS. I just did not put plants & bacteria in the parasite category! Do you know if the ones you site appear in our captive systems?
It's weird though....it seems every 4th post on the SPS forum is about a parasite or small animal threat. LPS, zoa & softie forums are packed with scary tales as well. After almost 3 years keeping & 4 years reading, I just haven't encountered forum accounts of verified parasite deaths of large polyp stony NPS like suns or dendros, or other NPS for that matter. Mortality seems to be all related to improper handling, feeding, algae & water params to a lesser degree. I have always considered these guys very hardy for those willing & able to feed appropriately & keep the algae at bay, even though they have a reputation of being "difficult"'or "expert" corals.
Just curious, anybody out there have any knowledge of confirmed parasite related deaths from the organisms cited above or other critters, in the home aquaria? Did it happen to you? What did you do about it and did it work? I'm planning a dedicated NPS tank & want to know more on the subject. TIA!
stunreefer
Reef Hugger
To add to Colt from the same 'source', there's a couple snail species to look out for as well:
"EpitoniumBilleeanum: This snail preys on coenosarc and polyps of TubastraeaTenuilamellosa and T. Faulkneri. Note that the colour of this predator, matches the livery of most, commonly found, T. Faulkneri. E. Billeeanum (i)also lays its perfectly camouflaged bright yellow eggs (ii) amongst the Tubastraea colony, to offer protection from predators.
Amaea spp: Amaea species, prey upon the coenosarc and polyps of Tubastraea Aurea"
Personally I've witnessed tiny crabs living within the polyp of Rhizotrochus typus, along with Dendrophyllia sp (likely D. fistula). The crab was similar in structure to an emerald crab, but brown and about 1/4" across. They would freely crawl in and out of the corals mouth. Infected corals would still eat a little, but would be noticeably irritated, namely drooping mouths. Eventually they would kill the coral. I've seen them come in on three separate shipments, two of which came from different collection sites. I was able to eradicate them with a Revive + interceptor dip. I'm not sure which one actually killed the crabs... at the time I wanted them gone and threw the medicine cabinet at them, so to speak.
We will certainly identify more pesky critters with our beloved NPC down the line. For now I highly recommend dipping them vigorously (IME LP NPC take harsh dips in stride), QTing for a couple weeks minimum to observe, then repeating the dip process prior to adding to your display.
"EpitoniumBilleeanum: This snail preys on coenosarc and polyps of TubastraeaTenuilamellosa and T. Faulkneri. Note that the colour of this predator, matches the livery of most, commonly found, T. Faulkneri. E. Billeeanum (i)also lays its perfectly camouflaged bright yellow eggs (ii) amongst the Tubastraea colony, to offer protection from predators.
Amaea spp: Amaea species, prey upon the coenosarc and polyps of Tubastraea Aurea"
There's a myriad of parasites and inverts that feed exclusively on non-photosynthetic coral, or that will feed on them and other coral as well. There's just not very many hobbyists that keep non-photos, and generally the aforementioned improper handling, feeding, etc. get in the way well before a parasite or invert could be identified.
Personally I've witnessed tiny crabs living within the polyp of Rhizotrochus typus, along with Dendrophyllia sp (likely D. fistula). The crab was similar in structure to an emerald crab, but brown and about 1/4" across. They would freely crawl in and out of the corals mouth. Infected corals would still eat a little, but would be noticeably irritated, namely drooping mouths. Eventually they would kill the coral. I've seen them come in on three separate shipments, two of which came from different collection sites. I was able to eradicate them with a Revive + interceptor dip. I'm not sure which one actually killed the crabs... at the time I wanted them gone and threw the medicine cabinet at them, so to speak.
We will certainly identify more pesky critters with our beloved NPC down the line. For now I highly recommend dipping them vigorously (IME LP NPC take harsh dips in stride), QTing for a couple weeks minimum to observe, then repeating the dip process prior to adding to your display.
ahmed_iAM
New member
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1He0DbG2ky9sgA8VMa4yET_u9AzUDYLCUvb4kEeWivLo/edit?usp=sharing. Here is a better picture. It is that little brown strand. If its nothing to worry about than thanks guys. It move though, if it was any types of waste it would have been blow off. I keep the suncoral in a higher flow area.
stunreefer
Reef Hugger
Your coral looks very healthy. I would keep an eye on it and not worry to much about it unless you see negative reaction. Many of my non-photos have various types of filter feeding hitch hikers that came in with the coral however do not harm the coral.
coltrref
New member
the snail in action who discovered by 2009, eating a few polyps.
and to leave a souvenir eggs :sad2:
