I have (2) bubbles and (2) pearls in a reef tank. I have had them for months. As I was cleaning the glass with the magnet- I noticed the body of one pearlwas mostly separated from the skeleton. It looks normal. What would be the causes of this? About a year ago, or so, I had a cynarina lift off it's skeleton. it lived like this for about 5 months.
Pearl coral detaching
- Thread starter Dawn II
- Start date
Lockhartia
New member
How much flow is the coral getting? I've lost a few heads of frogspawns when my powerhead's suction cups let go and it aimed at the frogspawn. Lifted the polyps clean out of the skeleton.
What are some parameters as well? Anything annoying it, like a clownfish that may be hosting in it?
What are some parameters as well? Anything annoying it, like a clownfish that may be hosting in it?
Lockhartia
New member
Actually the frogspawn head IS still alive! How, I'm not so sure. It doesn't look too happy though.
Have you examined the skeleton closely? When I was managing a LFS I noticed that a lot of times, when we got bubbles/pearls, those annoying little snails would get in them and cause havoc. This happened all the time on the green bubbles for some reason.
Maybe try doing an iodine dip to weed out the possibility of some sort of parasite? When in doubt, do a water change!
Have there been any changes to the tank recently? This time of year (I remember from working at the store) would get busy with questions because as the weather warmed up, customer's tanks would change, even if only a degree or two, and start a chain reaction. Just some more thoughts.
Have you examined the skeleton closely? When I was managing a LFS I noticed that a lot of times, when we got bubbles/pearls, those annoying little snails would get in them and cause havoc. This happened all the time on the green bubbles for some reason.
Maybe try doing an iodine dip to weed out the possibility of some sort of parasite? When in doubt, do a water change!
Have there been any changes to the tank recently? This time of year (I remember from working at the store) would get busy with questions because as the weather warmed up, customer's tanks would change, even if only a degree or two, and start a chain reaction. Just some more thoughts.
I am in florida- I have a chiller with the temp a pretty constant 78.8. I do water changes about every 10 days- just did one. I looked at another of my pearls closer- and there seems to be recession on one part of that one also, although it isn't detached- just a bare area on the skeleton
Lockhartia
New member
Hmm, it sounds like irritation to me. My bubble was mysteriously starting to receed in on spot not that long ago. I couldn't figure out for the life of me why, until one night I came downstairs to get a drink and for fun shined a flashlight on the tank.
I almost died when I saw my torch, which wasn't even close to the bubble, had one disturbingly long (like, 4") sweeper just buried in the bubble's skeleton. They were quickly separated even farther and the bubble's been doing great. (Even ate an entire cardinalfish recently!). Is there anything near yours that may not be playing nicely with it?
Also, have you tried feeding your bubbles/pearls? Aside from cardinalfish, I feed mine half a cube of mysis every few weeks. Just wiggle it around in its bubbles and it grabs right onto it.
I would take a flashlight to the tank at night and see if you can find anything crawling on/near/around it that could potentially be the cause of all the headache. You can find some wierd stuff at night...
I almost died when I saw my torch, which wasn't even close to the bubble, had one disturbingly long (like, 4") sweeper just buried in the bubble's skeleton. They were quickly separated even farther and the bubble's been doing great. (Even ate an entire cardinalfish recently!). Is there anything near yours that may not be playing nicely with it?
Also, have you tried feeding your bubbles/pearls? Aside from cardinalfish, I feed mine half a cube of mysis every few weeks. Just wiggle it around in its bubbles and it grabs right onto it.
I would take a flashlight to the tank at night and see if you can find anything crawling on/near/around it that could potentially be the cause of all the headache. You can find some wierd stuff at night...
