Sixline wrasse nipping at my birdsnest coral!

[reefmaister]

I tried to research this but didn't find anything. I've had a sixline before and I know they usually arent a problem in reef tanks. But I've noticed that he will swim around the 12" birdsnest colony and pick at the polyps in various places. I'm sure a few of you are thinking it's some kind of parasite he's going after, but I don't believe that's the case. I dip all my corals and I can clearly see that what he's going after is the polyps. Has anyone heard of this, or had this problem?

btw I have a healthy pod population...he has plenty of other food options!

 

[Bonta]

Are you feeding him enough ?
Is it bad enough that its harming your SPS colony ?

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I would almost guarantee that hes picking at small motile inverts. It is unlikely, to the point of almost being impossible, that he is consuming SPS tissue or polyps.

 

[reefmaister]

The birdsnest colony is huge, and so far I only see a few damaged polyps here and there. I understand your convictions Jmaney, if I didnt see it with my own eyes, I'd feel the same way. If it were small inverts he was nipping at, I'd think there would be some evidence of irritation on the colony from the pests. I have spent a long time staring at the colony, in the open areas he picks at, and havent seen any inverts whatsoever. Dipped the coral before I put it in the tank. Also, I have other bn in the tank and a variety of other corals, yet he seems to focus only on this one. I'll keep you posted as time goes on. Anyone out there experience similar unusual behavior?

"It is unlikely, to the point of almost being impossible, that he is consuming SPS tissue or polyps." --what's to prevent a rogue sixline from doing so? just curious

 

[jmaneyapanda]

The birdsnest colony is huge, and so far I only see a few damaged polyps here and there. I understand your convictions Jmaney, if I didnt see it with my own eyes, I'd feel the same way. If it were small inverts he was nipping at, I'd think there would be some evidence of irritation on the colony from the pests. I have spent a long time staring at the colony, in the open areas he picks at, and havent seen any inverts whatsoever. Dipped the coral before I put it in the tank. Also, I have other bn in the tank and a variety of other corals, yet he seems to focus only on this one. I'll keep you posted as time goes on. Anyone out there experience similar unusual behavior?

"It is unlikely, to the point of almost being impossible, that he is consuming SPS tissue or polyps." --what's to prevent a rogue sixline from doing so? just curious

Not all motile inverts are bad. Im sure that every mature tank has badillions which we dont ever see. But Im sure a sixline would. That is what they are made to do. Particluarly is a coral had some sort of injury, and were sliming, which would draw attention of coral slime eating organisms- ie- small motile inverts. Its really a "chicken and egg" predicament, but, as a broad and general overviewish principle, I have a very hard time swallowing the principle that a planktivores suddenly decides to eat coral polyps, figures out how to adequately predate them, and then be so interesting in them to focus on it. But, I could be wrong.

While it isnt impossible for a fish to do so, I just think that a fish, such as a sixline, which constantly pecks at corals and substrates for invert prey, would only have this one very rare occurance. In other fish, like angels, tangs, etc, which are picking at the rocks, substrate, etc, trhey often becomes damaging to corals. As sixline reasonably do the same, why arent there FAR more occurances, then?

JMO.