Someone is tasting SPS corals and here is the list of suspects

[jrb466]

Someone is tasting SPS corals and here is the list of suspects.

4 Dispar Anthias
3 Yellow Tangs
2 Potters Angels
2 Chalk Bass
One Spot Foxface
Sailfin Tang
Blue Tang
Bartlett's Anthias
Tomni Tang
CBB
Black Chromis
Cleaner Wrasse
Diamond Watchman Goby

New additions

Yellow Clown Goby - Cleared out a roost in my Blue Tort but no other damage so far
Mystery Wrasse
Blue Spotted Jawfish
Blue Star Leopard Wrasse


I can't pinpoint the coral muncher in the bunch. The spots appeared before the new additions so I think they are cleared from the list. Has anyone owned a fish on the list that is a known SPS coral muncher?

 

[ttam]

I'd say the potters angels.

 

[Dmorty217]

This is easy, it's the potters. When in doubt blame the dwarf angels

 

[AuburnTiger1]

I agree most likely the potters but guesses aren't much without proof.

 

[saltfishguy18]

Potters would be my guess

 

[eatbreakfast]

What type of cleaner wrasse? Some species sold as cleaner wrasses are obligate coralivore.

Clown gobies will kill sections of sps to lay eggs, but damage is usually localized to a single colony, as you have described.

 

[albano]

Is blue tang a hippo?

 

[jrb466]

I've had one the them for 2 years and recently ( 6mo ) paired them up. I was hoping that wasn't the answer but the newer potters is my suspect also. One frag was cleaned like corn on the cob with a couple of polyps left yet other corals remain untouched. I've had flames and coral beauties in the past with no issues(SPS Eating).

Are there any fish whisperer's in the crowd?

Why after 6 months?

Does this happen from time to time with dwarf angels or once it starts you can kiss your SPS goodbye?

Is this more common in younger dwarf angels for dietary reasons and goes away?

I have read extensively before taking on the potters angels and I know they say "with Caution" but based on my experience (not enough obviously) this is a first for me.

 

[jrb466]

Is blue tang a hippo?

Yes it's a hippo tang.

 

[jrb466]

What type of cleaner wrasse? Some species sold as cleaner wrasses are obligate coralivore.

Clown gobies will kill sections of sps to lay eggs, but damage is usually localized to a single colony, as you have described.

I'm pretty sure it's a common cleaner wrasse only because the tangs allow it to clean them all the time.

I hope the clown goby plays nice because he will be a huge pain to catch. So far it's just a localized area.

 

[albano]

Yes it's a hippo tang.

Add that to the list with Potters

 

[jcdeng]

I thought dwarf angels are most known for nipping LPS and softies? Is your tank a SPS dominant tank?

 

[Dmorty217]

I thought dwarf angels are most known for nipping LPS and softies? Is your tank a SPS dominant tank?

Most known... Doesn't mean they won't do it. Like Albano mentioned the hippo may be a problem too if under fed they will sometimes eat corals. I have heard of them eating aiptasia, zoas, various soft corals and LPS and SPS alike. If he is the culprit then you need tot feed more

 

[jrb466]

I thought dwarf angels are most known for nipping LPS and softies? Is your tank a SPS dominant tank?

The tank is a SPS only tank with a clam.

I feed twice a day Rod's and PE Mysis plus crossover diet pellets via AFS couple times a day. I think I overfeed if I were to critique my feeding habits but fat fish are happy fish.

I've been watching the angel's since they were my main suspects but since the hippo has been fingered I might just QT him for a couple of weeks to see if that changes the equation.

 

[footballdude2k3]

I haven't seen a hippo eat corals if they are ever fed, I would lean towards the angel

 

[ahmed_iAM]

Angel or Goby. Monitor at night if you can. Sometimes they will come out and nip at them.

 

[MikeandNicole]

Sps tank I am going with the cbb

 

[jgalen0025]

yellow clown gobies only eat sps polyps in the wild. I had one and one hour after introducing it, it was eating sps polyps and was removed.

 

[fishlee]

Blue tang or angel

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Someone is tasting SPS corals and here is the list of suspects

I would put the angel in QT or sump and see if corals start doing better.