SPS with white strings

[Jarred1]

I have noticed little white strings about 1/4" coming off some of my SPS corals. They aren't coming out from where the polyps are. What are these things?

Jarred

 

[bamf25]

Did they appear after a water change or dosing? If so the corals may be sliming, mine will do that sometimes after water changes.

 

[smtank]

Mesenterial filaments.

Used as a defense mechanism in coral aggression and serves as part of the digestive system.

 

[Jarred1]

What should I do to make them go away? Are they a good or bad sign?


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[rogerwilco357]

I think it is normal ..do they look like worms long skinny filament type?

 

[Jarred1]

Skinny fillements.


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[JSeymour]

Sounds like mesenterial filaments as smtank said. MASA - Mesenteric Filaments

As long as the coral in question isn't too close to another, it's likely feeding. I have a few sps corals that show them almost continuously. Here is a pic of a millepora of mine feeding on pureed clam and oyster.

 

[Jarred1]

Thank you for the link, I never knew that corals digested food externally. It makes since for me to see them because I have been feeding the tank a coral food I was given to me.

Jarred

 

[JSeymour]

Any time. Here's a link to the first part of a series of articles written by Eric Borneman about corals and food sources. Links to the rest of the series are at the bottom. Very interesting reading, just be careful translating it to aquarium use, i.e. overfeeding. It's amazing the variety of methods corals use to capture food and the immense quantity they can consume.

From the Food of Reefs to the Food of Corals