Tubes around elegance coral.

[Lacktaters]

I've had this australian elegance coral for a few weeks now and can't stop wondering about these holes around it. There are probably four or five of them ranging from about 2 mm to 1 cm in diameter. One of the smallest ones appears to have an inhabitant. A tiny red and white "feather duster looking thing" that has a small "plug" that covers its hole when it recedes. Those are all technical/scientific terms of course. I apologize for my lack of knowledge. I tried to get a picture, but it's on the back side of the coral, and I couldn't get it in focus. Maybe one of you could identify this hitchhiker from the detailed description I've provided as well as provide suggestions on how to get rid of it if that is necessary.

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[Sebastian J.]

Gall crabs (Fungicola sp.). They seem to be a common parasite in Catalyphyllias. Like with boring clams or sponges, the worst case scenario is that they die off and take the coral with them when they rot.

You can remove them quite easily with forceps - just forcefully jam them in past their back shield and rip the little pest out.

 

[elegance coral]

Looks like the crabs are already gone. Can you see a round, trap door looking thing, down inside the tubes? If not, the crabs are already gone.