What is this?? *PICS*

[BamBam17]

So I've had this Yellow Devil's Hand for about 2 months, seems like it's been doing well. Came home from work yesterday, and it looks like there's a "hole" in it....can anyone tell me what this is? Everything else in the tank seems to be doing ok, minus the cyano that's been my headache for awhile...


<a href="http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/sigepbam/?action=view&current=IMG_0122.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/sigepbam/IMG_0122.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/sigepbam/?action=view&current=IMG_0119.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/sigepbam/IMG_0119.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[BamBam17]

Nobody? Nobody knows what this is??

 

[LaOtIn]

no idea, sorry

glad this is a family, friendly site cause the temptation to make a bad comment is eating at me lol

free bump tho, Id like to know too

 

[BamBam17]

no idea, sorry

glad this is a family, friendly site cause the temptation to make a bad comment is eating at me lol

free bump tho, Id like to know too

I'd be happy hear to hear your bad comment, anytime...

Now where are all these geniouses who know what this is???

 

[kevin28]

swim by shooting ???

 

[BamBam17]

swim by shooting ???

Looks like a drive-by, right??

 

[trondsbr]

Coincidence that you post this. I was just reading the book "The Reef Aquarium Volume 2" by Charles Delbeek and Julian Sprung. Page 36-36.

"Sarocphyton spp. form necrotic areas on the capitulum and the partially severed fragments that result may drop off and form new colonies."

They show an image that looks similar to yours.

Hope this helps.

 

[trondsbr]

I should also add that there are other similar species that do this as well.

 

[BamBam17]

Coincidence that you post this. I was just reading the book "The Reef Aquarium Volume 2" by Charles Delbeek and Julian Sprung. Page 36-36.

"Sarocphyton spp. form necrotic areas on the capitulum and the partially severed fragments that result may drop off and form new colonies."

They show an image that looks similar to yours.

Hope this helps.

Bro, that's really cute but can i get a conclusion? i dont happen to have that book handy....

 

[trondsbr]

that's really cute

..... ok, anyways it means that the tissue turns necrotic on some soft corals so that it will drop a piece off onto the substrate to form a new colony. It is a reproduction method.

 

[Hormigaquatica]

Bro, that's really cute but can i get a conclusion? i dont happen to have that book handy....

Really cute? Its a pretty accurate description of one possible reason- no pictures needed.

That said, I don't think that's whats going on there. The hole is not as clean as what you would normally see in "intentional" capitulum laceration. The area is essentially infected- you either have a parasite burrowing into the tissue, or a bacterial infection is moving in. You can leave it alone and hope it heals on its own, or you can grab a razor and cut out the affected area, about 1/2" into the healthy tissue.

If you leave it, it might heal over, it might cause the coral to break into a few smaller pieces, or it might cause the whole colony to turn to mush. If you cut it out, it may heal up again and be unnoticeable down the road or it might continue to split itself into smaller pieces anyhow. The difference between the two is that its less likely to turn to goo if you cut out the affected area.

 

[Pylos]

The difference between the two is that its less likely to turn to goo if you cut out the affected area.

I agree, I'd take action and cut the affected area away.

 

[BamBam17]

Never done "surgery" on a coral, but i guess there's a first time for everything...thanks for the tips

 

[timi hendrix]

if you decide to yank it out and cut it,wear ur gloves man, and i hear ya on the cyno.cant seem to get mine in check,good luck.

 

[BamBam17]

Do you recommend cutting it out, in or out of the water?

 

[L98-Z]

I had a similar problems with a toadstool leather. I tried to let it heal on it's own and almost lost it. Whatever it was ate away around half the toad stool before I finally decided to trim it. The toadstool has never been the same as it once was but it did recover and is growing again.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Do you recommend cutting it out, in or out of the water?

Out and give it a good rinse in some tank water in a separate container before placing it back into the tank.

 

[BamBam17]

or you can grab a razor and cut out the affected area, about 1/2" into the healthy tissue.

So, to clarify, make an conical incision 1/2" deep and "scoop" out the tissue?

 

[1st timer]

I think he meant to cut 1/2" around the affected area, all the way through the 'hand' so to speak

 

[Hormigaquatica]

I think he meant to cut 1/2" around the affected area, all the way through the 'hand' so to speak

Yeah, what he said. You want to make sure youre cutting away all the affected tissue, so hack out a good 1/2" of healthy stuff all the way around the wound to be sure its clean and bug free.