Small perfect holes in live rock? ID help

smt9595

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This morning I decided to check out my tank with the moonlight on and saw this thing attached to my rock. I thought it was my shrimp molt. I used the turkey baster to try and suck up the molt but it was stuck on there pretty good. I realized it wasn’t a molt, after I got it out after a few attempts I noticed it left a perfect round hole in that spot. I check over the rest of the rock and there were a few more spots with the same exact perfectly round hole. Can anyone help explain this? TIA

339710B3-0D6F-4604-B139-5F4E5A430BD4.jpeg D19C3A37-412A-489E-B7E2-758EEFD82287.jpeg BC56B89B-9006-4652-8802-713789CC4243.jpeg 8B152D42-982E-4136-A67B-892226423430.jpeg
 

Cell

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Sometimes we drill holes in our rock for frag plugs or support rods. If not used, critters may find them cozy. Was this previously used rock perhaps?
 

Reefkeepers Archive

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Did it have any shell or calcified structure? I'm thinking maybe boring clams, though actually the shell would be left in the hole now that I think about it. Can you take one of the rocks out and shine a light into the hole? Can you see any clam shell like structure attached to the walls in the far back?
 

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Interesting, that could be it.
These are smaller diameter holes than frag plugs.
Yeah, then that's about right. They have a reputation of boring into corals like lobophyllia and favia (which is problematic for both, and in lobophyllia often results in their death) though I don't know if they can/do reproduce in aquaria, @ISpeakForTheSeas?
 

ISpeakForTheSeas

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Yeah, then that's about right. They have a reputation of boring into corals like lobophyllia and favia (which is problematic for both, and in lobophyllia often results in their death) though I don't know if they can/do reproduce in aquaria, @ISpeakForTheSeas?
The Wrinkled Rock Borer (Hiatella rugosa, though the name is inaccurately used for others of the genus too) is a coldwater species, so it's definitely not them - some Piddocks (family Pholadidae) are known to bore through rock as well, but they leave a little dumbbell-shaped hole instead of a circular one.

There are a variety of other critters, though, that are known to bore holes through rocks, and one of them may well be responsible for the holes - most are going to be harmless.
 

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The Wrinkled Rock Borer (Hiatella rugosa, though the name is inaccurately used for others of the genus too) is a coldwater species, so it's definitely not them - some Piddocks (family Pholadidae) are known to bore through rock as well, but they leave a little dumbbell-shaped hole instead of a circular one.

There are a variety of other critters, though, that are known to bore holes through rocks, and one of them may well be responsible for the holes - most are going to be harmless.
20240423_181938.jpg

I was thinking of the clam that makes these holes if that's what we're both talking about
 

ISpeakForTheSeas

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20240423_181938.jpg

I was thinking of the clam that makes these holes if that's what we're both talking about
Ah, yeah, there are a bunch of different bivalves that are know to be rock and/or coral-boring species; it's definitely possible one them made the holes.
 

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