Clove polyp looking hitchhiker

John3 · Jan 6, 2018

Had a coral rock shift on me today and just noticed a little patch of some sort of hitchhiker on the backside. I don’t think I have seen this before. Anyone know what it is and more importantly do I need to worry about this stuff spreading onto my rock work? Picture is under white light. It looks maroon under blues.

Lovemyreef2015 · Jan 6, 2018

Looks like clove polyps. They will spread and can take over if aloud.

John3 · Jan 6, 2018

Figures... lol

It’s on a separate rock with some recovering favia. Since it’s on the back of a thick rock anyone think I could just burn it off with a lighter?

Tahoe61 · Jan 6, 2018

Would not introduce to my tank because of their invasive nature. Problem with this clove type is that they broadcast spawn so isolation is not a fool proof method of keeping them in check.

Lovemyreef2015 · Jan 6, 2018

I wouldn't advise using a lighter. If you can remove the rock you can just scrape them off with a razor.

John3 · Jan 6, 2018

Hmm the rock is porous so I’m afraid I can’t scrape it completely off. I could probably crack off the corner of the rock where they are at. Could I superglue over them?

andrewkw · Jan 6, 2018

Do you have a dremel or a band saw? I would cut the blastos off if I could. If I couldn't, I'd consider sacrificing the blastos. I have similar clove polyps in my tank, while they are under control now I'm still a long ways away from being able to eliminate them. Alternatively perhaps keep the blastos off the main rock work isolated. Over time they probably will grow over them but that will likely take years. The polyps I have in my tank seem to grow over softies and sps but lps will grow over them it just takes years.