Coral Beauty Damaging Coral

[SAWFISH]

Hi, all

I just got a new colony of green slimer acro in my 90 gallon tank. I have had a coral beauty in the tank for around 2 months and he immediately started picking at the coral. When the coral beauty picks at the coral though there are no marks left on the coral, the polyps just retract and then eventually come back out.

Should I still be concerned about the coral beauty damaging the coral even if I cannot see any damage with my eyes?

Thank You!

 

[piranhaman00]

Yes

 

[vetteguy53081]

It is classified reef safe caution for this very reason

 

[SAWFISH]

So would you guys go ahead and remove the coral beauty from the tank or do you have any suggestions for how to get it to pick less? As is it doesn't pick a whole lot and spends more time picking the rocks then the coral. I was thinking adding some nori sheets might distract him from the coral. If I need to remove him I will, but I'd like to see if there are any other options

 

[92Miata]

Dwarf Angels are surface feeders. They 'pick' at basically everything. Its totally normal.

The question is - is it picking enough to cause damage/stress to the coral? Or, is it outright eating coral?

If its not - I'd leave it.

 

[LeftyReefer]

My coral beauty only picks at algae, not my corals. I've had one for a few months now and no issues at all with it picking at corals. If he isn't even leaving a mark on the coral, then I wouldn't worry about it. He's probably just picking at algae, not the coral too.

 

[SAWFISH]

Yes

It is classified reef safe caution for this very reason

For those of you who said the coral beauty is still doing damage could you elaborate. Is there anything specifically I could look for to see if permanent damage is being done? I have read some threads that said if the polyps were staying permanently closed then that is when you need to worry

 

[Fishnut]

If the coral is a small frag it will most likely die from the constant picking. If it is a big colony it has a better chance. Any new frag that I put in the tank, my angels would immediately start nipping and eventually killing it.

 

[SAWFISH]

The coral is the one pictured here. I got it from a local reefer and it is pretty big so I am hoping it will be able to take the picking

 

[vetteguy53081]

For those of you who said the coral beauty is still doing damage could you elaborate. Is there anything specifically I could look for to see if permanent damage is being done? I have read some threads that said if the polyps were staying permanently closed then that is when you need to worry

Obvious bite marks, corals closed up, tissue damage and constant nipping at coral as a fish would do on the glass