Desh (Acantho) leaving its stony base

[hsp]

I was a week away (someone watched the tank and fed, etc., etc.), and when I returned, my desh seemed to be leaving its stony base. Otherwise, it looks healthy--I think. Any advice on what to do, if anything? Maybe it's the wrong position? Flow issue? Thanks!

 

[crazyfishmom]

Wow… never seen an Acantho do that. Do you have a basket you can put it in to protect it? Looks healthy. Super head scratcher for sure.

 

[hsp]

Wow… never seen an Acantho do that. Do you have a basket you can put it in to protect it? Looks healthy. Super head scratcher for sure.

Thanks! So, I would put it in an anemone basket and place it on the sand? What then?

 

[crazyfishmom]

Thanks! So, I would put it in an anemone basket and place it on the sand? What then?

To be honest, not sure. These guys are typically finicky to begin with. In other LPS bailout is typically a death sentence but there are instances of incomplete bailout (one of my elegances did this and is still doing really well) where people have gotten the polyp to stay healthy by keeping it off the sand in an isolation box and away from potential scavengers that could hurt the polyp some more. In my case, my elegance never fully detached, about 1/3 of the polyp came off the skeleton and I thought it would die. I moved it to a basket and off the sand for about 3 weeks and kept it in mid flow. It didn’t get worse and started to expand like normal so I fed it a couple of times a week and then placed it back in the sand and it’s been doing well since.

 

[hsp]

To be honest, not sure. These guys are typically finicky to begin with. In other LPS bailout is typically a death sentence but there are instances of incomplete bailout (one of my elegances did this and is still doing really well) where people have gotten the polyp to stay healthy by keeping it off the sand in an isolation box and away from potential scavengers that could hurt the polyp some more. In my case, my elegance never fully detached, about 1/3 of the polyp came off the skeleton and I thought it would die. I moved it to a basket and off the sand for about 3 weeks and kept it in mid flow. It didn’t get worse and started to expand like normal so I fed it a couple of times a week and then placed it back in the sand and it’s been doing well since.

Thanks! I will try to this and keep posting the status.

 

[hsp]

When I turned the base to have the polyp right side up, I found 4 worms under the base. Could this be the cause of the problem? What are they? I put them in a white dish to photograph.

 

[Tommy B]

Fireworms?

 

[crazyfishmom]

Not sure if fireworms or bristleworms but yes, these guys can cause major issues for acanthos.

 

[hsp]

Not sure if fireworms or bristleworms but yes, these guys can cause major issues for acanthos.

Ugh...

 

[Miami Reef]

I have those worms if I lift any coral or rock that’s on the bottom of the tank. It doesn’t mean that’s the cause of every coral issue.

My corals are very healthy FWIW.

 

[hsp]

I have those worms if I lift any coral or rock that’s on the bottom of the tank. It doesn’t mean that’s the cause of every coral issue.

My corals are very healthy FWIW.

Good to hear!

 

[Miami Reef]

Here are my collection. I’m sure if I lift any of them, I’ll get a few worms flying from the bottom. They just like the nestle under things.

 

[hsp]

Here are my collection. I’m sure if I lift any of them, I’ll get a few worms flying from the bottom. They just like the nestle under things.

Beautiful!

 

[crazyfishmom]

As far as I understand, while these worms are common in every reef tank, sometimes they burrow into the skeleton causing issues.

 

[hsp]

Here are my collection. I’m sure if I lift any of them, I’ll get a few worms flying from the bottom. They just like the nestle under things.

BTW, I noticed your corals on the bottom are all touching each other--at least, it looks like ie. How do you avoid any coral aggression?

 

[Miami Reef]

BTW, I noticed your corals on the bottom are all touching each other--at least, it looks like ie. How do you avoid any coral aggression?

Are you referring to trachyphyllia and the acanthophyllia corals? They are safe to touch each other.

Lobophyllia is a different story. Those things are super aggressive. I never tried to let it near them. I have it separate.

 

[hsp]

Are you referring to trachyphyllia and the acanthophyllia corals? They are safe to touch each other.

Lobophyllia is a different story. Those things are super aggressive. I never tried to let it near them. I have it separate.

Sorry--new to the hobby and still struggle to recognise all species. Which ones do you have here? I prepared numbers in your image:

Thanks!!!

 

[Miami Reef]

Sorry--new to the hobby and still struggle to recognise all species. Which ones do you have here? I prepared numbers in your image:

Thanks!!!

1, 5, 6 = Acanthophyllia
2, 3, 7, 8, 9 = Trachyphyllia
4 = I don’t know :P