Euphyllia - red spots - need advice

[John Hathaway]

Hi All,

I’ve had a euphyllia for a while, it’s been healthy and not shown any negative signs until recently. A couple of it’s branches aren’t extended as they used to.

Now I’ve noticed a load of red hitchhikers on it. Anyone know what these are and can help me decide if the euphyllia needs to be removed

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

Hard to tell but looks like it could be boring sponge. Can you get a more focused picture on the red stuff?

 

[KJ]

boring sponge

^^^ After I zoomed in on pic looks like boring sponge.

 

[John Hathaway]

Reefsafe?

 

[John Hathaway]

Reefsafe?

I’ve taken it out, here are better pictures. I want to be sure I’ve not got a bigger problem. Are we sure this is a ‘boring sponge’?

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

It looks like red boring sponge. If it is they bore through coral skeletons which will kill the coral unfortunately. I don't know of any way other then air exposure to kill sponge but being that it is probably inside the skeleton I don't know if you would be successful killing it all.

 

[Coral4coral]

That looks like a pretty large colony when exactly does the sponge kill the coral ?