Fleshy looking lumps under torch coral tissue

[Vdlibrtr]

Hey all, assuming this torch is fine but curious as to what this is, not sure if it caught some food and is eating or if irritated, hasn't been retracted lately and all water params are in my standard range. Just curious to know if this can be identified.. TIA!

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Any chance you can upload some pictures of it under white light?

 

[Vdlibrtr]

Any chance you can upload some pictures of it under white light?

added an orange filter , here's one with white lighting

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

added an orange filter , here's one with white lighting

The ones on the coral by the head are mesenterial filaments (a sign of stress/bad health in this case); the ones by the base are pineapple sponges (Genus Sycon) - they're harmless filter feeders.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Agree with @ISpeakForTheSeas, Looks like either pineapple sponge or some other bulbous sponge. Either way harmless

 

[Vdlibrtr]

The ones on the coral by the head are mesenterial filaments (a sign of stress/bad health in this case); the ones by the base are pineapple sponges (Genus Sycon) - they're harmless filter feeders.

yeah thats what I was worried about! thanks for thr answer... this torch had almost zero tissue when I bought it but during the day its been super fluffy.. would you suggest a dip?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

yeah thats what I was worried about! thanks for thr answer... this torch had almost zero tissue when I bought it but during the day its been super fluffy.. would you suggest a dip?

Without knowing what seems to be irritating it, I personally wouldn't, but others might. Is there anything that could be bothering it - something else in the tank (such as a fish, invert, or neighboring coral) maybe?

 

[sfin52]

Looks like sponges

 

[Vdlibrtr]

Without knowing what seems to be irritating it, I personally wouldn't, but others might. Is there anything that could be bothering it - something else in the tank (such as a fish, invert, or neighboring coral) maybe?

I don't think so.. its neighboring corals have remained the same (more torches) no new additions or anything and my parameters are where they've always been... it looks super irritated in the photo but 20 min later its looking normal... I think it may be just growing pains or something, its right near where it was fragged through what looked like existing flesh so hoping its a one off.

Thanks for all the useful info, ill just keep an eye on it!

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

I don't think so.. its neighboring corals have remained the same (more torches) no new additions or anything and my parameters are where they've always been... it looks super irritated in the photo but 20 min later its looking normal... I think it may be just growing pains or something, its right near where it was fragged through what looked like existing flesh so hoping its a one off.

Thanks for all the useful info, ill just keep an eye on it!

Keep a keen eye out for euphyllia-eating flatworms. This kind of behavior can be typical for an infestation, that and tissue recession

 

[Vdlibrtr]

Keep a keen eye out for euphyllia-eating flatworms. This kind of behavior can be typical for an infestation, that and tissue recession

I actually see little white bugs crawling on multiple torch polyps now. ive had red planaria and euphyllia eating flatworms in the past... reading that interceptor works but might try a coral dip called ME

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

I actually see little white bugs crawling on multiple torch polyps now. ive had red planaria and euphyllia eating flatworms in the past... reading that interceptor works but might try a coral dip called ME

I don't think white bugs affect LPS, @ISpeakForTheSeas any knowelage on this?

Most likely they're just pods IMO but always good to be sure

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I don't think white bugs affect LPS, @ISpeakForTheSeas any knowelage on this?

Most likely they're just pods IMO but always good to be sure

Xarifia gracilipes is a parasitic pod known to go after Euphyllia glabrescens (torch corals), so it's possible:

Aquarium Corals: Stony Coral Parasites: Red and Black Bugs: Identification Guide, Preventive Measures, and a Review of Treatment Protocols

This article is but a small tool for use by serious hobbyists in answering many questions.

reefs.com

Aquarium Corals: Stony Coral Parasites, Part Two: Copepods: Family Xarifiidae

Dana continues last month's discussion about copepods.

reefs.com

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Xarifia gracilipes is a parasitic pod known to go after Euphyllia glabrescens (torch corals), so it's possible:

Aquarium Corals: Stony Coral Parasites: Red and Black Bugs: Identification Guide, Preventive Measures, and a Review of Treatment Protocols

This article is but a small tool for use by serious hobbyists in answering many questions.

reefs.com

Aquarium Corals: Stony Coral Parasites, Part Two: Copepods: Family Xarifiidae

Dana continues last month's discussion about copepods.

reefs.com

I think I did see a thread earlier on an infestation of some sort of white pod/crustacean on a frogspawn.

 

[Vdlibrtr]

I don't think white bugs affect LPS, @ISpeakForTheSeas any knowelage on this?

Most likely they're just pods IMO but always good to be sure

i only have them on two out of ten torches and have found some threads on here about people with the same thing. if it weren't for the unusual mesenterial filaments I wouldn't be concerned.

Some of the threads I've found have suggested a Six line wrasse might eat them... also killed lots of pods with ME coral dip but these guys remain... im probably jumping the gun since the corals are doing well this morning and those filaments went away, so ill wait on a dip to see if the wrasse doesn't do the trick and do some research in the meantime.

pics of the dip and the second coral... the white dots on the left side in the darker areas are all over and skitter around.


Merry Christmas, and thanks for the help everyone

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Yeah, there's no guarantee these things are an issue (or even that the coral is necessarily unhealthy - I'm not a coral expert, and I'm definitely not an expert with recovering corals), but I'd think it's something to keep an eye on for sure. Since you know what two corals currently have them, I'd say to observe those corals and see if the other one starts potentially showing issues too.