I have a seemingly very healthy hammer coral that has split from 2 to 4 heads and now has babies budding all in 6 months. But a couple days ago I noticed the base skeleton below the tissue is dissolving or being chewed away. Previously the base had become infested with some kind of feather duster type filter feeder, I don't know the name but they looked like single white feathers extending straight out. I took the coral out and scrubbed them off with a toothbrush about 2 weeks ago. Now this week I noticed the skeleton damaged. Did they weaken the skeleton or is this something else? I have another hammer and frogspawn close by and neither have any issues. I don't have any livestock that would chew on calcium, however I recently added a foxface, maybe he was trying to eat algae off the base and the skeleton broke apart, having been weakened by the filter feeders? His mouth is tiny compared to the size of the coral so I find this hard to believe. Or is this a know issue with euphyllia?
Should I fill the holes in the base with epoxy to prevent any further damage?
Thanks for any ideas.
Should I fill the holes in the base with epoxy to prevent any further damage?
Thanks for any ideas.