HELP! HOLE in Favia colony!

[NewCaliCaptives]

Anyone know what could be causing this? It looks like something bored a hole in my favia colony. The tank has been fallow for 3 weeks, only critters in there are 2 emerald crabs, a long spine urchin, and 2 turbo snails. There could be more, it was set up with florida live rock and I have pulled some Whelk Snails out in the past.

 

[DenverSaltyFarm]

my guess is the emerald crabs. some will eat corals they are always a risk

 

[TX_REEF]

I have seen emerald crabs eat healthy LPS as well.

 

[VintageReefer]

They could come for the bubble algae in that spot and stay for the lps dessert

 

[NewCaliCaptives]

I was thinking emeralds too, but it looks more like a “bored” hole that even goes into the skeleton. I also haven’t ever seen any emeralds on the island this is on.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I was thinking emeralds too, but it looks more like a “bored” hole that even goes into the skeleton. I also haven’t ever seen any emeralds on the island this is on.

Agree and these corals are subject to coral boring spinoid worms which are best seen at lights ou with a flashlight. For bubble algae, take a small needle and have 3/8 tubing ready and attach to end of tubing with rubber band and pop each one and siphon at same time- You will have removed all spores and foreign material in area.
Had to do this in the past with birdsnest coral and was gone 100%.
Other option is to add pitho crabs or emerald crabs (which I do not trust) which will eat them

 

[NewCaliCaptives]

I was thinking emeralds too, but it looks more like a “bored” hole that even goes into the skeleton. I also haven’t ever seen any emeralds on the island this is on.

Agree and these corals are subject to coral boring spinoid worms which are best seen at lights ou with a flashlight. For bubble algae, take a small needle and have 3/8 tubing ready and attach to end of tubing with rubber band and pop each one and siphon at same time- You will have removed all spores and foreign material in area.
Had to do this in the past with birdsnest coral and was gone 100%.
Other option is to add pitho crabs or emerald crabs (which I do not trust) which will eat them

I’ll check it out tonight, i didn’t see anything after lights out last night but it was only off for like 15 minutes. Since we work full time my lights come on later and don’t go off until 11 so i don’t have much time to search during the week. What would be the best way to rid of these? Colony is encrusted on the rock and a pretty decent size.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’ll check it out tonight, i didn’t see anything after lights out last night but it was only off for like 15 minutes. Since we work full time my lights come on later and don’t go off until 11 so i don’t have much time to search during the week. What would be the best way to rid of these? Colony is encrusted on the rock and a pretty decent size.

Gel super glue over the holes. They try to get out and get stuck to it

 

[F i s h y]

For the sake of conversation, there is no evidence other than anecdotal that popping bubble algae causes it to spread, this quote is from BRS and is not the only one i have seen...

Common Myths About Bubble Algae​

• Myth 1: Popping the bubbles releases spores, causing more algae.​

  Fact: While it's commonly believed that rupturing the bubbles releases spores that float through the water column to grow elsewhere, this isn't the case. The bulbs do not contain reproductive spores and the algae spreads throughout your tank when a single bubble comes loose only to float about and settle elsewhere. When removing Bubble Algae, it is fine to pop the Bubbles, just be sure to remove the algae entirely from your aquarium and don't leave even the smallest bubble to float about and spread.

• Myth 2: Bubble algae indicate poor water quality.​

  Fact: Bubble algae can thrive even in tanks with good water quality. Their presence doesn't necessarily mean your water parameters are off, but maintaining optimal conditions can help control their growth.

I also dont think that an emerald crab actually bored into the skeleton of the coral, and i dont think that it was done by a coral boring spinoid worms, the area seems to large for that. i suspect there is another culprit in the tank. you mentioned an urchin, is it a rock boring urchin by chance ( EDIT i see you said its a long spine)? This could be caused by a rock boring urchin and they are common florida and gulf hitchhikers.

 

[VintageReefer]

For the sake of conversation, there is no evidence other than anecdotal that popping bubble algae causes it to spread, this quote is from BRS and is not the only one i have seen...

Common Myths About Bubble Algae​

• Myth 1: Popping the bubbles releases spores, causing more algae.​

  Fact: While it's commonly believed that rupturing the bubbles releases spores that float through the water column to grow elsewhere, this isn't the case. The bulbs do not contain reproductive spores and the algae spreads throughout your tank when a single bubble comes loose only to float about and settle elsewhere. When removing Bubble Algae, it is fine to pop the Bubbles, just be sure to remove the algae entirely from your aquarium and don't leave even the smallest bubble to float about and spread.

• Myth 2: Bubble algae indicate poor water quality.​

  Fact: Bubble algae can thrive even in tanks with good water quality. Their presence doesn't necessarily mean your water parameters are off, but maintaining optimal conditions can help control their growth.

I also dont think that an emerald crab actually bored into the skeleton of the coral, and i dont think that it was done by a coral boring spinoid worms, the area seems to large for that. i suspect there is another culprit in the tank. you mentioned an urchin, is it a rock boring urchin by chance ( EDIT i see you said its a long spine)? This could be caused by a rock boring urchin and they are common florida and gulf hitchhikers.

Agree

If it was the spinoid worms the holes would be tiny, and the worms tubes would be visible and protruding.

As we sure the missing tissue isn’t just showing the natural formation of skeleton below, which would be lots of cup shapes under the location of each polyp? A polyp is missing, and the structure below would naturally be a cup / bowl shape in this location

 

[NewCaliCaptives]

For the sake of conversation, there is no evidence other than anecdotal that popping bubble algae causes it to spread, this quote is from BRS and is not the only one i have seen...

Common Myths About Bubble Algae​

• Myth 1: Popping the bubbles releases spores, causing more algae.​

  Fact: While it's commonly believed that rupturing the bubbles releases spores that float through the water column to grow elsewhere, this isn't the case. The bulbs do not contain reproductive spores and the algae spreads throughout your tank when a single bubble comes loose only to float about and settle elsewhere. When removing Bubble Algae, it is fine to pop the Bubbles, just be sure to remove the algae entirely from your aquarium and don't leave even the smallest bubble to float about and spread.

• Myth 2: Bubble algae indicate poor water quality.​

  Fact: Bubble algae can thrive even in tanks with good water quality. Their presence doesn't necessarily mean your water parameters are off, but maintaining optimal conditions can help control their growth.

I also dont think that an emerald crab actually bored into the skeleton of the coral, and i dont think that it was done by a coral boring spinoid worms, the area seems to large for that. i suspect there is another culprit in the tank. you mentioned an urchin, is it a rock boring urchin by chance ( EDIT i see you said its a long spine)? This could be caused by a rock boring urchin and they are common florida and gulf hitchhikers.

Agree

If it was the spinoid worms the holes would be tiny, and the worms tubes would be visible and protruding.

As we sure the missing tissue isn’t just showing the natural formation of skeleton below, which would be lots of cup shapes under the location of each polyp? A polyp is missing, and the structure below would naturally be a cup / bowl shape in this location

I was thinking about that as well, i wish i had pictures of that specific spot before this happened, but it looks to be around the rim of polyps. Not where an actual polyp would have been.

 

[NewCaliCaptives]

I guess a boring urchin is possible, however i haven’t seen any in the tank. The rock was added 2-3 years ago so i would think i would’ve seen something by now. Such a head scratcher! I’ll try to get a pic of the urchin tonight and maybe a better pic of the favia if i can.

I really appreciate your input guys!

 

[NewCaliCaptives]

Update: I still have no idea what caused this hole, but it did completely heal.