Pest ID?

[PointerReefs]

Found these white worms on my Trachyphyllia they are thin when underwater the photo shows it differently out of water.. but there seems to be a bunch of them and I think they are actually inside the flesh of it? I don’t think it’s flat worms but I’m no expert.

Have it in a Lugol’s dip right now.

 

[PointerReefs]

 

[Sam7]

Are sure there not some sort of eggs? Just guessing. Did the lugols help?

 

[PointerReefs]

Not sure.. about to take it out now and inspect but it looks to be alive.. at first I thought it was eggs but they seem to be small thin worms of a sort and I could see some through the flesh. Only found on one corner of it though.

 

[LOZReefer]

Reminds me of the "guts" of a mushroom coral. Not sure what it is though.

 

[PointerReefs]

New development, once I removed it from the lugols I’ve now noticed the same worms or whatever this is coming from the mouth of the same effected head

 

[PointerReefs]

Reminds me of the "guts" of a mushroom coral. Not sure what it is though.

That looks very similar I think.

 

[PointerReefs]

If it’s the guts of the coral could it be from tissue damage? Maybe my blue legs crawling all over it

 

[LOZReefer]

New development, once I removed it from the lugols I’ve now noticed the same worms or whatever this is coming from the mouth of the same effected head

Yeah I would consider this to be "normal." It's just the insides of the coral coming out (usually due to stress) but I'm not sure why it would be on the side near/on the skeleton. Maybe someone else can provide some more insight

 

[LOZReefer]

I think I found the word for it. Mesenterial Filaments

Edit: My research suggests this is perfectly normal and is not isolated to just the mouth of coral. These can show up anywhere on the coral flesh.

 

[PointerReefs]

I think I found the word for it. Mesenterial Filaments

Ahh this makes me feel better than a possible burrowing pest lol. Although still brings the question how it happened.. otherwise it is very happy and extended all the time.

 

[LOZReefer]

Ahh this makes me feel better than a possible burrowing pest lol. Although still brings the question how it happened.. otherwise it is very happy and extended all the time.

Can happen with coral warfare, or even shrimp/crab/fish irritating it or taking food out of it's mouth, etc.

 

[Sam7]

Reminds me of the "guts" of a mushroom coral. Not sure what it is though.

it does doesnt it...hmm

 

[Sam7]

I think I found the word for it. Mesenterial Filaments

Edit: My research suggests this is perfectly normal and is not isolated to just the mouth of coral. These can show up anywhere on the coral flesh.

I have see a few examples on here but never saw it in person before. Strange

 

[Sam7]

If it’s the guts of the coral could it be from tissue damage? Maybe my blue legs crawling all over it

Nah crabs wouldnt damage it.