Possible Acro Predator?

Sdoutreefer · Mar 26, 2014

Soo I was just looking at my corals, and on a few of them there are these white looking things. They almost look stringy, and don't really have any structure. When you push them with your fingers, they just kind of dissolve and go away. Anyone have an idea what this could be? I can't get a good enough picture or I'd post one. The corals seem to not be harmed, but maybe I can't see that with my eye. Thanks!

Tahoe61 · Mar 26, 2014

Look up Mesenterial Filaments.

Sdoutreefer · Mar 29, 2014

Yep that's what it is. Thanks!! Are corals trying to get food when this happens or what? I didn't read much about them...

Tahoe61 · Mar 29, 2014

Sdoutreefer said:
Yep that's what it is. Thanks!! Are corals trying to get food when this happens or what? I didn't read much about them...

You can see them as a sign of stress, or after introduction of food into the tank or even when you scrape the glass, also aggression. Usually when the filaments are long and drawn out like that it's a feeding response.

Acro · Mar 29, 2014

My Acropora always do it when I'm feeding. The only other time is when it's sensing another coral in the area it wants to grow into, or is being stressed by another coral encroaching on it.

DSP · Mar 30, 2014

I recently had one of my acros putting it's filaments out quite a bit so I decided to dip it and that's how I found the Acro eating Flatworms so be sure to check it good just encase.

Sdoutreefer · Mar 30, 2014

DSP said:
I recently had one of my acros putting it's filaments out quite a bit so I decided to dip it and that's how I found the Acro eating Flatworms so be sure to check it good just encase.

I'm thinking something might be on them.. Some of my frags have theirs out quite a bit.

Sdoutreefer · Mar 30, 2014

Good thing I decided to dip some frags today... there were tons of what looked like flat worm eggs. All but 1 frag was from a mother colony that I thought was RTNing, so i trimmed it. Turns out it was flat worms that were kiling it. I took the remaining colony out and dipped 2 of the frags, then threw the rest out.

Acro · Mar 30, 2014

Sorry to hear that, they are truly the biggest pain to all stick lovers.

DSP · Mar 30, 2014

Ah man sorry to hear! Do you have lots of acros? Flatworms are going around so bad right now it seems everyday there's a few more people realizing they have them:(

Sdoutreefer · Mar 30, 2014

Ya I have quite a few. I'm hoping they were only on the one colony..

Acro · Mar 30, 2014

I had AEFW before, I ripped everything out of my tank and threw them away. Since finally getting back into acros I only get aquaculture frags from places I know 100% don't have them. Good luck with them, don't lose hope.

Sdoutreefer · Mar 31, 2014

Acro said:
I had AEFW before, I ripped everything out of my tank and threw them away. Since finally getting back into acros I only get aquaculture frags from places I know 100% don't have them. Good luck with them, don't lose hope.

Thanks. I'm hoping they haven't spread to everywhere yet and I got em all, not sure how possible that is but I'm trying to be optimistic. I'm pretty discouraged at this point. I've been fighting GHA for such a long time and can't figure out how to get rid of it. I have in past tanks but no luck yet.

If AEFW take over, tearing down the tank will probably be my next step...

Acro · Apr 7, 2014

Updates?

Sdoutreefer · Apr 8, 2014

Acro said:
Updates?

Everything seems to be fine... thanks for asking.

I haven't seen any signs of stressed corals since dipping. Nor have I seen any flatworms OR red bug... I completely threw away all frags thay were from the mother colony that I saw flatworms on. I guess only time will tell! Keeping my fingers crossed!

Acro · Apr 8, 2014

Sdoutreefer said:
Everything seems to be fine... thanks for asking.

I haven't seen any signs of stressed corals since dipping. Nor have I seen any flatworms OR red bug... I completely threw away all frags thay were from the mother colony that I saw flatworms on. I guess only time will tell! Keeping my fingers crossed!

Have any tricolors?

Sdoutreefer · Apr 8, 2014

Ya. The colony that I threw out was a tri color...

Acro · Apr 8, 2014

Sdoutreefer said:
Ya. The colony that I threw out was a tri color...

Ah, didn't know that. That would be AEFWs favorite dish! I'd pick one smaller acro that isn't locked down into a rock and dip it after a few days to see.