SPS Burrowing Worms

[BlueFynn_Ian]

Hi All,
Just noticed my staghorn frag and one of my monti frags have small antennae sticking out from where there used to be polyps. The flesh around the polyps is also now a grayish color. I removed my staghorn frag and clipped the infected branches, re-dipped and had three small red worms fall out of it. I do not think I can perform the same thing to the monti.

Is this something I should completely try to eradicate or just a critter I will have to learn to deal with? The worms in the staghorn had made a pretty sizeable maze inside the coral.

Attached a couple short videos showing what I noticed, not the best quality.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi All,
Just noticed my staghorn frag and one of my monti frags have small antennae sticking out from where there used to be polyps. The flesh around the polyps is also now a grayish color. I removed my staghorn frag and clipped the infected branches, re-dipped and had three small red worms fall out of it. I do not think I can perform the same thing to the monti.

Is this something I should completely try to eradicate or just a critter I will have to learn to deal with? The worms in the staghorn had made a pretty sizeable maze inside the coral.

Attached a couple short videos showing what I noticed, not the best quality.

Best under white lighting but I do see what are hydroids and they plant themselves wherever they want. IF and IF you can safely do so, either
Place a small dab of gel superglue on their heads OR Cut their very bottom base and discard.
Safest bet is to aim flow towards them, not at them and they will starve and wither away

 

[sculpin01]

Might want to check this thread out:

Coral Boring Spionid Worms -- an ugly bane to SPS

This is not something I've ever seen before. They are extremely ugly. Mar the appearance of SPS. This is on a "Beach Bum" encrusting montipora. I would take aphasia or even montipora eating nudibranchs over this crap. I've beat those with hard work. Not sure how to eliminate these without...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[BlueFynn_Ian]

Best under white lighting but I do see what are hydroids and they plant themselves wherever they want. IF and IF you can safely do so, either
Place a small dab of gel superglue on their heads OR Cut their very bottom base and discard.
Safest bet is to aim flow towards them, not at them and they will starve and wither away

I was able to cut them out from the staghorn, but they seem to be right in the middle of the monti frag, not sure how I would cut the base of them.

Might be able to accomplish glue. If I move more flow onto them wouldn't they just move to a better spot?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I was able to cut them out from the staghorn, but they seem to be right in the middle of the monti frag, not sure how I would cut the base of them.

Might be able to accomplish glue. If I move more flow onto them wouldn't they just move to a better spot?

They dont move that easily as they need their tubes.

 

[BlueFynn_Ian]

Might want to check this thread out:

Coral Boring Spionid Worms -- an ugly bane to SPS

This is not something I've ever seen before. They are extremely ugly. Mar the appearance of SPS. This is on a "Beach Bum" encrusting montipora. I would take aphasia or even montipora eating nudibranchs over this crap. I've beat those with hard work. Not sure how to eliminate these without...

www.reef2reef.com

Thank you for the link!

 

[BlueFynn_Ian]

They dont move that easily as they need their tubes.

I'll give it a shot and see how it goes. Thanks for the tip!