Stringy clear mucus when Feeding coral

[mexi757]

I have been spot feeding corals with Red Sea ab + mixed with reef roids. I do it every other week. I have notice that my mushrooms torches gonis acons hammers and candy canes are letting out a clear mucus. Is this normal or should I stop spot feeding?
thank you ahead for any comments.

 

[NeSsyAqua]

As long as the corals are healthy I believe it's a normal feeding response. Got any pic?

 

[mexi757]

I do not. I tried but water was a bit green from the AB+ and couldn’t see via pictures.

 

[DE FISH]

Could be vertamid snails can you see any tubes on the skeleton ?

 

[mexi757]

Nope. Nothing at all.

 

[DE FISH]

Nope. Nothing at all.

In that case if everything is looking healthy I’d not worry it’s most like a feeding or waste response as stated by another member pics would help us try and id this for you

 

[CanuckReefer]

Nope. Nothing at all.

My Trumpet and Shrooms do same based on your description for years now occasionally. Feed response I believe... @vetteguy53081 ? Thoughts?

 

[Zer0]

My candy canes used to do something similar, but it happened like a couple hours after feeding, not during.

 

[mexi757]

When I get back home this weekend ( on travel for work) I’ll feed and try and get videos and pictures of it. Thank you all again for your responses.

 

[Mikedawg]

And I'll add turbinaria to the list of "slimers" exhibiting a feeding response

 

[vetteguy53081]

In many cases, mucus emission is a sign of stress and NOT feeding response. The type of stress can be too much current/flow, biofouling, pathogens, UV radiation, sedimentation, pollutants, desiccation and even temperature or salinity changes. In Most cases, its a defense mechanism against desiccation. Corals coat their body with mucus, keeping in moisture to withstand severe environmental conditions and changes in conditions. Corals in general has mucus which contains substances called mycosporine-like amino acids that can absorb UV light, which can protect corals from strong UV light. When sediments such as silt and sand fall down onto their coral surface, they use mucus to clean up their surface.
So some stated, they see this after feeding. The reason is, they use mucus as a tool to capture prey items such as bacteria and small zooplankton with their sticky surface. Corals transport the food items trapped by mucus into their mouth using ciliary movements and also release mucus as excretory pathways for excess organic matter .

The mucus can be slimy, stringy, in sheets and web-like

 

[mexi757]

Very awesome of you to respond in such detail and understanding. Thank you very much for the advice and reasoning!!

 

[stanlalee]

I haven't seen that in many LPS but several SPS due that to capture/keep food in close proximity

 

[Frogspon]

In many cases, mucus emission is a sign of stress and NOT feeding response. The type of stress can be too much current/flow, biofouling, pathogens, UV radiation, sedimentation, pollutants, desiccation and even temperature or salinity changes. In Most cases, its a defense mechanism against desiccation. Corals coat their body with mucus, keeping in moisture to withstand severe environmental conditions and changes in conditions. Corals in general has mucus which contains substances called mycosporine-like amino acids that can absorb UV light, which can protect corals from strong UV light. When sediments such as silt and sand fall down onto their coral surface, they use mucus to clean up their surface.
So some stated, they see this after feeding. The reason is, they use mucus as a tool to capture prey items such as bacteria and small zooplankton with their sticky surface. Corals transport the food items trapped by mucus into their mouth using ciliary movements and also release mucus as excretory pathways for excess organic matter .

The mucus can be slimy, stringy, in sheets and web-like

So it is or isn't feeding? You start off saying it is stress and not a feeding response, but then finish off by saying they use the mucus to catch food and move it to their mouth?..

 

[vetteguy53081]

So it is or isn't feeding? You start off saying it is stress and not a feeding response, but then finish off by saying they use the mucus to catch food and move it to their mouth?..

It can be either or. My guess, stress. It’s not the type of mucus produced for catching food