Tailspot blenny eating coral?

[limejuice82]

Hi! So over the past week or so I’ve noticed the polyps of my hammer gradually receding. I’ve had it for 5 weeks. I couldn’t work out why it was receding as it had been so healthy for the first month, and my parameters and lighting schedule have been completely stable the whole time (nitrate 10ppm, kH 7dkh (I know this is “low” but I use natural seawater and this has always been consistent, never higher never lower), salinity 1.025SG, calcium 400mg/L. All other corals (various softies and a lobophyllia) have been absolutely fine. The hammer isn’t close to any corals either, which rules out coral warfare.

I’m usually out at work in the day but I’ve noticed my tailspot blenny which I’ve had for about 3 weeks constantly pecking at it. I thought it was just eating algae around it but then I saw him tearing at loose bits of flesh at the coral (pictured).

Are Ecsenius blennies known for this? I thought they were reef safe. There is algae for grazing around the tank but he is also well fed - frozen mysis/brine, algae pellets and nt labs pellets.

I’ve pictured the hammer how it normally looked before too.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Yes, combtooth blennies have been known to nip at corals. Some are even known to feed on coral (lookup Leopard Blenny).

However, that before pic of the hammer shows that it's pretty discolored, possibly in the process of bleaching. The Blenny may just be taking advantage of a dying coral.

 

[Baldyreef]

could it be algae on the skeleton rather than picking the other coral

 

[Baldyreef]

Yes, combtooth blennies have been known to nip at corals. Some are even known to feed on coral (lookup Leopard Blenny).

However, that before pic of the hammer shows that it's pretty discolored, possibly in the process of bleaching. The Blenny may just be taking advantage of a dying coral.

tailspots can be known to nip at lps if undernourished

 

[limejuice82]

Yes, combtooth blennies have been known to nip at corals. Some are even known to feed on coral (lookup Leopard Blenny).

However, that before pic of the hammer shows that it's pretty discolored, possibly in the process of bleaching. The Blenny may just be taking advantage of a dying coral.

I think that’s just the lighting/my camera -it was a lovely green colour!

 

[limejuice82]

could it be algae on the skeleton rather than picking the other coral

That’s what I initially thought! But then I saw him pulling really hard on the coral itself…

 

[Baldyreef]

That’s what I initially thought! But then I saw him pulling really hard on the coral itself…

oh man, yeah no doubt he's doing it then you think maybe moving it would help? I had a tailspots who would get really ticked if anything was put near his perching rock, I would catch him flipping frags off the rock and picking at coral I would glue down

 

[limejuice82]

That’s what I initially thought! But then I saw him pulling really hard on the coral itself…

oh man, yeah no doubt he's doing it then you think maybe moving it would help? I had a tailspots who would get really ticked if anything was put near his perching rock, I would catch him flipping frags off the rock and picking at coral I would glue down

It’s nowhere near his preferred perching rock! My royal gramma also sleeps in a hole above there so he rarely goes down to rest in that area…

Thank you so much for your responses!

 

[Baldyreef]

well I'm out of ideas lol, good luck hope you figure it out