Torch coral - 1 head closed

[James Barton]

So this morning before I left my torch was fine and when I get home one of the heads has closed up. All parameters are good so I'm wondering what could have caused this?

 

[James Barton]

I handled the coral and noticed a small tubular thing on the side of the coral head that is closed. With my nail I scraped at it and it broke off in a couple pieces with what looked to me like a small black worm. It could have been something else. However, I returned the coral to its place st the bottom of my tank and the head is slowly starting to open up again. Any ideas?

 

[KMench]

Was it a vermetid snail? If so, it could've expelled some mucous which was irritating the torch.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Do you have clownfish in the tank? My gold torch hates it if they touch it and will recede for hours afterwards.

 

[James Barton]

Was it a vermetid snail? If so, it could've expelled some mucous which was irritating the torch.

I have a few vermetid snails but not anywhere near the torch.

 

[James Barton]

Do you have clownfish in the tank? My gold torch hates it if they touch it and will recede for hours afterwards.

I have 2 clowns but they don't touch any of my corals.

 

[James Barton]

After further inspection i noticed what may be a feather duster living in it?

 

[James Barton]

Its loke a feathered hand that goes in and out of that hole and i can see 2 of them. Not really sure what they are.

 

[KMench]

Can you get rid of them?

 

[James Barton]

I have no clue. Not even sure how I would go about it. Any I.D. on these guys?

 

[chewy tabacca]

Looks like it could be a feather duster, hard to tell, I have a 6 head torch and not specific to any one head, but 1 will close for a day and open the next, then another one will a week later. It's usually a natural instinct for them to do that. They will also spell chemicals at the feather. Not sure if it will end up killing it but if it is opening up it should be fine. If it stays closed for a 48 hours then you got a problem. But feathers will grow constantly in the tank everywhere if you don't have something that will eat them. They grow in low light places so it would surprise me you will have many more growing in and around that area as well as other places in your tank