Umbrella with a hole in it?

[headdr]

I am worrying about this hole that has developed in my umbrella coral. The coral is about the size of a volley ball and this hole is about a quarter. I can see day light out of the bottom side. Is this normal or do I have a flesh eating bacteria? Thinking about an iodine dip, any suggestions?

 

[vetteguy53081]

beginning of shedding and Not abnormal. It can peel itself forming New shoots.(babies)

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

In my experience if the hole produces “dust” or white discharge when you touch it with something it’s probably diseased. Cut some frags from the healthy tissue and either qt the rest and observe or dispose of the possible infection. I have not found anyway to reverse this when it has happened to me. And while it hasn’t proven contagious I worry it might be.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Diseased?
Ive had 5 different ones within 3 tanks do this which merely released shoots off the head and regenerate new ones.
Only similar instance would be an internal worm which rarely occurs in aquarium

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

Diseased?
Ive had 5 different ones within 3 tanks do this which merely released shoots off the head and regenerate new ones.
Only similar instance would be an internal worm which rarely occurs in aquarium

I've had around 5 do this over the years and the flesh began necrotising and crumbling. The first couple I tried to save but the degeneration stressed the other animals, I assume because of toxins. The last ones, when the hole widened and the flesh continued to crumble, I removed them and fragged the healthy parts.

Funny you mention worm. I had never even though about until my old cabbage leather shriveled up for months. This thing survived a tank crash that killed everything else. So I took it out and found "spider cocoon" type webbing. Thick papery webbing that ran down a crook in the rock. I got my tweezers and peeled it off and saw a glimpse of a worm. So I peeled back the leather from the rock and there it was. I had tunneled through the thick area where it was attached to the rock. I picked it out and now the leather has healed and is finally extending again. I think it will take a bit longer for the green to come back, but it's on its way.

 

[headdr]

Yeah, I'm going to lean towards disease. I need to see if it has the decay dust. I am going to watch it this week. If the hole starts to get bigger I am going to do an iodine dip. Betting a bacteria or parasite. I had very large 12X12 finger leather start to decay, I did a dip and cut off the decayed base and it is now 2 smaller but healthy clusters. How would you frag an umbrella coral like this?

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

Yeah, I'm going to lean towards disease. I need to see if it has the decay dust. I am going to watch it this week. If the hole starts to get bigger I am going to do an iodine dip. Betting a bacteria or parasite. I had very large 12X12 finger leather start to decay, I did a dip and cut off the decayed base and it is now 2 smaller but healthy clusters. How would you frag an umbrella coral like this?

Cut it with a pair of scissors. Preferably not in the tank. I usually rinse my pieces off and extra time after cutting them.