What is all over this coral?

[cmcimino]

I picked up a fairly bleached coral from someone for dirt cheap. I dipped it and noticed all of this stuff coming out of its mouth and all over its tissue. Any idea what it is? Looks similar to flat worms, but it seems to be part of the coral.

 

[cmcimino]

Here's a slightly better picture.

 

[Tahoe61]

Those are mesenterial filaments, they are an internal structure of the coral. Corals will display these filaments with stressed and changes in water chemistry, the condition usually resolves over a couple hours.

 

[cmcimino]

Those are mesenterial filaments, they are an internal structure of the coral. Corals will display these filaments with stressed and changes in water chemistry, the condition usually resolves over a couple hours.

Okay I figured it was something like that. The tank it came from was not kept up with so I'm hoping this one can make a recovery.

 

[Tahoe61]

I should add that a coral will also display filaments as a defensive mechanism, and acropora show filaments when feeding. :-)

 

[cmcimino]

@Tahoe61 Looking much better now! Do you have an ID on this one? Hoping it will continue to color up over time. Probably the size of a half dollar when full.

 

[Kano]

Brain Coral, Lobophyllia. It looks like it'll get more orange as it adjusts back to normal.