What is wrong with my favia?

[Ben jammin]

Got this favia at my LFS this weekend. It was in great shape there. Drip acclimated to my tank and found a spot high up but off-axis from the light. Next day I noticed these white thingies coming out of some of the coralites. Any idea what they are? Are they normal or is it something to be concerned about?

I have a peppermint shrimp (for aiptasia control) that hangs out in a spot near where I placed the favia. I saw him picking at the edge after I first put it in. Haven't seen him messing with it since, but I wonder if he has been injuring it? He cleared the tank of aiptasia a while back and I have been suspecting him of causing several of my other LPS corals to start receding, though I have never caught him in the act. Do peppermint shrimp pick at scolys and candy canes (and favia)?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Could use a closer picture but first guess is poop or inverted stomach.

 

[Ben jammin]

It's not poop because I tried blowing it off and it doesn't move. I was definitely thinking it seemed like an inverted stomach because it is attached, and it is stringy rather than mushy. What would that mean, and is it something to be concerned about or is that normal?

 

[cloak]

Theyr'e probably Mesenterial Filaments. Sometimes these are used as a defense mechanism, other times it could be an indication that the coral is a little upset at the moment.