View Full Version : Worried about my new monti...
jencheung
03-28-2009, 10:04 PM
I picked up a new orange plating monti today, my first monti and I'm really excited. However, upon close inspection it appears that there are critters living in my monti. I haven't exactly seen them yet, but when I look really really closely, I can see a pair of tiny antenna coming out of one of holes where I assume the polyps come out. I've spotted 2 pairs of antenna so far. I mean really really tiny but I don't see any other part of any critter. (From the size of the antenna I would even say it might be a small pod of some kind?)
There is also a much larger something living in a hole in the middle of the coral as well. I can't quite see it but it responds when I blast it with the turkey baster by twisting around. You can see that there's sort of a worm shaped lump in the middle of the coral where this critter is living. It doesn't seem to be hurting the coral but I definitely want to know what it is and if it's going to hurt anything else in my tank!
Here were the best pics I could get. The color is a bit off (it's really more orange) but the critters are way too small to get on my camera...
Are there common pests that I should be worried about that live in monti's? Thanks!
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ToeJam
04-23-2009, 12:48 PM
Bump to get an answer.
There's at least one very unwanted pest that can live on Montipora, but I doubt it's those from you description. What I'm thinking of is Montipora eating nudibranchs, which can be troublesome to get rid of if you ever get them.
From the pic posted and the description, it seems like the Monti grew over some kind of tube worm or possibly a vermetid snail (a sessile snail). Without seeing exactly what's coming out of the tube, it's hard to say, but that would be my guess. If that's what it is, there's nothing to worry about.
reefbumgm333
04-23-2009, 4:23 PM
I agree with the guy above, most probably a vermitid snail. It will not harm the coral in any way.
Amphiprion
04-23-2009, 4:31 PM
Yes, a vermetid tube. Harmless, but make sure there is plenty of water flow around the vicinity. Sometimes in low flow situations the mucus net they secrete will cause localized anoxia and then necrosis.
Anyone want to comment on the fact that the coral looks like is it on its way to bleaching out? Completely different problem than the "worm", but looks much more serious of a problem to me. I can't say it is a problem in the current tank it is in because they said they just got the coral, so I am sure it came like that, still, doesn't look to healthy to me. Like the OP said though, could just be the picture and not the coral.
Also, you mentioned "Critters", are we talking red bugs here? I know monti eating nudi's are terrible on them, but red bugs can be a major PITA as well.
This is the color an orange monti should look like:
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q45/bungertt/capnov2006.jpg
Amphiprion
04-23-2009, 5:34 PM
Anyone want to comment on the fact that the coral looks like is it on its way to bleaching out? Completely different problem than the "worm", but looks much more serious of a problem to me. I can't say it is a problem in the current tank it is in because they said they just got the coral, so I am sure it came like that, still, doesn't look to healthy to me.
It's hard to comment or make an assumption for a few reasons:
--the type of lighting may be washing it out
--photo may have washed it out
--may not be the exact same type of orange cap
Or everything may be accurate and the coral may very well be unhealthy. It is difficult to say without more input. It won't be red bugs, since they do not infest Montipora.
:iagree: . Edited my last post to say just that as well. ;)
ToeJam
04-23-2009, 6:05 PM
Its gota be the bulb to me...i was trying to take pics for you guys and i got that same stupid blue hue... I had to tilt and move around till the tank looked normal... i had several shots making my tank look like it was glowing blue...
So, on to these "Critters" you speak of. You can't get a picture, but maybe google image some ideas and see if they fit what you are seeing. Red bugs are pretty easy to tell.. they are red dots. Also, red bugs are not really a monti pest anyway, more of an acropora pest.