colt troubles

[BILL & THERESA MEISTE]

We have a colt coral that has dominated the reef tank in its size and splendor for close to a year. Suddenly, two days ago, it shriveled and turned purplish-brownish within a matter of an hour or less. No other tank inhabitants seemed affected. There are no signs of anything boring holes in it, or eating it. The closest corals are a colony of green star polyps, yellow polyps (parazoanthids), frogspawn (none within reach), some xenias. There are many other species of coral throughout the tank - but all seemingly too far away to wage chemical warfare on the colt. We haven't given up on it yet...but it looks a little worse every day. Any ideas?

 

[XXX]

Same thing happened with a year ago. I could find no reason for the problem. After a week I pulled the colt out of the water to cut a branch off that was dying and what did I find?......a mushroom had migrated and settled behind the colt where I couldn't see it. I removed the shroom and it was back to norm in a few days. Just a thought.

 

[cyberpanther]

I agree with naesco. I had a huge purple colt that had many many babies and filled my tank with colts. I noticed that they do indeed shrivel up from time to time sometimes for days at a time.

 

[naesco]

They do that from time to time if there is changes in salinity (waiting too long to top up water) water quality going down, temperature (pouring cold top up water near them) or lighting changes.
Try directing a little more water flow in their direction and I am sure they will improve.

 

[BILL & THERESA MEISTE]

Thanks, I will try the flow and check the base again. Water quality is great.
At the time it looks like it now has some kind of tissue hanging from a couple branches. Really does not look well.
Thanks again. BILL

 

[naesco]

Bill that stuff is normal stuff they shed.The water flow will help clear it off the coral.

 

[the_fish_guy]

I had this once a few years ago, as I was moving it to a different spot in the tank I noticed a very pale pink nudibranch on the base. I peeled it off with tweezers and it was back to normal in a few weeks.

 

[BILL & THERESA MEISTE]

Thanks, that makes us feel a little better. Hope to see it back to normal soon. It's one of the nicest colts I have seen.
Bill

 

[cyberpanther]

THE FISH GUY
Glad you brought that up. My girlfriend had three coral eating nudibranches appear from nowhere a month ago. They were some of the most brilliantly colored nudis and hardy but had to go cuz they were eating a few of her corals. None in my tank.