bubble coral question

[JeffK]

Hello all.

After my metal halides shut off tonight, I was observing the tank with just actinic illumination when I noticed what appears to be a small piece of rock on my bubble coral (almost fully retracted in response to the diminished light level). After directing a gentle current from a turkey baster in an attempt to dislodge what I thought was rubble, I realized that it is actually attached to the bubble coral.

My next thought was that it was a necrotic vesicle, but further investigation, and a gentle probing with my fingers, revealed that the object is rather firm to the touch. It's almost black in color and, as I mentioned, shaped rather like one of the vesicles. I've had the coral for about two years, and it has more than doubled in size in that time.

Any thoughts as to what this might be?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Jeff

 

[Anonymous]

Weired.

I suppose you can't get a pic huh? My first thought would be tissue receding letting a bit of skeleton through, and you were only able to see it because the bubble was retracted for nighttime feeding mode, but if it has doubled in size, that would seem unlikely.

How many nights in a row have you seen this? Is it possible a hermit crab was climbing on the bubble and hung on when you blew on it with the turkey baster??

 

[Anonymous]

mebbe a parasitic snail?

sponge?

any chance for a pic?