What the heck is this?

[Chad]

Not too often I run across something I havent seen before, but here we go!! To the naked eye this looked like cottom balls maybe 2 mm across or so... when I was not able to get pictures, I started trying to suck it off with a turkey baster... no avail... the stuff is really tightly adhered to the coral (all of my acans to some extent).

 

During this period of time (an hour or so), I noticed that it seemed to be spreading so I put one of the acans on a raised tray and took some top-down photos which are better.

 

Any ideas?

 

 

Another

 

 

Another

 

 

This picture is in the same spot as the one above, but was taken about 30 minutes apart... shows the stupid fast rate of spread going on here

 

 

It doesnt appear to be irritating the corals... much of the closing was due to my messing with them (blowing it off, moving it, etc.)

 

Any ideas?

[Jan]

They look to be expelling their guts. Is something bothering them? Looks just like what mushrooms do.

Edited April 22, 2010 by Jan

[Chad]

Well, if that's the case, yes, but I don't know for the life of me what would be bothering them other than me...

 

I have been messing with them a lot since I noticed this, but they started it on their own...

 

hmm, time to look for something wrong :(

Edited April 22, 2010 by Chad

[Coral Hind]

Jan is right, they are the filaments from inside the acan. That normally happens when they are stressed or fighting.

 

If other corals are close to it I would move them away some. Could something like a shrimp be messing with it? Make sure you do not have to much water flow as the tissue can tear allowing the filaments to come out.

Edited April 22, 2010 by Coral Hind

[ctenophore]

Yep. Mesentary filaments is my guess.

[Chad]

hmm, lots of carbon and water change?

 

no, nothing is near them.

[Chad]

Thanks for the fast responses, greatly appreciated!!!

 

Prognosis?

[Jan]

They're flexing their muscles. It's Spring!

 

 

[reefhunter]

they look healthy otherwise, I would leave them alone and dont do anything to stress them further.

[Chad]

Thanks all!!

 

As a side note, I was really happy with the pictures I got!! hehe

 

25% WC and replacing the carbon done, corals still POed.

[jason the filter freak]

my mushrooms, ricordea flordia, and ricordea yuma did that pretty much every time something brushed them its normal and unless they keep doing that days on end or for a prolonged period I wouldn't be worried. Just make sure nothing is trying to eat them if it keeps happening

[BowieReefer84]

my mushroom does that every once in a while. probably like once every few months. fixes itself.

[zygote2k]

they look healthy otherwise, I would leave them alone and dont do anything to stress them further.

 

+1

[Chad]

Looks better today, I still had it on the makeshift picture stand so I took this one... a little washed out though

 

 

Thanks all