Something is eating Pocillopora?

[Derson21]

Woke up this morning to the backside completely bleached out and some polyps missing on 2 branches.  I don't think it's tissue necrosis because the entire frag looked great last night.  It was been placed about 4 to 5 inches from a small frogspawn, not sure if it's sweepers could reach it, but I moved it this morning incase it was the frogspawn. The only other culprits in my tank, that I know of, would be Peppermint Shrimp or an Algae Blenny.  Has anyone had either of these eat your Poci before?

[BowieReefer84]

No, but I have seen emerald crabs pick at the polyps.  However, not enough to do much damage overnight.

Edited November 15, 2013 by BowieReefer84

[wade]

Sweeper tentacles from almost all LPS (including frogspawn) can reach out to 3-4x the size of the head.  I would place my bets that it is the culprit.

[Derson21]

Thanks, hopefully the move will resolve this.  Will the stung polyps ever grow back or is that area dead forever now?

[wade]

If the polyps died, they will not regrow, however, as the coral expands, it will cover over that old area of dead tissue - just like they will spread on the surface of rocks, etc.  But, if there is anything left of a polyp, they often can regrow.  I also wouldn't be surprised if some ejected -its a fairly common way for the coral to avoid dying.  You might find tiny little poci's all around the tank someday.

[sen5241b]

If the poci is new did you light-acclimate?