amphipods eating my coral

bcrane · 01/30/2010, 09:44 PM

I won some frags at a poker game from a local club, and as I am extremely new I offered to donate my winnings to the host's tank, but they assured me, and gave my coral that would grow under my single 50/50 bulb.

They have been opening up and all have their vibrant colors, but amphipods have been eating one of them, and only at night. Anyway to remedy this?

Octoshark · 01/30/2010, 09:53 PM

Are you sure the amphipods are actually feeding on the coral? What kind of coral is it?

I'm not saying it isn't possible, however, amphipods are typically detritivores (feed on detritus/decaying matter). Maybe the coral has some mucus on it that has trapped tiny fragments of detritus and the pods are eating that? Have you actually noticed any damage to the coral, or are they just running around on the coral?

Octoshark · 01/30/2010, 10:01 PM

The pods are only eating one of them? If they are indeed eating it and not just eating detritus possibly stuck to the coral, and they are only doing this to one then maybe that one is sick/dying.

I have heard reports of amphipods eating dying zoas (although I have never personally witnessed it). Do you have zoas?

Misled · 01/30/2010, 10:02 PM

I agree with Octothingy. No matter what type of coral, I've never seen that or heard of that. Are you sure they're pods? What color? Maybe red bugs??????

bcrane · 01/30/2010, 10:09 PM

They are these, which were identified on here by others as amphipods.

There are definitely less bulbs on it than there were

Misled · 01/30/2010, 10:11 PM

Must be sick or have decaying tissue. What type of coral? Post a lic of that.

bcrane · 01/30/2010, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octoshark

The pods are only eating one of them? If they are indeed eating it and not just eating detritus possibly stuck to the coral, and they are only doing this to one then maybe that one is sick/dying.

I have heard reports of amphipods eating dying zoas (although I have never personally witnessed it). Do you have zoas?

It is indeed a zoa, as best as I can see with my lack of experience, it has certainly not opened up; however I have a candy cane and another zoa that have opened up with no pests bothering it.

These are my VERY first corals, so I apologize for my ignorance....I blame my poker skills

aznpg · 01/30/2010, 10:13 PM

if its pods one thing that helped me alot was a wrasse to keep control of pods and snails i actually had pods eating my darth mauls and ever since i got my yellow coris wrasse

MandM · 01/30/2010, 10:14 PM

Well that's an amphipod. Goo picture. Where is the coral? Do I see a single closed polyp of zoanthid there to the left of the snail?

Octoshark · 01/30/2010, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcrane

It is indeed a zoa, as best as I can see with my lack of experience, it has certainly not opened up; however I have a candy cane and another zoa that have opened up with no pests bothering it.

These are my VERY first corals, so I apologize for my ignorance....I blame my poker skills

lol, don't worry about it. We wouldn't be here if we didn't enjoy helping out the new guys

There could be 3 things going on:

1) The zoa is sick/dying and the pods know it.

2) The pods are eating detritus off of the coral and the nipping from the pods could be bothering the zoa which makes it not want to come out.

3) Something else that I am not aware of (there could still be other possibilities).

bcrane · 01/30/2010, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MandM

Well that's an amphipod. Goo picture. Where is the coral? Do I see a single closed polyp of zoanthid there to the left of the snail?

No, Its much higher because of my crappy lights until I can toss it in the 90

Tried to snap a pic, but the camera, despite the amphipod pic, is horrible

01/30/2010, 09:44 PM	#1
bcrane Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Homer Glen Posts: 254	amphipods eating my coral I won some frags at a poker game from a local club, and as I am extremely new I offered to donate my winnings to the host's tank, but they assured me, and gave my coral that would grow under my single 50/50 bulb. They have been opening up and all have their vibrant colors, but amphipods have been eating one of them, and only at night. Anyway to remedy this? Last edited by bcrane; 01/30/2010 at 09:50 PM.

01/30/2010, 09:53 PM	#2
Octoshark Marine Biology Student Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,366	Are you sure the amphipods are actually feeding on the coral? What kind of coral is it? I'm not saying it isn't possible, however, amphipods are typically detritivores (feed on detritus/decaying matter). Maybe the coral has some mucus on it that has trapped tiny fragments of detritus and the pods are eating that? Have you actually noticed any damage to the coral, or are they just running around on the coral? __________________ "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."

01/30/2010, 10:01 PM	#3
Octoshark Marine Biology Student Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,366	The pods are only eating one of them? If they are indeed eating it and not just eating detritus possibly stuck to the coral, and they are only doing this to one then maybe that one is sick/dying. I have heard reports of amphipods eating dying zoas (although I have never personally witnessed it). Do you have zoas? __________________ "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."

01/30/2010, 10:02 PM	#4
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	I agree with Octothingy. No matter what type of coral, I've never seen that or heard of that. Are you sure they're pods? What color? Maybe red bugs?????? __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

01/30/2010, 10:11 PM	#6
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	Must be sick or have decaying tissue. What type of coral? Post a lic of that. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

01/30/2010, 10:09 PM	#5
bcrane Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Homer Glen Posts: 254	They are these, which were identified on here by others as amphipods. There are definitely less bulbs on it than there were

01/30/2010, 10:13 PM	#8
aznpg Moved On Join Date: May 2009 Location: garden grove Posts: 467	if its pods one thing that helped me alot was a wrasse to keep control of pods and snails i actually had pods eating my darth mauls and ever since i got my yellow coris wrasse

01/30/2010, 10:14 PM	#9
MandM sick yet brilliant Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,497	Well that's an amphipod. Goo picture. Where is the coral? Do I see a single closed polyp of zoanthid there to the left of the snail? __________________ Sheila I was emo when emo wasn't cool If your not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate. Current Tank Info: 120g, 8g