Open Brain Coral - DYING???

bocareefguy · 02/03/2008, 12:01 PM

See attached pic of my open brain coral. I have had this coral for about 8-9 months and it has been fine. This morning, it looked horrible and I could see part of its skelaton. Water testing looked fine and all my other corals seem very healthy. Could this be the work of my Camelback Shrimp? I caught him on the coral picking away at it. I didn't know if he was picking b/c the coral was hurt, or if he was the cause of the corals injuries.

Does anyone have any thoughts as to why my coral looks this way? Notice the skelaton showing on the bottom left of the coral.

Aquabucket · 02/03/2008, 12:07 PM

Yes the Camelback shrimp is a real threat to your coral. You definitely should remove it.

bocareefguy · 02/03/2008, 12:17 PM

I'm pretty ticked at the guy that sold this shrimp to me. He knew I had coral.

Any suggestions on how to catch him? I tried to trick him into a net filled with food, but didn't work.

Mavrk · 02/03/2008, 12:28 PM

I've seen people think they are getting a peppermint and it ended up to be a camel. Camels can nip and are not considered reef safe.

bocareefguy · 02/03/2008, 12:32 PM

I knew I was getting a Camelback. I just didn't know they were not reef safe. I thought the guy (manager) at Big Als Aquarium would have told me that when I asked "Is it reef-safe?"

Fuzzfish · 02/03/2008, 12:35 PM

Unbelieveable!! I've been having the same issue with my brain coral and never suspected my camelback!!! I've been pulling out my hair trying to get rid of harmless bristleworms this whole time when I should've focused on my shrimp..... Good to know, thanks..

bocareefguy · 02/03/2008, 12:40 PM

NOW THE BIGGER QUESTION... When I get rid of my Camelback, will my open brain coral recover? Or is he doomed?

02/03/2008, 12:01 PM	#1
bocareefguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 70	Open Brain Coral - DYING??? See attached pic of my open brain coral. I have had this coral for about 8-9 months and it has been fine. This morning, it looked horrible and I could see part of its skelaton. Water testing looked fine and all my other corals seem very healthy. Could this be the work of my Camelback Shrimp? I caught him on the coral picking away at it. I didn't know if he was picking b/c the coral was hurt, or if he was the cause of the corals injuries. Does anyone have any thoughts as to why my coral looks this way? Notice the skelaton showing on the bottom left of the coral. __________________ Jeff Boca Reef Guy Current Tank Info: 25 lbs LR, Reef Tank, Sand Polyps, Orange Ricordia, GSP, Frogspawn, Yel Polyps

02/03/2008, 12:07 PM	#2
Aquabucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, Wi. Posts: 4,455	Yes the Camelback shrimp is a real threat to your coral. You definitely should remove it. __________________ "Just a drop in the bucket"

02/03/2008, 12:17 PM	#3
bocareefguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 70	I'm pretty ticked at the guy that sold this shrimp to me. He knew I had coral. Any suggestions on how to catch him? I tried to trick him into a net filled with food, but didn't work. __________________ Jeff Boca Reef Guy Current Tank Info: 25 lbs LR, Reef Tank, Sand Polyps, Orange Ricordia, GSP, Frogspawn, Yel Polyps

02/03/2008, 12:32 PM	#5
bocareefguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 70	I knew I was getting a Camelback. I just didn't know they were not reef safe. I thought the guy (manager) at Big Als Aquarium would have told me that when I asked "Is it reef-safe?" __________________ Jeff Boca Reef Guy Current Tank Info: 25 lbs LR, Reef Tank, Sand Polyps, Orange Ricordia, GSP, Frogspawn, Yel Polyps

02/03/2008, 12:40 PM	#7
bocareefguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 70	NOW THE BIGGER QUESTION... When I get rid of my Camelback, will my open brain coral recover? Or is he doomed? __________________ Jeff Boca Reef Guy Current Tank Info: 25 lbs LR, Reef Tank, Sand Polyps, Orange Ricordia, GSP, Frogspawn, Yel Polyps

02/03/2008, 12:28 PM	#4
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	I've seen people think they are getting a peppermint and it ended up to be a camel. Camels can nip and are not considered reef safe.

02/03/2008, 12:35 PM	#6
Fuzzfish Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 76	Unbelieveable!! I've been having the same issue with my brain coral and never suspected my camelback!!! I've been pulling out my hair trying to get rid of harmless bristleworms this whole time when I should've focused on my shrimp..... Good to know, thanks..