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The Conscientious
Marine Aquarist
Ultimate Marine Aquariums
Saltwater
Dream Systems
New Marine Aquarium
Your
First Marine Aquarium
Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes
A Guide To
Angelfishes
& Butterflyfishes
CORALS:
A
Reference Guide 
Aquarium
Corals : Selection, Husbandry,...
The
Coral Reef Aquarium :
An
Owner's Manual
Successful
Reef Aquarium
Natural
Reef Aquariums Simplified...
Dynamic
Aquaria :
Building
Ecosystems
The
Reef Aquarium :
Volume
1
The
Reef Aquarium :
Volume
2
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As with Fish and Live Rock many additional species can 'catch a ride'
on a Coral. These specimens can be harmless or they can be harmful. Which
? This all depends on how they behave towards their host coral.
In general they can easily be removed, provided you can reach or retrieve
the coral. Some though can be difficult to locate, and frustrating to locate
and remove.
The following are some that I have found in my, or my customers, corals.
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These pin-head sized Nudibranchs are specific to Montipora Capricornus
species corals. I had picked off the ones that were visable but within
days the remaining ones began to eat away the edges. Look for retreating
edges when purchasing these corals.
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I kept wondering why a Finger Leather Coral
would'nt open up for more than a day. I removed the coral when I noticed
something appeared to be eating it and found this little beige crab tucked
tightly in between some of the branches. It was easily picked out. |
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These small starfish have the potential to
graze on SPS Corals, although I found this one on the base of a declining
LPS Bubble Coral. Various authors indicate that they are generally harmless,
but if you notice a reseeding area around your coral it is worthwhile to
investigate it further. They are easily picked off the coral. |
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This little 'fuzzy' crab has made his home
within the branches of a Pocillapora. He has cleared out an area free of
polyps. Whether he is eating the polyps or removing them to make room for
himself is undetermined at this time. With a thin rod he can be driven
out from the coral branches. |
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Flatworms ( planaria ) can become a plague
upon the corals. They don not seem to harn the coral but are aestatically
unattractive. Supposed Six-Lined and Dragon Wrasses, or Mandarin Gobies
and Scooter Blennies may feed upon them. There is no easy remedy to eliminate
them. |
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This snail was found burrowing into the base of a Toadstool Leather
coral. It is not determined if the snail was consuming the coral, but the
coral previously showed a decline, and after the snails extraction the
decline slowed, but it is still declining. |
Visit the Aquarium Design home page
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Acrylic aquariums, Fish Tanks, Aquarium Stands
' Build Your Aquarium On-Line '
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Jellyfish,
Jellyfish
Tanks and Plankton Kreisel
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The Tenth Annual Marine Aquarium Conference Of North America
MACNA X
Presentation DVD's
September, 27, 28 and 29, 1998
Long Beach, California
Jim Wolf, Tyree, Fenner, Hovanec, Knop, Borneman, Goemans, Leng, Thiel, Pellata, Frakes,
Carlson, Sprung, Riddle, Brockmann, Delbeek, Adey. |
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