What’s happening to my green monti?

[DonJuanAntwon]

Still newbie reefer. What’s happening to my green montipora? It’s been doing great with growth/color and all of a sudden I noticed this. Nothing has changed with regards to light or parameters.


27 Feb 2023
PO4: 0.06
NO3: 4
Ca: 460
Alk: 7
Mg: 1320
Sal: 1.025

 

[Queen City Corals]

my guess would be some kind of pest like a monti-eating Nudibranch, I would check it out at night with a flashlight and see if you can see anything.

 

[DonJuanAntwon]

my guess would be some kind of pest like a monti-eating Nudibranch, I would check it out at night with a flashlight and see if you can see anything.

Would you take it out and try to dip it in coral rx?

I also have a pitho crab and emerald crab. Never seen them up there but I guess it’s possible?

 

[Queen City Corals]

Would you take it out and try to dip it in coral rx?

I also have a pitho crab and emerald crab. Never seen them up there but I guess it’s possible?

depending on how hard it would be to remove Io probably would, but you can start by checking it out at night. Here is a good video about what to look for

 

[DonJuanAntwon]

depending on how hard it would be to remove Io probably would, but you can start by checking it out at night. Here is a good video about what to look for

Thanks for the help! What’s your thoughts on adding a wrasse to do the job in if is nudibranches?

 

[Queen City Corals]

What size tank, and what other fish do you have?

 

[DonJuanAntwon]

What size tank, and what other fish do you have?

10 gallon nano: clown fish pair, sharknose goby, and a yasha goby

 

[Queen City Corals]

That's a little too small for a wrasse unless you can find a small 6 line wrasse that you could rehome after a month or two, I would start with manual removal.

 

[DonJuanAntwon]

That's a little too small for a wrasse unless you can find a small 6 line wrasse that you could rehome after a month or two, I would start with manual removal.

I’ll start with manual removal and coral rx. Might look into a Pygmy wrasse? (I plan on upgrading to water box 50G peninsula tank in a few months)

 

[DonJuanAntwon]

I took a look like you said. Is that eggs?

 

[Queen City Corals]

not sure, usually those eggs are white those appear red, but is most likely some kind of pest

 

[DonJuanAntwon]

I ended up getting a possum wrasse to help out while I manually clean and coral rx dip. Hopefully I can salvage this monti. It’s my only monti so I guess if it goes then the nudibranch will go to?

 

[reeftivo]

I took a look like you said. Is that eggs?

could be red bugs

Aquarium Corals: Stony Coral Parasites: Red and Black Bugs: Identification Guide, Preventive Measures, and a Review of Treatment Protocols

This article is but a small tool for use by serious hobbyists in answering many questions.

reefs.com

if you can dip it then do it

 

[DonJuanAntwon]

could be red bugs

Aquarium Corals: Stony Coral Parasites: Red and Black Bugs: Identification Guide, Preventive Measures, and a Review of Treatment Protocols

This article is but a small tool for use by serious hobbyists in answering many questions.

reefs.com

if you can dip it then do it

Interesting. Welp I’ll keep dipping and hope the possum wrasse helps.

 

[Fishjayfonz]

not sure, usually those eggs are white those appear red, but is most likely some kind of pest

I agree Monti eating nudibranchs eggs usually white, this could be another kind of pest. Try aggressively blasting the eggs with a turkey baster and cutting feeds so the fish/inverts can find them. I found most Coral dips not strong enough for the nudibranchs but definitely try it and if you notice improvement its probably not nudibranchs

 

[DonJuanAntwon]

I agree Monti eating nudibranchs eggs usually white, this could be another kind of pest. Try aggressively blasting the eggs with a turkey baster and cutting feeds so the fish/inverts can find them. I found most Coral dips not strong enough for the nudibranchs but definitely try it and if you notice improvement its probably not nudibranchs

I was gonna post an update. I did dip the monti and I noticed one big nudibranch on it in the middle of the night that I sucked up. After, I had my power go out for 24 hours. I had to put a battery aerator in. My tank temp dropped to 64 degrees (I didn’t lose any fish or corals). But I started to notice that my monti started filling back in. I don’t know if it was the dip? Or the tank temp dropping to 64 degrees for a long time? I did add a Pygmy possum wrasse a few days ago. Whatever it was the monti seems to be responding and filling back in. I’m still a new reefer and everyday I’m learning new things. I love this hobby.

 

[DonJuanAntwon]

Here’s a better image of the improvement