What is this thread like thingy on my Leather coral?

[sdsyhs]

May i know what's that thing? At first i thought it was some leftover after shedding. But after staring at the tank for quite awhile. I noticed that the thread looking thingy can (retract?). Sorry I don't know how to describe that.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Benthic ctenophores (benthic comb jellies) - the strings (tentacles with tentilla) lead back to the mucusy body that looks kind of like a flatworm.

It's generally recommended to remove them, as some species are capable of capturing and feeding on small fish with those tentacles.

 

[sdsyhs]

Benthic ctenophores (benthic comb jellies) - the strings (tentacles with tentilla) lead back to the mucusy body that looks kind of like a flatworm.

It's generally recommended to remove them, as some species are capable of capturing and feeding on small fish with those tentacles.

Thank you!
Did some googling. But not much info on how to remove them except from manual removal.
Do you happen to know if there's anything that will eat them?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Thank you!
Did some googling. But not much info on how to remove them except from manual removal.
Do you happen to know if there's anything that will eat them?

It may vary from one species to another, but they're eaten by some dwarf angelfish (Centropyge argi is confirmed to eat them, but the amount they eat is highly inconsistent), some egg cowries (Cyphoma gibbosum is confirmed), some crabs, some nems, etc.

These do sting, though, so many predators avoid them, particularly if they can't swallow them whole.

Table 4 in the link below has some good info on predation of these, but manual removal is generally recommended because it's pretty easy with these, and they're not usually found in large numbers:

https://sharkresearch.earth.miami.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/glynn-et-al.-2018-1.pdf