Parasite removed from my brain coral....
 

I just acquired an open brain, (my first), a few weeks ago.
It was doing great, but then I noticed this wart-like hole that seemed to be
getting tissue damage around it.
I watched it during a spot feeding and saw little legs coming from the hole.
I pulled this out:

http://www.highwaymp3.com/ebay/parasite1.jpg

It looks like a hermit crab out of its shell. 1/4" long.
The area around the hole was becoming necrotic and that is why I noticed it.
I have read a lot of books, but never seen this.
It left a gaping hole in the coral and a deep conical hole in the skeleton,
right on the edge between two of the sharp skeleton lobes. It appears to
have bored in.

Q1: What the hell is it?
Q2: Did I do the right thing by removing it?
Q3: How can I best comfort the coral while it heals?
Q4: Was it already there, or do you think it was in my tank and moved in
after I placed it...

CW
(shocked and a little sick to my gizzard)

I think I found something about it:
http://aqualinkwebforum.com/eve/ubb....5/r/7126033815

"CheezWiz" wrote in message
...
I just acquired an open brain, (my first), a few weeks ago.
It was doing great, but then I noticed this wart-like hole that seemed to
be getting tissue damage around it.
I watched it during a spot feeding and saw little legs coming from the
hole. I pulled this out:

http://www.highwaymp3.com/ebay/parasite1.jpg

It looks like a hermit crab out of its shell. 1/4" long.
The area around the hole was becoming necrotic and that is why I noticed
it.
I have read a lot of books, but never seen this.
It left a gaping hole in the coral and a deep conical hole in the
skeleton, right on the edge between two of the sharp skeleton lobes. It
appears to have bored in.

Q1: What the hell is it?
Q2: Did I do the right thing by removing it?
Q3: How can I best comfort the coral while it heals?
Q4: Was it already there, or do you think it was in my tank and moved in
after I placed it...

CW
(shocked and a little sick to my gizzard)

CheezWiz wrote:
I think I found something about it:

Sounds like it. Also sounds like you did good getting it out so fast. Hope there
aren't any more.

George Patterson
There's plenty of room for all of God's creatures. Right next to the
mashed potatoes.

I lost a clam to invasion by pink/orange looking centipede like worms that
must have annoyed the hell out of it. Didn't realise what was going on until
it started to break down.

When I removed it from my tank before it contaminated the water and stood
it upside down so it would at least dry out and I could salvage the shell,
the buggers all came out.

Andy

Just an FYI for others:
Here is a photo of my coral with the necrosis of its flesh showing..
http://www.highwaymp3.com/ebay/coral.jpg

I have found no references on the web or in any books to this kind of
parasite infecting a brain coral.

"CheezWiz" wrote in message
...
I just acquired an open brain, (my first), a few weeks ago.
It was doing great, but then I noticed this wart-like hole that seemed to
be getting tissue damage around it.
I watched it during a spot feeding and saw little legs coming from the
hole. I pulled this out:

http://www.highwaymp3.com/ebay/parasite1.jpg

It looks like a hermit crab out of its shell. 1/4" long.
The area around the hole was becoming necrotic and that is why I noticed
it.
I have read a lot of books, but never seen this.
It left a gaping hole in the coral and a deep conical hole in the
skeleton, right on the edge between two of the sharp skeleton lobes. It
appears to have bored in.

Q1: What the hell is it?
Q2: Did I do the right thing by removing it?
Q3: How can I best comfort the coral while it heals?
Q4: Was it already there, or do you think it was in my tank and moved in
after I placed it...

CW
(shocked and a little sick to my gizzard)

Pretty healthy looking brain, I think it should easily survive that small
area of damage.

D