white worm - pest?

[reedman]

Kevin,

I pulled a white worm (I'll use that term loosely) off my coral the other day. About 1 cm long and maybe 1 mm in diameter. Seemed to be just hanging on the coral but it was located right where the coral is losing tissue in an STN fashion (losing tissue from the base up). Any ideas what this might be? Any remedies?

Thanks,
-Reed

 

[kevinpo]

Hi Reed,
Have you added any new corals or rock recently? If not it is much more likely threat the worm was an opportunistic feeder on dead coral tissue. Most coral predators will reproduce quickly in our crowded coral environments. With so many worm species one that eats SPS coral is possible but if they were a big problem we would have heard of them by now. I would just keep an eye out and if the worm has friends I would dip the coral in an iodine based coral dip.

Regards,
Kevin
PS: A picture would be helpful.

 

[reedman]

Thanks Kevin. Right after I tossed it in the sink and watched it go down the drain I thought about getting a pic. Next time if I find another. I have seen/removed at least 1 other, but they are not in plague proportions. I am guessing you are right about it being an opportunistic feeder. Now if I can just stop the STN....some days I wonder about SPS.

Thanks again!

 

[reedman]

As it turns out I think you were spot on Kevin....opportunistic feeder. My alk was way lower than it should have been and my PH was also depressed. I've been pushing my alk up slowly and things are back to "normal". Hate it when life gets in the way of proper testing and care

 

[kevinpo]

Thanks for the update and hope your corals make a full recovery!

Cheers,
Kevin