weird thing growing on my frogspawn

[CAT]

i'm hoping someone can id this.

i've had this frogspawn for a couple of years. in fact i've fragged it several times. a couple of weeks ago i noticed a weird growth on one of the heads though the head kept expanding. now, as you can see from the pic below, the 'growth' jumped from one head to another. the white tube is pretty solid -- it's an almost clear tube but covered with what looks like sand. since this coral is at the top of the tank, sand is not a possibility.

all i can figure is that some critter is digging it's way into the head of the coral and leaving the tube behind to travel in. is this a possibility? i've added some new corals in the last month though they seem to be fine so far.

i've now removed the 2 infected heads, used a coral dip and am hoping that this will solve the problem. any suggestions on what this is would be appreciated

 

[Anonymous]

Calcareous Tube Worm.

mario

 

[SnowManSnow]

agreed.

it shouldn't cause a problem to your coral..

if you want I believe that you can just snap it off.

B

 

[Anonymous]

I have a few of these in my tank. It has not harmed any of my corals. You will notice a red feather duster type worm that will stick out of it at times.

As Mario ID'd, I agree.

 

[CAT]

thanks for the replies.

actually, the tube is solid so maybe the worm is inside. i'm thinking the 'sand' on the tube is actually the coral skeleton being 'chewed up' and deposited behind. the 2 heads were definitely damaged --the flesh pretty much gone on the first head and the 'tube' drilling it's way straight into the heart of the second head.

i'm just hoping that if this is a critter of some kind, it was in the second coral head when i cut it off so it's long gone...

 

[blackcloudmedia]

hmm maybe its a predatorial tube worm. Theres so many species of worms in the reefs that you never know what youll find. Id say get rid of it if you notice tissue death.