Worm eating my Montipora

[Mike02]

Does anybody know what this worm is? I only saw the head of it, so i dont know how long it is. It could be 1/2" or 3", i dont know but its inside my Montipora digitata and i saw it eating it last night. Also, the damage it's done is noticible. Anybody here ever had this problem? or know what to do about it? thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Of which worm do you speak, hun? I don't see no stinkin' worm!

Have you searched the library here? http://www.reefs.org/library

Try going to www.wetwebmedia.com and searching their library, there are many articles by Anthony Calfo, or going to www.wetwebfotos.com/talk and posing your query there.

 

[mgk65]

There is a nudibranch called an aeolid nudibranch that eats montipora species.

Several people have tried various methods of eradicating this beast. The most successful seems to be reducing the salinity and picking the aeolids off the montipora. Make sure you get the egg sacs that may be on unexposed surfaces.

See:
http://www.thesea.org/captivesystems/pe ... =nudib.asp

http://www.reeffarmers.com/farmersarticles.htm

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthrea ... nudibranch

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthrea ... and+eating

There was also an article in the March, 2003 issue of FAMA about the aeolid nudibranch by Blane Perun.

If it is something else actually living inside the m. digitata, break off the affected section and put it in some tank water and see if it comes out.

mgk