devils hand

[sompa]

one of my fingers on my devils hand looks to be deteriating. is this it's way of shedding the finger and reproducing or do you think something is picking at it. I will try to get a pic put on soon but just thought I would go ahead and ask just incase they do that during reproducing times.

 

[Anonymous]

If it looks like the devil's hand in this thread congrats you are going to be a papa.

http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=61576

 

[sompa]

here is a pic not that good though sorry.

 

[Anonymous]

From that pic it is hard to tell. It does look like it is reproducing.

 

[tinyreef]

are the edges dusty? blow them clean if so, it may just be budding/reproducing. (that's not the norm ime for budding btw but not as problematic as below)

if it's cottony, then it may likely be an infection/fungus. blow it clean or siphon clean (better). i'd frag it immediately. i usually dose iodine (as an antiseptic or as a crutch ) but that's just my pref.

 

[sompa]

it is not dusty on the edges. But where it is open it does look to be cotton or foam like. This is the actual animal though and not something on it. There is nothing on it.

If i frag it how do you suggest I do this. I am new to this and don't know what the best way to do this is. thank you

 

[leftovers]

That does not appear to be budding, or reproduction but a tear. Most sarcophytons tear pretty easily. They also heal fairly quicly. From that picture though your coral doesnt look like Devils hand but whats commonly referred to as rose or flower leather...large lumps or paddles radiating outward from center.

"Devils hand" typically is long slender fingers about 1-2CM diameter that all point up...in any case they are related and are sarcophytons and pretty much indestructable....

 

[btang]

Here is a shot of my Devils Finger

 

[tinyreef]

If i frag it how do you suggest I do this. I am new to this and don't know what the best way to do this is.

i'd suggest a 'kitchen scissor'. they're very sharp and strong versus typical office-type scissors which may be duller and not as 'crisp' in their cutting.

i agree with leftovers that it appears to be more of a injury than a budding event. i've seen infections look like tears too.

i'd still clean the cottony debris off. whether it's the internal tissues or a fungi it's unnecessary bio-matter imo.

hard to tell species from morphology. i'd tend to agree that it's not devils hand either (lobophyton?) but shape and form can change drastically even from mother to daughter corals, from conditions, and from placement/location ime.

 

[leftovers]

i stand corrected devils finger is lobophyton pauciflorum, not sarcophyton or toadstool leather....sorry.

Your coral "appears" to be a lobophyton sp. just not the "devils hand" species.

 

[sompa]

here are a couple of pics of the recovering cut. I don't have a pic of the main leather but will take one. Both are looking good. almost completely healed and the cut one is groing nicely