What's up with my Scoly?

[stlblufan]

This scoly has been fine since I got him about six months ago. Recently it has shrunk considerably, and today I noticed what appears to be a part of its skeleton sticking through the skin (see picture). Nothing in the tank has changed -- no new additions, water parameters are the same as they have always been, etc. I did recently start spot feeding it, that's the only thing I could think of that has changed, but I have only done so a few times and about a week apart.

 

[Audi0s]

Are you talking about that black thing? I think thats him taking a poop. The skeleton would be brilliantly white unless its been exposed for a few days to algae accumulation.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

very cool pic, never noticed mine doing that

 

[irvp13]

How about the current? do you have a power head or pump pointing to it?
Same happens to my Trachy when after a maintenance I dont put the pumps in the exact same direction and as a result it gets more flow. This causes the tissue to be pushed to the skeleton and gets punctured.

 

[basiab]

How old are your light bulbs? May need replacing.
Are your hands in the tank more often. It may be giving off something the coral doesn't like.

What are you feeding and and how big are the pieces? I doubt that this is the issue but it is best to chop food into very small pieces. They will take bigger ones but probably don't digest it well.

 

[stlblufan]

Poop? Hmm, I've never heard of that. I would've thought it would come from the mouth.

Anyway, I have been feeding it Ultra LPS Grow + Color Marine Particles by Fauna Marin. It was recommended to me by Manhattan Aquariums.

I have had my hands in the tank more than normal lately in an effort to remove a nasty outbreak of green bubble algae. Maybe you're on to something there.