Porites Pest Pictures.

[acrylic_300]

I ordered a Canary Porites (Porites cylindrica) from DFS a few weeks ago. The color was not impressive and it arrived brown with blotches and was shedding skin it some areas.

The size was very impressive....I actually giggled because it was the size of a softball.

Over the weeks I noticed the blotches would heal and reappear in different spots. I've never owned a Porites, and was thinking that perhaps it was normal.

It wasn't until tonight that it dawned on me that parts of the coral looked greener with smaller polyps. I noticed it before but I thought maybe a new branch was starting in the area or something.

Out of curiosity I probed the green spot with my scraper and to my surprise it came loose.

Here is what I found:

Nudibranch?
http://www.saltbucket.com/d/17386-1/Porites+Nudis+002.jpg

It was crawling with these things...
http://www.saltbucket.com/d/17392-1/Porites+Nudis+004.jpg

I sure hope the Acro I ordered is okay...that would be tragedy for my tank !!! Luckily Nudibranch are species specific.

http://www.saltbucket.com/d/17389-1/Porites+Nudis+003.jpg

[acrylic_300]

I forgot to mention that it was not a wild colony and was inspected by a licensed vet before it was shipped. Just to give everyone an Idea of how hard they are to see.

http://www.saltbucket.com/d/17395-1/Porites+Nudis.jpg

[Ian]

They're on top of their customer service. Im sure if you contact them, they'll take care of you in any way they can...

[Nanook]

I just got this coral the other day and will be borrowing a friend's mesoscope to check it out very closely. Thanks for the heads up.

[acrylic_300]

Here is a picture of the coral before I noticed them. There are two Nudis showing in this picture (that I can find). If a Yellow Damsel had not picked at one and made it shift its form slightly, I never would have noticed them. I actually thought the damsel was doing the damage at first.

http://www.saltbucket.com/d/17398-1/Growth+reference+petstore+and+DFS+003.jpg


This is how hard they are to see. They cover an area of about five-six actual polyps.

[Denadai]

Here is mine, before and after

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/5523/poritesantes.jpg


http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/1128/poritesamarelo.jpg

[acrylic_300]

Denadai,

Are you saying that you had nudibranch on your porites? If so, I hope mine colors up like that once I get rid of all the pests. That is some awesome color.

[Nanook]

I have two I can see on mine too:( I am going to call them tomorrow about this and another issue.

[acrylic_300]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15581975#post15581975 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nanook
I have two I can see on mine too:( I am going to call them tomorrow about this and another issue.

My coral is not doing so well after I dipped it in Lugol's and tank water (5 drops per liter). Don't waste time on a Lugol's dip...it did not kill them. I found one more nudi after the dip. The rest I picked off with a knife before I dipped them.

I may have to call them. I have another issue also (with some fish).