Why does my rock flower have "herpes"?

[Bent]

Lol I can't explain it any other way. My rock flower has, what appears to be, a herpes blister on its mouth. It's been there for a while and is just getting bigger. What gives?

http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z433/Tackett1980/D2F1DACE-F1DE-4827-A403-F62B4F6B0642.jpg
http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z433/Tackett1980/F8ADE1EA-6DBD-4013-900A-6EDBAA9E3207.jpg

Sorry for the windex pics, it's all I could do as I was walking out of the house. I'll get better shots later on.

[HidingReefer]

Not sure if it helps, but my rock flower does that too from time to time, can't explain though

[Bent]

Not sure if it helps, but my rock flower does that too from time to time, can't explain though

How long does it last? It looks like crap. Lol

[heathlindner25]

I have 3, two of them do it a lot more than the other one.

[SeaCucumberFan]

I used to have one like that... can't explain it though

[xanthurum]

Bounce Rock Flower you are rich! I've never seen mine do that.

[Ron Reefman]

Ben, I've never seen a rock flower droop off a rock like that (and I have a dozen of them). It sure doesn't look happy.

I have seen some anemones push their insides out of their mouth like that, but I think it's usually a bad sign of stress or sickness or impending death... sorry.

[Dmorty217]

Did you put the anem thru anything like ciproflaxin? Many anemones come in sick just like fish and die as a result.

[HidingReefer]

Sorry for the late response, but it only happens when i put my hand in the tank for some reason, it mostly closes up and that happens, doesn't last too long after though, not exact time but usually 30 minutes to an hour

[Bent]

Did you put the anem thru anything like ciproflaxin? Many anemones come in sick just like fish and die as a result.

This is the same rock flower that came in with my TBS order when I first set the tank up. How long has that been?

[homer1475]

I have several different ones ranging from softball size to the size of a penny, and none ever look like that. They will often inflate their mouth to give that "herpies" look, but it typically goes back to normal within a few minutes.

I have never seen any doop like that though.

[Ron Reefman]

This is the same rock flower that came in with my TBS order when I first set the tank up. How long has that been?

I don't know Ben. I follow your posts here a lot, but I don't keep track of the time frame. Ha! I have trouble remembering who won the Indy car race I watched last night on TV! :headwally:

[Bent]

I don't know Ben. I follow your posts here a lot, but I don't keep track of the time frame. Ha! I have trouble remembering who won the Indy car race I watched last night on TV! :headwally:

Lol. Looking back it looks like it's been in the system for 2 years.

It isn't drooping anymore, but it still has the herpes.

[heathlindner25]

http://i1144.photobucket.com/albums/o493/heathlindner25/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/20160828_121647.jpg (http://s1144.photobucket.com/user/heathlindner25/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/20160828_121647.jpg.html)

Here's two of mine, does his mouth look like that? I've had these guys for years

[joshky]

RFA's generally don't need antibiotic treatment and yours has been in your system too long, unless you've recently added another RFA the chances of it being an infection are slim to none. I haven't seen a RFA droop like that, better pictures would be very much appreciated.

[heathlindner25]

http://i1144.photobucket.com/albums/o493/heathlindner25/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/20160830_191828.jpg (http://s1144.photobucket.com/user/heathlindner25/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/20160830_191828.jpg.html)
Here's a picture of one of mine I just took, he's kind of "belling " up like yours.

[Bent]

Mine is no longer "belled" anymore, but it still has the herp. I'll try to snap a pic tommorrow since I'm actually home now.

Your rock flowers are beautiful btw.

[Bent]

I looked today since I'm off work, and he's not in his usual spot. I see the foot under a rock, so I guess he's moving. I'm not sure what's up with him.

I looked, and he has been in the tank for two years. No changes have happened, the water parameters haven't changed, the lighting hasn't changed. The corals are fine.

*Shrug.*

Weird. What's the lifespan of these guys?

[Bent]

Here's another shot with the blues off, he's no longer bulbing like he was, but it's gastric cavity is still hanging out. What gives?

http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z433/Tackett1980/FEEB2674-224B-44B1-807D-6B36EBB6663E.jpg

[GimpyFin]

http://www.mtpkits.com/image/data/valtrex.jpg

[static916]

I think its important to have the talk and emphasize why protection is so important.

[Dmorty217]

http://www.mtpkits.com/image/data/valtrex.jpg

The gift that keeps on giving

[Bent]

After looking and researching, I've come to the conclusion that what is sticking out is the animals gastric cavity.

http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z433/Tackett1980/C411452A-BE2F-4D5C-A3DA-CAF98D69AF70.jpg

Anyone know why this has happened? I can actually physically shove it back in its mouth very gently. But then it just comes right back out after a few minutes.

It's very odd.

[SeaCucumberFan]

I heard sea apples can put out their stomach like that as a "last hope" for food or something. Might be doing the same?

[Homestead_Dad]

What happened to it? I got 3 new RFAs and two were doing the same thing.

[kmbyrnes]

One of mine is like that all the time. Doesn't seen to bother it, as its been in the tank almost 3 years.

[Bent]

He's still alive. It looks like hell, but he seems to be doing well.

I'm going to call it inverted gut syndrome. :dunno: