Frogspawn issue - Need help ID'ing a few things

[Jason31]

I've had this 2 head frogspawn for a little over 2 months now and it was doing great for the first 1.5 months. It expanded half way up my tank until the last 2 weeks its been the it looks below. 2 weeks ago i noticed that there was the dark red spot in the branch of the frogspawn so i took it out and gave dipped it in reef dip. I repeated this again a week later and dripped the reef dip directly onto the red spot this time. After putting it back in the tank i didn't notice it looking any different. 1-2 weeks later now i notice this web looking stringy stuff (See A) and just today i saw this growing from it (B). Not sure if B is a new branch or something else... Does anyone know what this is and whats causing the frogspawn to retract? I have other hammers/frogspawn that are doing fine and water parameters and lighting are all good as well.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/jasono31/041717_zpseszts8sz.png

Here it is in better detail without the call outs...

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/jasono31/IMG_9531_zpspihsrvyb.jpg


Here is an image of it while it was being dipped. you can see the red spot in the branch better here. it actually looked like there was some hollowing of the branch around where the red spot is

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/jasono31/IMG_9361_zpsvzq1feja.jpg


Thanks in advance for the help!!

[mcgyvr]

A=vermetid snail
B=New frog baby

Sometimes the "net/web" from the vermetid can bother corals.. But I've never noticed it to be a problem other than triggering their natural "close up" defense just as if you were to touch it.

[Jason31]

Would that snail / stringy substance cause the frogspawn not to open? also how about the red spot on the actual branch? any ideas on what that is and if its the culprit?

[mcgyvr]

I edited my post to include more info above too but the red "spot" is the vermetid snail..despite the snail name they do not move and are basically a small fixed pile of dog poop looking critter.

[Jason31]

ok so the coral closing up wouldn't be caused by the snail and is probably something else?

[JWClark]

The coral closes up in reaction to those feeding strings the snail puts out.

Next time you take it out simply scrape the red thing off with a sharp metal object. I like to use a metal probe from my frag kit and shove the point right down the feeding tube, then scratch the base off.

You'll be good to go after that. No dip necessary.

[Jason31]

by feeding tube do you mean the center of the red spot? Will i damage the coral's base by doing this also? i'm worried since the snail is sitting on the coral's branch vs on a rock. will also covering it up in epoxy or superglue work?