Bubble Coral

[arsanc]

I have a bubble coral that has been thriving for 5 months. I recently noticed that there is an area on it where its receding on its skeleton. In this area there, what resemble, small white "cotton balls" about 1mm in size. Everything south of these the Bubble coral does not look well. Does anyone have an idea of what these may be? The rest of the coral looks fine. The coral is horse-shoe shaped and I have a maroon clown who hangs out in the middle. Can he be the culprit? Any info would be greatly appreciated!

[Sk8r]

Maroons can be a little rough on their chosen hosts. The balls are probably tissue from the bubble as it retreats. If you have an area of modest light and good flow in the sump you might withdraw the bubble to that area and target feed: they're a low-light coral as is.

[Amphiprion]

Any pics? The 'cotton balls' may be aggregations of mesenterial filaments from some sort of stress or tissue tearing. I would do as Sk8r said to eliminate the clown as a potential cause.

[LBCBJ]

I lost my entire tank, including my bubble, due to this tissue recession from the bottom up. Did everything under the sun to stop it, nothing worked. Still don't know what caused it.

[arsanc]

Thanks for the replies....I have noticed that my maroon clown has a tendency to irritate corals in the tank. It also likes to bury itself in the leather I have when its tentacle are out. Seems to stress my leather out also. I may take him into my LFS for a trade on something else. The trick will be trying to catch him. I have tried several times and now when he sees the green net he hides. Any good tips for catchin him?

[reefNetWork]

idk what you use to feed your fish...baster or something? but i use a turkey baster for mine and when they see it they go crazy and go to the top of the water. i can pretty much catch all of my fish with my hand except a couple gobies. so when they come to the top you can just scoop it up with the net. works for me. hope it helps.

[IPowderBlueTang]

Clowns are easier to catch, they sleep on the sand bed. wait early in the mornig and the maroon will be on the sand bed sleeping, just net him them!

[reefNetWork]

mine sleep on their flower pot. so they would still be easy to catch.