Who's eating my Lobophytum???

MattDiaz · 07/24/2012, 04:39 PM

Something's eating my Lobophytum!

I narrowed it down to 2 suspects:
1) Powder Blue Tang
2) Copper Band Butterfly

I don't know that either species are known to do it. Anyone have any idea?
I don't think I have a mystery resident... None that I've seen anyway!
Have a look! And thanks for taking a look at my post!

bluewater921 · 07/24/2012, 04:59 PM

whats your stock ?? got any crabs ?? shrimp ?? what other tank mates are in there ?

MattDiaz · 07/25/2012, 12:46 AM

Lineatus Fairy Wrasse
Mystery wrasse
Flame Wrasse
Red Velvet Fairy Wrasse
Purple Tilefish
Skunk Tilefish
Blotched Anthias
Black Ice Ocellaris pair
Snowflake Pair
Firefish trio
Cardinal fish Pair
2 sand sifting Stars
Blue leg hermits
Skunk shrimp
Coral banded shrimp
Peppermint Shrimp
Camel shrimp
Turbo Snails
Stomatella

That's all I can think of right now. I did see a mysterious little crab about 1 inch long.... Couldn't ID it, but haven't seen it in months.

MattDiaz · 07/25/2012, 08:48 PM

...bump...

Peter Eichler · 07/25/2012, 10:35 PM

I'd suspect that's die-off and not something consuming it. If something is picking at it the first suspect would be the camel shrimp. They're not particularly reef safe... After that I'd look at a more specialized coral predator such as a certain type of snail or flatowrm that could have been introduced as a pest.

What are your parameters like, how about shots of other corals and an idea of your set-up and maintenance methods? The cyanobacteria leads me to believe there are at least some water quality issues at play.

07/24/2012, 04:39 PM	#1
MattDiaz Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 89	Who's eating my Lobophytum??? Something's eating my Lobophytum! I narrowed it down to 2 suspects: 1) Powder Blue Tang 2) Copper Band Butterfly I don't know that either species are known to do it. Anyone have any idea? I don't think I have a mystery resident... None that I've seen anyway! Have a look! And thanks for taking a look at my post!

07/24/2012, 04:59 PM	#2
bluewater921 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: melbourne fla Posts: 592	whats your stock ?? got any crabs ?? shrimp ?? what other tank mates are in there ? __________________ if i was a fish i would play on the reef & swim in the surf Current Tank Info: 180 in the wall reef

07/25/2012, 12:46 AM	#3
MattDiaz Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 89	Lineatus Fairy Wrasse Mystery wrasse Flame Wrasse Red Velvet Fairy Wrasse Purple Tilefish Skunk Tilefish Blotched Anthias Black Ice Ocellaris pair Snowflake Pair Firefish trio Cardinal fish Pair 2 sand sifting Stars Blue leg hermits Skunk shrimp Coral banded shrimp Peppermint Shrimp Camel shrimp Turbo Snails Stomatella That's all I can think of right now. I did see a mysterious little crab about 1 inch long.... Couldn't ID it, but haven't seen it in months.

07/25/2012, 08:48 PM	#4
MattDiaz Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 89	...bump...

07/25/2012, 10:35 PM	#5
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 5,096	I'd suspect that's die-off and not something consuming it. If something is picking at it the first suspect would be the camel shrimp. They're not particularly reef safe... After that I'd look at a more specialized coral predator such as a certain type of snail or flatowrm that could have been introduced as a pest. What are your parameters like, how about shots of other corals and an idea of your set-up and maintenance methods? The cyanobacteria leads me to believe there are at least some water quality issues at play.