New frogspawn question

[matt2364]

I just got this frogspawn from my lfs two days ago. Five of the heads have opened up a little bit, but one of them is closed up. I have pictures below, what is wrong with this head? I have heard that one head can go bad and infect the others is this true? If so, what do you do? Thanks in advance.

 

[mx#28]

It's a 'brown jelly infection'. There are mixed opinions out there as to whether this only affects dying/dead tissue or can bring down a healthy head of coral. My experience has been that it doesn't spread, but I've read many accounts that seem to differ.
Better safe than sorry - either siphon the jelly off or remove the coral from the main tank (so that nothing spreads) and cut off the infected branch.

 

[alexmir]

My 4 headed frogspawn had that jelly when i got it 2 months ago, and it has not affected the coral at all. I am going to try to siphon it off, but for now it is not hurting anyything.

 

[matt2364]

MX#28: How would I go about cutting off the brank, w/out hurting the other head.

 

[mx#28]

Originally Posted by matt2364
http:///forum/post/2524727
MX#28: How would I go about cutting off the brank, w/out hurting the other head.
By doing it carefully

There are many tools for the job - I use a dremel with a diamond blade, a lot of people just use large scissor-like shears. If you search for coral fragging tools, you're sure to find something that will work.
Make sure the heads are retracted before you take the coral out of the tank (I like to do it when the lights are off and the coral is all tucked in) so that the risk of damage is low (water filled polyps are heavy on a sharp skeleton out of the water). When you cut, do it with care. Make sure you can get whatever tool you use in between the two heads without injuring the healthy one.

 

[m0nk]

The thing about disease in branching LPS like frogspawn is that if the tissue of one head is still attached to another, it could potentially spread. It looks like they're still attached in the picture so I'd cut it off. It also looks small enough that you could use a bone cutter to do it, but like others said, be careful and be sure the heads are all retracted ( a light touch to the tentacles before taking it out should cause the heads to retract). HTH

 

[matt2364]

hmmm...I do not have any bone cutters or other fragging tools. I do, however, have some really sharp scissors, hammer,

[hr]
drivers, and a drill with a lot of different bits. Any recommendations?

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by matt2364
http:///forum/post/2525425
hmmm...I do not have any bone cutters or other fragging tools. I do, however, have some really sharp scissors, hammer,

[hr]
drivers, and a drill with a lot of different bits. Any recommendations?
I wouldn't suggest using any of these to remove it. You might just need to buy something if you want to take the head off. Most LFS sell fragging kit tools, or see if you have a local medical supply store, or even a community college that has a nursing program (might find bone cutters at the campus bookstore).

 

[matt2364]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I went ahead and bought some bone cutters and cut the bad head off. Everyone thing looks good for the moment, I will let you know if I come up with anymore questions. Thanks again.

 

[matt2364]

hmmm...not sure what is going on, but nearly all the heads are closing up now. I am not sure if this Frogspawn will last more than a day.
I contacted my lfs that I bought it from. They said I could bring it in with a water sample and they would test everything and look at the coral before letting me know if they can give me a new one. Will it be ok to stay in the tank for a day or two (LFS does not open until wednesday). Will the brown ick or whatever that kills these frogspawns spred? Thanks.
I will be very irritated if I cannot get a new one. This one was $70.00 and I bought $20.00 bone cutters to cut off the infected heads.

 

[matt2364]

Here is a picture of the new head that I think really needs cut off.
and below that is a picture of the whole thing. Let me know what everyone thinks.

 

[matt2364]

bump
Should I cut the head off that is at the top left? If so, should I just cut off the two headds on the left so it does not spread?

 

[mx#28]

I see some tissue recession on at least 2 of the branches. Something is causing this coral to decline. You should post your water parameters, lighting info, other tank inhabitants, and tell us where the coral is placed regarding the lighting and flow.

 

[matt2364]

Salinity is 1.024
ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites are all 0
PH is 8.0
I have two 175w MH and 2 flourescent actinic tubes.
It is placed in medium flow about in the middle of the tank.
Tank inhabitants: Coral branded shrimp, cleaner shrimp, snails, hermits, scopus tang, and a decorator crab.

 

[matt2364]

Do I need to cut off the two head that are receading so it does not spread or just wait it out and see what happens?

 

[morval]

i dont know what has happened to this coral but it has not looked healthy in any of ur pics. did it ever open up fully like this ?

 

[matt2364]

When I purchased it, it had six heads. The next morning one had receded so I went out and purchased some bone cutters and cut it off. It opened fully and was doing fine for 1-2 days. Then the rest of the heads started to receade. I am guessing that the brown slime or whatever it is has spread throughout the coral at this point.

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by matt2364
http:///forum/post/2534532
When I purchased it, it had six heads. The next morning one had receded so I went out and purchased some bone cutters and cut it off. It opened fully and was doing fine for 1-2 days. Then the rest of the heads started to receade. I am guessing that the brown slime or whatever it is has spread throughout the coral at this point.
That is definitely possible since the first pic looked like the tissue was attached between the infected head and at least one of the others; that's how it spreads. At this point, if you are able to get some "credit" with the LFS to trade it for a healthy specimen, you should probably do that. It definitely seems like it has brown jelly disease.

 

[mx#28]

In my experience, which has been consistent with some 'experts' and contradicted by others, brown jelly is not a protozoan infection that spreads and attacks, but just a clean up crew of dying tissue. I'm not the say-all expert on this, but I think there is a problem and the jelly is just a more obvious scape goat.
The parameters that you posted all look good enough, did any parts of the coral expand all the way? I've found that pretty low flow is best for most euphyllia. Is it being blown around too hard??

 

[matt2364]

I just took it back the LFS and got a in-store credit.
Two more heads had receded all the way. The owner of the store said it was deteriorating rather quickly. He ended up just cutting it in half and sticking it back in the tanks for sale...
Thanks for everyones help!