Fuzzy things attaching to coral stems

[jabeuy]

I've noticed these fuzzy things attaching to some coral stems/stalks.

I've seens them on the stem of my branching hammer, and on the necks of one of my zoa colonies.

They're hard to the touch, and I can sort of peel them off and they come off altogether.

 

Any idea what these are, and if they're harmful? Thanks!

[jabeuy]

Slightly better picture:

[joy13]

Look up nudibranch.

[jabeuy]

Look up nudibranch.

 

Thanks! Looking it up here: http://www.nudibranch.com.au/

There are so many I can't positively ID which it is so far. Hopefully it's not a harmful type since it hasn't bothered the hammer or zoa yet.

[joy13]

Usually if it is a colored nudi they take on the color of coral they eat to help make it hard to spot, most are harmful to coral but there are some that eat other pests the the blue velvet that eats flatworms and the Berghia that eats aptasia. If it is the type that eats coral you will have to destroy the eggs as well.

[opaquelace]

Doesn't look like a nudi to me. Looks more like hydroids.

Or tunicates.

[hypostatic]

They're hard to the touch, and I can sort of peel them off and they come off altogether.

Doesn't look like a nudi to me. Looks more like hydroids.

Or tunicates.

 

Yeah, from the description I would also assume not a nudi.

 

also, maybe a sponge?

[opaquelace]

 

Yeah, from the description I would also assume not a nudi.

 

also, maybe a sponge?

could be a baby pineapple sponge?

[jabeuy]

could be a baby pineapple sponge?

As long as it's not bothering the corals, should I be okay just leaving it alone?

[opaquelace]

 

As long as it's not bothering the corals, should I be okay just leaving it alone?

You can leave it alone if it's not bothering the corals. It doesn't look to be bothering them, and if they are some kind of tunicate or hydrous odds are they will go away on their own. I you're worried you can do a Coral Rx dip but from the photos it doesn't seem necessary at this point.