Creature found- culprit killing Duncans?

[DI68]

Hi

I posted a thread a while ago which mentioned my Duncans dying off. I described the signs to the LFS and was told it was probably "bale out" and that it was not really known what causes it- maybe a bacteria. I lost a $100 coral..in fact the two Duncans I had just bought from same LFS.

The same thing started happening today ( bale out ) around the stem so I decided to frag the good parts so the bacteria didn't spread but in the process, the "bale out" ( what I thought was the Duncan coming out of the side of the stem) fell off- two of them. This is not part of the Duncan! It looks like a type of mollusc ??? Has this thing been killing my Duncans? So annoyed and what do I do with them?

 

[Sniperhank]

Why, that looks to be a nudibranch. Never seen one like that before.

 

[DI68]

Why, that looks to be a nudibranch. Never seen one like that before.

Thanks- I just googled 'nudibranch' and they are not reef friendly for sure! Is there any good reason to keep them? I have a spare tank I am cycling with live rock- I could transfer them to?

 

[Sniperhank]

If you wanted to...but it'll probably starve if it is a coral eating one...though I've never heard of one that munches on LPS.

 

[Greenstreet.1]

Good read : http://aquariumcoraldiseases.weebly.com/coral-eating-nudibranchs.html

 

[DI68]

Those little white flowers at the base are the egg ribbons containing 1000s of eggs. They are so slimy I had to use a paper towel to get them off using a separate container and rinsing the rock with fresh salt water. I placed the Duncans into the QT tank as I saw movement from within one of the polyps before I realised there were nudibranchs in the tank.

Before anyone comments, I am sure the nudibranch is more deadly for my fish and corals than the paper towel fibres which may have microscopically remained, but it was the best I could manage under the circumstances. They were also at the back of a rock so now I am expecting more in the tank. I am seriously not having a good run with marine as a choice Has anyone else come across this problem and knows how to eradicate them? I will keep googling in the meantime.

 

[DI68]

Good read : Coral Eating Nudibranchs - Aquarium Coral Diseases

Thanks- I didn't see your reply when I posted again. I will have a read of your link too.

 

[Greenstreet.1]

The only thing I can say is dip your corals no matter where or who you get them from. For me it's a must just like qting fish. I use brightwell coral dip works good for me.