Brain missing flesh. Will it survive?

Hi guys.

I woke up this morning. Did my usual morning check up on the tank and noticed my brain coral, which was doing really really well up until now, was all shriveled up. I removed him from the tank and noticed that a quarter of his flesh was missing revealing the skeleton. I've now placed him in my sump to give the poor fella a chance.

My question is twofold: 1) Will he likely recover from his painful ordeal?

2) What would have did this?

I have 3 relatively new residents in my tank that i believe could be suspects, and they are as follows:

Bicolour Blenny - Ecsenius bicolor
Coral Beauty - Centropyge bispinosa
Pakistani Butterfly - Chaetodon collare

I know coral beauties are notoriously hit and miss when it comes to reef tanks. But iv'e had my eye on him since day one and he is yet to even touch any of the corals (touch wood) so i don't think its him.

The pakistan butterfly is another fish which is said to be hit and miss. But again i haven't really seen him bothering anything which he shouldn't. But i cant keep watch for 24 hours a day though.

Finally the blenny. Nobody ever suspects the blenny huh. I only added him to this list as i heard that they can nip at clam mantles etc. Also he was suspiciously loitering around the brain from the hours of 6.00pm-10.00pm when the lights went out.

Its like reef cluedo. What are your thoughts?

Thanks

 

Luc
never had a brain coral before the one I have now
I would suspect both the dwarf and the butterfly as both can periodically sample things you would not want them to

I have never had a damaged brain coral (only had 1 and thats only been in 1 week) so cant comment on recovery
get an image up and someone with more direct experience of this species may be able to offer advice

I have had other LPS corals such as bubbles that have been damaged in rock slides and they have healed so hopefully the brain coral you have has a chance

Steve

 

The blenny could have taken a meal from the brain. The brain may come out of it. Do Iodine dips every couple of days to remove dead tissue and to help the damaged tissue heal.

 

What kind of brain?

Trachyphyllia
lobophyllia
Wellsophyllia
platygyra


I have a Trachy. I have witnessed my bi-color blenny pecking at the flesh. Not stealing food, but literally pecking at the flesh.

 

Well the bad news is i figured out it was the butterfly.
The even worse news is i caught him munching on my elegance

The good news is he seems to be eating food im putting into the tank now rather than concentrating on the elegance.
The even better news is the brain has pretty much regenerated all its flesh and is starting to look all puffy and healthy again. All i did was to put him in my sump. Im impressed

Guess its another case where 'Brains' triumph over brawn! get it? get it? mwahahahaha. Ok ill go get my coat :$

 

pakastain butterflys are not reef safe.
Brain corals in particular are favorites among many fish, including fish that normally do not pick at corals. I had a very large lobo that was beautiful. It was big, fleshy and I had it for 3 years (one of my first corals I ever got) I noticed one day it was all shriveled up and had little tears in it. I watched and my purple tang was taking nips at it. He also started teaching my other fish (bellus angel in particular) to follow suit. I placed a strawberry container over it trying to get him to stop, and it resulted in him going after my other LPS. I have since traded in the brain and the tang.