Scoly problem!!

[MitchM]

Regular bristle worms are scavengers, not predators.
If there were regular bristle worms present, then they would be consuming flesh that was already dying.
Double check all your water parameters and that the coral is not in an area of too much flow.

If you do happen to observe any more worms, try to identify them with this page:
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchworms.html

I suspect that this scoly is a goner, hopefully you can identify what or who is causing this and prevent any further losses.

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by MitchM

I suspect that this scoly is a goner

Is this based on experience ?

[MitchM]

The rate of deterioration, mainly. Years ago I may have lost a large LPS in a similar manner. I don't remember exactly.

I only know of Wheelman's tank based on these pictures, but I see that he has a fairly coarse substrate.
Maybe the coral was rocking back and forth with water movement which irritated the flesh that wrapped under the skeleton. That flesh decayed, bristle worms started eating and wound up eating the coral from the inside out.
Maybe that's why we're seeing holes in the flesh even though it's in a protective cage.
Maybe it's a predatory worm, too.

[JohnnyReeftank]

That strange jelly underneath the scoly in the first pic of this thread must be some sort of indicator of what's going on.....too much coincidence for that stuff to randomly show up and then the holes...anyone seen that stuff before?

[Borderjumper]

I've lost a couple over the years. Mine did exactly as yours is doing. I wasn't able to save them. Sucks loosing one as they aren't cheap. I guess thats the risk with basically one big polyp..

[gregzz4]

If the concensus is that it's a gonner, I'd start digging

Maybe you'll even find something under the flesh on the top side

Good luck Jess

[MitchM]

As a last resort, you could try removing it and placing it in an iodine bath then in a separate tank with no substrate.
As long as it's on the sand the scavengers still have free access to it.

[MitchM]

Originally Posted by JohnnyReeftank

That strange jelly underneath the scoly in the first pic of this thread must be some sort of indicator of what's going on.....too much coincidence for that stuff to randomly show up and then the holes...anyone seen that stuff before?

It's decaying flesh of the coral. An entry point for scavengers.