Parasite ID please

boilermaker1 · 02/03/2009, 10:41 PM

Whatever these white spots are was eating my pocillopora. I ended up fragging the top (still live part) from the bottom with a bit of room in between. The frag is in another tank now. I just completely removed the rock it was on from my tank and its sitting in a bucket of tank water until I figure out what to do. Also fragged the monti cap on the same rock just to be safe. The monti wasnt affected yet, so hopefully it doesnt have any issue, but what are these things?

tmz · 02/04/2009, 12:01 AM

I don't know but they are similar to some that are giving me trouble with some pieces. Lugols dips don't get them either. I may try interceptor on a theory that that may be crustacean.

boilermaker1 · 02/04/2009, 12:08 AM

Well if you find something that gets anywhere, let me know. I'm not sure how widespread these things got in my tank, its hard to find white specs, but they were all over the base of the pocillopora, I'm just gonna keep an eye on the rest of the frag, and see if they come back. As for the rock... I'm probably just going to cook it or let it dry out for a few days, then just re-cure it. Maybe a little extreme, but its not that big of a rock.

Untamed12 · 02/04/2009, 12:30 AM

I've been dealing with a very small isopod that can be found inside big dead patches on one particular acro. You can only see them under the microscope and they seem to be living under the tissue in the channels of the skeleton.

Classic chicken and egg, though. I don't know if they are the cause, or just arrive because the tissue has died.

They are definately isopod/copepod like...remininscent of ciranolids when you see them. They are mostly completely transparent, teardrop body shape (legs not included), and have distinct red eyes on the side of the head..positioned just like ciranolids.

Only 1 acro is affected, although the same acro is affected the same way throughout the tank.

The flesh seems to explode off the skeleton in a patch. Once this has taken place, the coral then regrows over the patch and the cycle happens again in another spot.

I know...useless without pictures. I could add a picture of coral with dead patches, but there is no way I can get a picture of the 'pods.

boilermaker1 · 02/04/2009, 10:04 AM

Anyone from the day crowd know what these are?

02/03/2009, 10:41 PM	#1
boilermaker1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chantilly, VA Posts: 784	Parasite ID please Whatever these white spots are was eating my pocillopora. I ended up fragging the top (still live part) from the bottom with a bit of room in between. The frag is in another tank now. I just completely removed the rock it was on from my tank and its sitting in a bucket of tank water until I figure out what to do. Also fragged the monti cap on the same rock just to be safe. The monti wasnt affected yet, so hopefully it doesnt have any issue, but what are these things?

02/04/2009, 12:01 AM	#2
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	I don't know but they are similar to some that are giving me trouble with some pieces. Lugols dips don't get them either. I may try interceptor on a theory that that may be crustacean. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

02/04/2009, 12:30 AM	#4
Untamed12 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,578	I've been dealing with a very small isopod that can be found inside big dead patches on one particular acro. You can only see them under the microscope and they seem to be living under the tissue in the channels of the skeleton. Classic chicken and egg, though. I don't know if they are the cause, or just arrive because the tissue has died. They are definately isopod/copepod like...remininscent of ciranolids when you see them. They are mostly completely transparent, teardrop body shape (legs not included), and have distinct red eyes on the side of the head..positioned just like ciranolids. Only 1 acro is affected, although the same acro is affected the same way throughout the tank. The flesh seems to explode off the skeleton in a patch. Once this has taken place, the coral then regrows over the patch and the cycle happens again in another spot. I know...useless without pictures. I could add a picture of coral with dead patches, but there is no way I can get a picture of the 'pods. __________________ Fishlist: Tangs: Yellow, Vlamingi, Blonde Naso, Unicorn, Atlantic Blue Others: Maroon Clown(s), Foxface, Majestic Angel, Hawkfish and more.. Current Tank Info: 400gal Envision Acrylic reef started 04/07

02/04/2009, 12:08 AM	#3
boilermaker1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chantilly, VA Posts: 784	Well if you find something that gets anywhere, let me know. I'm not sure how widespread these things got in my tank, its hard to find white specs, but they were all over the base of the pocillopora, I'm just gonna keep an eye on the rest of the frag, and see if they come back. As for the rock... I'm probably just going to cook it or let it dry out for a few days, then just re-cure it. Maybe a little extreme, but its not that big of a rock.

02/04/2009, 10:04 AM	#5
boilermaker1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chantilly, VA Posts: 784	Anyone from the day crowd know what these are?