anyone know anything about coral bugs?

hairyduck · 03/26/2007, 03:27 PM

I've had issues with an orange Monti in my frag trank for ages now, parameters are spot non in there yet I keep getting die off on the skeleton, i dug my microscope out this evening and spotted loads of these tiny worms, they're round and not like flatworms at all. Just wondered if anyone had any idea what they are???

and here they are in situ, the piece of coral is about 5mm square

teen · 03/26/2007, 07:37 PM

AEFW, nudis, red bugs, and now these?

never seen them before, nice close ups though. have you found anything that kills them?

msuzuki126 · 03/26/2007, 07:43 PM

Hold on teen, we don't even know what they are yet!

LeslieH · 03/27/2007, 11:50 AM

Actually they are flatworms, just very different from the ones everyone is used to seeing in tanks. These are micrograzers and micropredators, and some contain symbiotic algae which contribute to their nutrition. The brown spots in your image are the symbionts.

mpoletti · 03/27/2007, 11:59 AM

Damn...this hobby has so many things I need to learn!

hairyduck · 03/27/2007, 02:33 PM

Thanks Leslie, I guess I'll try dipping them then and if no luck there try the dreaded flatworm exit?

LeslieH · 03/27/2007, 04:11 PM

Are these worms only on the orange Monti or are they on other surfaces as well? They may not have anything to do with the coral issues.

wentreefgirl · 03/27/2007, 05:33 PM

I had them on my rainbow mont which lead to its demise.

LeslieH · 03/27/2007, 10:49 PM

How did they contribute to your rainbow's demise?

wentreefgirl · 03/28/2007, 04:35 AM

I thought they were eating it but also they were burrowing holes all over it. There was resession i would say. And actually I got it from a friend who couldnt figure out what was wrong and wanted to see how it did in my tank.

hairyduck · 03/28/2007, 05:34 AM

They seem to have spread to anothet monti next to it now so I'm guessing these are the cause of its demise

Quote:

Originally posted by LeslieH
Are these worms only on the orange Monti or are they on other surfaces as well? They may not have anything to do with the coral issues.

03/26/2007, 03:27 PM	#1
hairyduck Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 13	anyone know anything about coral bugs? I've had issues with an orange Monti in my frag trank for ages now, parameters are spot non in there yet I keep getting die off on the skeleton, i dug my microscope out this evening and spotted loads of these tiny worms, they're round and not like flatworms at all. Just wondered if anyone had any idea what they are??? and here they are in situ, the piece of coral is about 5mm square

03/26/2007, 07:43 PM	#3
msuzuki126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dutchess County, New York Posts: 1,377	Hold on teen, we don't even know what they are yet! __________________ Red House=My 90 build. Matt. Current Tank Info: 90 rebuild

03/27/2007, 11:50 AM	#4
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	Actually they are flatworms, just very different from the ones everyone is used to seeing in tanks. These are micrograzers and micropredators, and some contain symbiotic algae which contribute to their nutrition. The brown spots in your image are the symbionts. __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

03/27/2007, 11:59 AM	#5
mpoletti You'll never walk alone Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sacramento, Ca Posts: 18,245	Damn...this hobby has so many things I need to learn! __________________ -Mark a.) I believe... The curse is a reality b.) Fish poop is your friend c.) Why chase numbers? #CoralsLiketoDisco #ReefSerenity

03/27/2007, 04:11 PM	#7
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	Are these worms only on the orange Monti or are they on other surfaces as well? They may not have anything to do with the coral issues. __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

03/26/2007, 07:37 PM	#2
teen Registered Member. Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: MB, long island NY Posts: 963	AEFW, nudis, red bugs, and now these? never seen them before, nice close ups though. have you found anything that kills them?

03/27/2007, 02:33 PM	#6
hairyduck Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 13	Thanks Leslie, I guess I'll try dipping them then and if no luck there try the dreaded flatworm exit?

03/27/2007, 05:33 PM	#8
wentreefgirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New milford, ct Posts: 3,010	I had them on my rainbow mont which lead to its demise.

03/27/2007, 10:49 PM	#9
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	How did they contribute to your rainbow's demise? __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

03/28/2007, 04:35 AM	#10
wentreefgirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New milford, ct Posts: 3,010	I thought they were eating it but also they were burrowing holes all over it. There was resession i would say. And actually I got it from a friend who couldnt figure out what was wrong and wanted to see how it did in my tank.