help strange critter

redaustin88 · 04/30/2012, 08:04 PM

i have noticed that for the past week my encrusting green star polyps have begun looking extremly ill and after a harder look ive found about 6 small critters that are mobile they are about 3/4 to 1 inch long 1/4 inch wide some what flat and have about 10 short soft spines in two rows sticking up off ther back. Look like catipillers kinda. belive they may have been eating it.

What are they? what measures need to be taken?

SushiGirl · 04/30/2012, 08:06 PM

Google amphipods & see if that's it.

laszlo · 04/30/2012, 08:16 PM

Could be Nudibranchs.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/rs/index.php

redaustin88 · 04/30/2012, 08:16 PM

no sushi thats not it. but thanks.

they almost look as if they are camo them self by looking like a polyp as in the spines look like small polyops on ther back

SushiGirl · 04/30/2012, 08:23 PM

In that case, laszlo would be correct.

redaustin88 · 04/30/2012, 08:36 PM

yeah that looks more like it. but havent found one that is a real match. would they be eating it or just a happen stance. what should i do. i removed one with turkey baseter for better photo but it not loading for me

SushiGirl · 04/30/2012, 08:52 PM

It's eating it. They all have specialized diets and look like what they eat as camo. You'll need to dip the coral if you can and look for eggs, scraping off any you find.

laszlo · 04/30/2012, 08:52 PM

I guess if you can get them out with the turkey baster try that and keep an eye on it. Not sure if a FW dip would be possible for you.

redaustin88 · 04/30/2012, 09:16 PM

thanks so much ive removed all i could find and fw dipped the rock two rocks that were around where they were located.

scubafreaky · 05/01/2012, 05:59 AM

The FW dip should do the trick. Definitely look for eggs. You may need to repeat the dip after a few days if you don't remove any eggs that may be left behind. Also, check out this article.

Scroll down and start reading at "Aeolids, the Prey that Bites Back" and read to the end. Don't pay super close attention to the pictures. What they look like depends upon what they're eating. The paragraph that starts with "During feeding the prey tissues are cut into small pieces and swallowed" also explains why the pests look like the coral they are eating.

I've had these before. Several fresh water dips solved the problem. I know your pests are not eating Zoa's, but you can also do a Google Image search for Zoa Eating Nudibranchs for more information. Hope this helps.

scubafreaky · 05/01/2012, 06:03 AM

Oops, forgot the link to the article. Here it is...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/rs/index.php

04/30/2012, 08:04 PM	#1
redaustin88 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Muncie, Indiana Posts: 75	help strange critter i have noticed that for the past week my encrusting green star polyps have begun looking extremly ill and after a harder look ive found about 6 small critters that are mobile they are about 3/4 to 1 inch long 1/4 inch wide some what flat and have about 10 short soft spines in two rows sticking up off ther back. Look like catipillers kinda. belive they may have been eating it. What are they? what measures need to be taken?

04/30/2012, 08:06 PM	#2
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Google amphipods & see if that's it. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

04/30/2012, 08:23 PM	#5
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	In that case, laszlo would be correct. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

04/30/2012, 08:52 PM	#7
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	It's eating it. They all have specialized diets and look like what they eat as camo. You'll need to dip the coral if you can and look for eggs, scraping off any you find. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

04/30/2012, 08:16 PM	#3
laszlo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 176	Could be Nudibranchs. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/rs/index.php

04/30/2012, 08:36 PM	#6
redaustin88 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Muncie, Indiana Posts: 75	yeah that looks more like it. but havent found one that is a real match. would they be eating it or just a happen stance. what should i do. i removed one with turkey baseter for better photo but it not loading for me

04/30/2012, 09:16 PM	#9
redaustin88 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Muncie, Indiana Posts: 75	thanks so much ive removed all i could find and fw dipped the rock two rocks that were around where they were located.

05/01/2012, 05:59 AM	#10
scubafreaky Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Seabrook, TX Posts: 20	The FW dip should do the trick. Definitely look for eggs. You may need to repeat the dip after a few days if you don't remove any eggs that may be left behind. Also, check out this article. Scroll down and start reading at "Aeolids, the Prey that Bites Back" and read to the end. Don't pay super close attention to the pictures. What they look like depends upon what they're eating. The paragraph that starts with "During feeding the prey tissues are cut into small pieces and swallowed" also explains why the pests look like the coral they are eating. I've had these before. Several fresh water dips solved the problem. I know your pests are not eating Zoa's, but you can also do a Google Image search for Zoa Eating Nudibranchs for more information. Hope this helps.

05/01/2012, 06:03 AM	#11
scubafreaky Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Seabrook, TX Posts: 20	Oops, forgot the link to the article. Here it is... http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/rs/index.php