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Small white bug things in my tank, suspected coral eaters!


fishfreak0114

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fishfreak0114

I have a bc29 with two clowns, emerald crab, pep shrimp, CUC and some zoas and gsp. I got some macro off a guy and all was well. It had taken on a slightly dusty appearance as though debris had settled. That's what I assumed was happening. I got my first ever coral zoas and gsp. They opened up right away. In two days the rasta was gone. The next day the sunny d was damaged, then a head of my other hurt. I new they were being attacked so I quickly set up a makeshift frag rack for the zoas and they seemed to be fine. Then I noticed my gsp wasn't looking as good and now I've noticed some damaged polyps. :( I'm gonna put it in the frag rack too but im worried the things (if it is them) will get up there. I leave on vacation for 2 weeks today and I really don't want to come back to dead coral. What are these things? They are long, skinny and white, about 1 and a half mm long by a half mm or less wide. I've also seen one larger one, about 2-3 times the size and brownish. Are they eating my coral? I'm throwing out the macro they came on ASAP as I believe there is still lots of them in there. Would getting a mandarin to eat them help?(not a wrasse fan, will get one if it's the only solution). Thanks in advance, liv

I stand corrected,I just looked again. They are actually only about half a mm to 1 mm long and like a 1/4 to an 1/8 of a mm wide.

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The tiny white bugs you mentioned could be pods, and they are harmless. They are part of the system.

I'm not sure about the brownish bugs you mentioned. They could be pests from the corals you got and put in your tank. In the future, always dip your new corals with dipping solution to kill/prevent pests before putting them into your display tank.

Could you post some pictures of those bugs you mentioned? It will be easier to identify them.

Hope this helps.

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fishfreak0114

I did dip my corals which is why I was puzzled. I dipped the gsp before I put it up in the frag rack and something came off. It is about 3mm long by 1 mm wide, clear, flat and has two black eyes. I will post a pic later if I have time before I leave. I think it is an isopod. The crab has officially been deemed innocent. Should I get a fish to eat them? If I have time I'll post a photo of the other things too.

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  • 3 weeks later...
fishfreak0114

They aren't free swimming. They haven't been seen again. The coral is thriving up on the rack. The gsp has recovered and is growing and I have at least one new zoa polyp. I may put them down soon and keeps close eye on them. I think it may have just been the one parasite thingy.

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I'm thinking the little bugs may be asellota isopods, harmless little animals, often scavengers. What corals are not on the rack, and were not harmed?

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fishfreak0114

Out of the 5 frags I got only the two in the rack remain. I didn't realize what was happening before it was too late. The la and sunny d melted away. Rasta totally gone.

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Melting corals can be caused by so many things you could practically fill a book with it and still forget information, often its bad water parameters but the corals on the rack would be affected, if an animal attacks it it has to do serious irreversible damage to bring corals to that point. With infections some can spread quickly, but still the rack corals are fine. Any pics possible for white bugs?

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fishfreak0114

Sadly no pics. My camera wouldn't focus on them when they were there. I haven't seen any since that day though. Weird

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