Strange bugs....?

[joeman1881]

So I have a brain coral that I have had for probably 6-8 months now, lobo red which had great color like the picture of one swf sells, within the last 2 weeks, I noticed the color dramatically went down, and its almost completely white, but still looks puffy and healthy. Then I bought some pricey neon yellow candy cane stalks from my lfs about a week ago. Today I noticed the brain has tiny brown bugs on it, almost a complete circle with almost like a tail fin on the back, a bit bigger than the tip of a pen. I also saw a couple on my candy cane's. I am concerned these little buggers are the problem. I am gonna try to get a picture with the dslr after work, but idk if I will be able to see them...Anyone have any clues as to what it is? How can I get rid of it?

 

[joeman1881]

Got stuck at work, wasn't able to get any pictures before lights out...I have been googling/sfw searching for about an hour, and can't find anything very similar...Anyone had a similar issue? Sorry for the lack of pictures....

 

[rlablan]

you could try a fresh water dip or some coral cleaner like Lugols dip. If you are comfortable with it, you can also use a sw/iodine solution. Also, Revive would work well in a situation like this
I don't know if the critters are bad but either way... one of those dips should take care of them.
Are you sure that they are not copepods? Amphipods?? Google for those if you aren't sure. If it is those guys... they are good.

 

[joeman1881]

It may be a copepod, but I am having a really hard time finding a picture similar to my tank...I am gonna try to get a picture when I get off (hopefully on time) tonight. Thanks for the reply at least. Is it normal for there to be around 30 of them on one coral? Could they have caused the discoloration?

 

[spanko]

Sounds like red planarian flatworms.
Look like this?

 

[rlablan]

Is it normal? Is there such a thing as the "normal" in this hobby?? lol
In one of my tanks, I have a colony of amphipods that live in the block that my zoas came glued on. I bought them from nissan as a matter of fact. But yeah, when those zoas close up... there are like 20 of them and them scatter around looking for food and such... of I pick the block up... they are all over the under side too.
try googling for coral pest... saltwater pests... anything broad like that so you can see images and find what you're looking at in your own home tank. I suspect a picture will be very hard to get. But try for us anyway... Pictures go a very long way in times like this.

 

[joeman1881]

They aren't quite that readm and the head, it round, but the back looks the same. I took some terrible pictures...my gf has the slr, so they aren't they best quality...

 

[spanko]

Yup red planaria, flat worms. Do a google search to see the different methods to get rid of them.

 

[stanlalee]

yep flatworms. what a pain! (well so I hear).