Is this black bugs all over my monti?

Biff0rz · Jun 1, 2023

I noticed it losing color over the past couple of weeks. Tonight I decided to check it out and saw all the black spots on it. I took a video then used a syringe to blow them off and then another video. They appear to blow off easily. Also, I dip every coral I have in Bayer before entering the tank. How do I remedy this?

After blowing them off

Dburr1014 · Jun 1, 2023

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/black-bugs-an-acro-keepers-worst-nightmare.493329/&ved=2ahUKEwjF8sPq8qH_AhVkFFkFHZbeA3YQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0G9zbUZgoMmV-3t3jfv227

sculpin01 · Jun 1, 2023

If they are the same as others have run across, they are actually halacarid mites and are extremely resistant to most treatments.

Biff0rz · Jun 1, 2023

I read that thread, yikes. So I have only noticed these in my monti, nothing else and I don't have a ton of acros. I'm not really sure what to do next. The monti is encrusted on a rock and the rock is fairly large (2x softball sized). It sounds like a dip might work for the monti ones??

sculpin01 · Jun 3, 2023

Biff0rz said:
I read that thread, yikes. So I have only noticed these in my monti, nothing else and I don't have a ton of acros. I'm not really sure what to do next. The monti is encrusted on a rock and the rock is fairly large (2x softball sized). It sounds like a dip might work for the monti ones??

How is the coral doing? Is it losing tissue?

Biff0rz · Jun 3, 2023

sculpin01 said:
How is the coral doing? Is it losing tissue?

Hard to say if it's losing tissue, faded, yes. White areas, yes. Pale areas, yes. Peeling, no.

I blew the bugs off 2 nights ago, the have not returned and I've been checking it multiple times at night and morning. I'm hopeful but doubt it can be that easy....nothing in this game ever is.

ScottB · Jun 11, 2023

Certainly appears to be parasitic behavior. Sometimes we confuse parasitic with scavenging behavior. Cause versus effect. But if the flesh is live -- which that looks to be -- and critters are on it... kind of a bad sign.

IIRC, Interceptor was shown to be ineffective.