Small, round, white bugs I can't identify. Video included.

TedsReef · Jan 11, 2019

Hello all. I've done some extensive searching and can't identify these buggers. They are small, white, and look like moving substrate. I'd like to know if I should be worried about them. I currently see them reaching high levels all over my red ogo. I noticed my star polyp remaining closed for a few days and, upon flashlight inspection after lights out, I noticed these guys were on algae that was at the base of the polyps. I proceeded to do a hydrogen peroxide dip on the clove polyps to get rid of the algae (algae gone and it's now day 2 since the dip and they haven't reopened yet).

Back to the bugs - the description of "euphyllia bugs" is close to what I'm seeing but I haven't come across a clear enough picture that I can make the connection myself. Also, I don't have any euphyllia in my tank and everything is doing great other than the mentioned clove polyps.

As for predators, my tank is currently fishless but I do have a file fish in QT which will soon be added (firefish and gobies will be next).

My main goal is to identify them incase they're bad and I need to jump on the issue quickly. Thanks again.

Saveafish · Jan 11, 2019

Hard to see good, looks like pods.

KJ · Jan 11, 2019

Ostracod.

TedsReef · Jan 11, 2019

KJ said:
Ostracod.

Thanks! This definitely is what they are. I was worried they'd devour my macro but it looks like the majority are filter feeders.

KJ · Jan 11, 2019

TedsReef said:
Thanks! This definitely is what they are. I was worried they'd devour my macro but it looks like the majority are filter feeders.

YW

Zabbie · May 6, 2019

Would you be willing to send some to me? I have been searching for marine ostracods for ages

TedsReef · May 7, 2019

Zabbie said:
Would you be willing to send some to me? I have been searching for marine ostracods for ages

The macro algae was dying which caused a red cyan outbreak so I removed it all. Unfortunately this resulted in a ostracod population crash. I still have some, they're just spread apart. I'm considering getting an algae scrubber and, if I do, I'll put the macro in the DT area for a bit to get a population on it. If all of this happens I'd be happy to send you some of the algae with the ostracods in it.