Theront ?

[Saltyanimals]

I think I read that ich is microscopic and what's visible is just the result of the infection on the skin. Following the same logic, I presume an ich theront in its free swimming form is equally microscopic.

So what the heck is this thing? I have seen several of them swimming around the tank. Hard to capture without a proper magnifying device to photo, but this one was literally taken with my iphone so not a great picture. If I were to describe, it's some kind of "orb" with a darker pink center and "fuze" all around it. I think it's swimming based on the movement of the organism which is very different than particles I see being tossed around the water near it with the waves. Size about the lead off a #2 pencil. Some kind of theront? I saw several over the past few days in my DT.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

We can see Cryptocaryon trophonts, that's the white spots. You might be able to see tomonts on the sand, but I never have. The tomites/theronts are too small to see, I've never even seen them under a microscope, as they are hard to isolate from the water. Not sure what you've got there....

Jay