What are these white spots on my acro?

Bramzor · May 16, 2020

Have an acro that has only polyp extension on the top. All the rest has almost no polyp extension (all those polyps look very small) and I noticed on the dark/underside of the coral, white spots on the flesh of the coral. These are not acro eating flatforms right?

tsouth · May 16, 2020

These do not look like AEFW to me. A tell tale sign of AEFW are bite marks, those of which I can't make out in this picture. AEFW are also not as easily seen with such a contrasting, stark, white coloration.

I believe these white bugs are more than likely in a similar family as red and black bugs. The only other white organism I am familiar with are ostracods - but because the organism in your photos are within the polyps, I believe this is something more harmful to your acro's.

See this thread which seems to be right on point with what you may be dealing with: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/found-those-white-bugs-on-acros.318449/

Bramzor · May 17, 2020

Could these be just copepods?
I dipped all corals, removed all bases and only had a few small frags. Also no acro's for months to wouldn't know how these AEFW would get in my tank anyway.
I was just thinking this path because polyps are not extended except at the top. But maybe that is because it wants a bit more light...

tsouth · May 17, 2020

Bramzor said:
Could these be just copepods?
I dipped all corals, removed all bases and only had a few small frags. Also no acro's for months to wouldn't know how these AEFW would get in my tank anyway.
I was just thinking this path because polyps are not extended except at the top. But maybe that is because it wants a bit more light...

Perhaps it's just a coincidence, and yes they could be a species of copepod. I particularly find it peculiar that this bug looks to be creeping inside and of the nodules though.

Bramzor · May 17, 2020

tsouth said:
Perhaps it's just a coincidence, and yes they could be a species of copepod. I particularly find it peculiar that this bug looks to be creeping inside and of the nodules though.

Should I try to suck one of them with a syringe and check under a microscope?

tsouth · May 17, 2020

Bramzor said:
Should I try to suck one of them with a syringe and check under a microscope?

If you can then absolutely - I think this would most definitely help out you at ease if you can identify it alongside isolating it for treatment tests!

vetteguy53081 · May 17, 2020

At times, red bugs appear to be cream color, but I am thinking baby flatworm. Are you able to see any signs of eggs?
I bought a pair of reading glasses for this purpose as it magnifies image when looking at coral.

Bramzor · May 17, 2020

Pulled the piece from the tank and tried to get the bugs off and investigate them under the microscope. First, it was hard to get them off. Tried sucking with a syringe but that didn't work out. So I just took some Coral RX dip and dipped while blasting the bugs.

Looks like copepod and a diatom. Seems copepods are swimming around in the Coral RX but they do not seem to be hurt by it? Lots of copepods btw, it seems to love being on that acro?

See white dots on te coral, they move around when they see any spot of light.

Not sure what this is, but its some kind of flake: Looked like a flat worm from a distance but looks odd under the microscope...