White bug on my chalice

sailfish · Apr 1, 2009

I have a deep red chalice coral that appears to be in good health. The problem is I see lots of small whites bugs smaller then copepods. They are as small as or smaller then red bugs.

I guess I want to make sure they are not a pest like red bugs are for sps. I do not notice them on other corals which make me think they are after the chalice. It could be they just show up against the red background of the coral.

Thanks for any help Joe

polyped · Apr 1, 2009

how big are the bugs? any pics? could be as simple and harmless as copepods

killingseed2000 · Apr 1, 2009

can you take pictures?

sailfish · Apr 1, 2009

I will try but these thing are tiny like red bug or much smaller then the average copepod. I would say the size of the tip of a needle.

Joe

sailfish · Apr 1, 2009

Here we go for a size reference the frag is 3/4" by 1". I used a macro lens and 5 x magnifying filter.

Cropped version of above. Seems like alot of them on there for copepods but the coral looks OK. I just fdo not see them on other corals.

Thanks Joe

Gimili the Great · Apr 1, 2009

check out www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchhikers.html

MikeB · Apr 1, 2009

Those things are small. If they are on that coral and that coral has been in youtr tank, i would say they are not just on that chalice.

I have not idea what they are, they kinda look like baby snails.

killingseed2000 · Apr 1, 2009

can you sux up a couple and place in a small dish and photo them?

sailfish · Apr 1, 2009

They are the smallest things I have ever noticed in my reef. My lens was 2" away from them and I had magnifying filter on a 60mm macro lens that is as close as I can get. The frag was in a small dish.

I don't doubt there are more but I do not see them any were but on the chalices. I have a brown favia right next to this frag and did not notice them. You would think they would show up against that background as well.

I looked threw the link and nothing really matched. I guess I will not worry since the coral looks fine.

Thanks Joe

Reef Pets · Apr 1, 2009

I have snails that look just like that when they hatch. The lay egg pouches on the rock and sides of the tank and the shells are transparent to where they would look like a bug. Not sure what kind of snails they are, the guy I got them from called them Hawaiian snails. They are harmless and myself and wife really enjoy watching them in the egg pouch.
I am not saying that is what you have but it really looks like it, they even have the same pointed tip/shell. If they are the snails I am thinking of it takes about 2 weeks to form what looks like a shell.

BigBoy69 · Apr 20, 2009

They look like baby snails.

Hypertek99 · Apr 20, 2009

Very interesting. I don't take any chances with my stuff. If i find something i don't know i dip and kill!!

ahayes13 · Apr 20, 2009

+1 ---- if i find something its right to the dip. i dont like taking any chances.

acronautical · Apr 20, 2009

They do look alot like some of the baby snails that hatch in my tank. The question, though, is "What are they doing all over your echino?" I've seen snails inadvertently cross coral tissue, but not en masse like that. Weird.

Ladipyg · Apr 20, 2009

They look like snails to me too..maybe they are feeding on some of the slime generated by the coral...might be a food source to them. Your tissue looks real healthy and that's what really matters. If you flush them off do they make their way back to that particular coral?