SPS Pest ID

[Blaise006]

Just finished dipping all the frag tank in flatworm exit before I dose the tank this weekend. Bunch of junk fell out.

Figured I put the aftermath to the team to see if anyone sees any pests besides the red flatworms.

I suspected black bugs may be in the system, but after multiple attempts with a microscope and trying to find any on my sticks, they were never caught on my acros and I have not experienced any mass die off. I went as far to stock up on interceptor, but didn’t feel anything was conclusive enough to use it. I’ve lost about 4 tenuis in the last 6 months. With 3 of those being in the last two and all were new additions to the system.

 

[Krak256]

Hard to tell. Black bugs are noticeable at night and generally eat your sps from the base up, They glide about. Do you have a picture of the sps before dipping?

You don't need a microscope to see black bugs; they're visible to the naked eye.

 

[jhuynh]

i dont see anything bad in your pictures. whats your parameters like? have they been consistent and no large swings?

also, see any bite marks during your inspections? any pe on the current sps u have currently?

 

[Blaise006]

i dont see anything bad in your pictures. whats your parameters like? have they been consistent and no large swings?

also, see any bite marks during your inspections? any pe on the current sps u have currently?

Consistent, and I check nutrients every 2-4 days via Hanna.
Alk 8.2 +\- .2 DKH
PO4 .06-.12
NO3 5ppm

I’m not sure there is anything to find (besides the red flatworms), but I wanted to get a second set of eyes on it. I have had 4 newly purchased Tenuis show STN within weeks adding them to the system and the small frags will last for months. It might just be a bad few deliveries, but there is one exception. A tort frag between the size of a golf ball/softball has been waxing and waning for the last 9 months.

I haven’t seen any bite marks.

All my settled tenuis have great PE. Millies have average to good to PE. Easier sps like birdsnest and stylos have full PE.


Sample

 

[Blaise006]

Hard to tell. Black bugs are noticeable at night and generally eat your sps from the base up, They glide about. Do you have a picture of the sps before dipping?

You don't need a microscope to see black bugs; they're visible to the naked eye.

I snapped a few photos with my macro lens late last week. Here’s two, but no pictures of them outta water.

 

[Blaise006]

Here is a macro of a brand new home wrecker dying from the base up over the last two weeks since I added it.

6/4 - 8 hours after adding

First night since adding

6/10

Since 6/10 the first row of polyps has died.

 

[H2OPlayar]

Here is a macro of a brand new home wrecker dying from the base up over the last two weeks since I added it.

6/4 - 8 hours after adding
View attachment 39394
First night since adding
View attachment 39395
6/10
View attachment 39396

Since 6/10 the first row of polyps has died.

My wd did that, but eventually grew a small stick

 

[Blaise006]

My wd did that, but eventually grew a small stick

That would be nice. I’ve had other SPS recover, but unfortunately never a tenuis.

 

[jhuynh]

I would cut off the receding area and replug it. I have a healed hw for u if it goes south.

 

[Blaise006]

Couple more samples of solid PE.

Although that Waltdisney looks a tad more green than yellow. Usually it’s a vibrant yellow. Maybe the system is getting a bit of iron from somewhere.

 

[Srt4eric]

All I see in those first pics are paranoia...

 

[Qwiv]

How are all your fish and your garage tank transfers. You get them on the Mend/Stable?

 

[Blaise006]

How are all your fish and your garage tank transfers. You get them on the Mend/Stable?

Display is back up and running. Out of all the fish that went into QT, the 2 rabbitfish, hippo tang, dotty back, 3 clowns, and dwarf angel survived.

The big losses for me were two Hawaiian yellow tangs that I’ve had for years, an achillies, and the school of anthias. Uranema just whipped everyone’s butts after a hyposalinity treatment. Worse than I have ever seen before.

But on a positive note, the tank as of today has been up and running 1.5 months with no signs of disease. There are new QTd achillies, leutentent tang, powder blue, a couple gobies and a copper band that are on their way from a QTd vendor. Hopefully I can start added coral to the system in about two months once the frag tank has been fallow for long enough. Thanks for asking

 

[Qwiv]

Glad to hear you made it through to the other side! What QT vendor did you go with?

 

[Blaise006]

Glad to hear you made it through to the other side! What QT vendor did you go with?

Home | Quarantined Fish

Live Arrival and 7 Day Stay Alive Guarantee

drreefsquarantinedfish.com

 

[Chromis]

Some of those little oval black specs in your pic could be black bugs. I wouldn’t be able to tell if they’re bugs or just detritus with my naked eye or an unmagnified phone photo.

Here are some black bugs after a dip: the large clear bugs in the pic are small copepods. Black bugs are circled. You’ll just see some uniform black specs. (If it’s red bugs, then red specs!) This is the most magnified phone photo I could take:

If you siphon some onto a paper towel and look through a magnifying glass you’ll see this:

Would you be able to look at some of those specs through a magnifying glass on a paper towel? If you want to bring a bag of bug-water over I can help ID with my microscope if there’s anything there. I feel like I’ve seen it all… even some bugs I was never able to identify as a typical known pest but decided I didn’t want in my tank.

 

[Blaise006]

Some of those little oval black specs in your pic could be black bugs. I wouldn’t be able to tell if they’re bugs or just detritus with my naked eye or an unmagnified phone photo.

Here are some black bugs after a dip: the large clear bugs in the pic are small copepods. Black bugs are circled. You’ll just see some uniform black specs. (If it’s red bugs, then red specs!) This is the most magnified phone photo I could take:

View attachment 39419

If you siphon some onto a paper towel and look through a magnifying glass you’ll see this:
View attachment 39417

Would you be able to look at some of those specs through a magnifying glass on a paper towel? If you want to bring a bag of bug-water over I can help ID with my microscope if there’s anything there. I feel like I’ve seen it all… even some bugs I was never able to identify as a typical known pest but decided I didn’t want in my tank.

Here’s the photos I could snag. I saved the dip so I can share a sample as well. I’m terrible with microscopes.

 

[MolaMola]

#1 and last 3 pics look like copepod - not harmful
#2 and 4 - shrimp?

 

[Chromis]

Here’s the photos I could snag. I saved the dip so I can share a sample as well. I’m terrible with microscopes.View attachment 39422

The thing in top center with two dots looks similar to an ostropod.

 

[Chromis]

Here’s the photos I could snag. I saved the dip so I can share a sample as well. I’m terrible with microscopes.View attachment 39420

Not sure from your pic if this one is the same as below bug?