id??? Help.......white oval critters???

fighton03 · 06/24/2007, 07:08 PM

I have small white flat oval critters that are killing one of my frags. I have a pink milli that started bleaching in random spots. I moved it a couple times over the past weeks, but no help. Tonight I moved it again, but noticed something move across the plug. I pulled it out into a small glass and two of the critters came off the frag. They are about 2.5mm long, 2 mm wide, and are mostly white. I don't have a camera that will successfully photo something that small. It appears to have gray markings or matter near the "head". It also appears to "crawl" quickly and can "swim" freely in the water, but I can't see any legs or flagella. I now have the 2 critters and the frag isolated separately. I have had the frag in the tank for quite a while, but no other corals or frags are showing any distress. Please give me suggestions on species to search and any suggestions for the frag treatment and possible tank issues.

Thanks.

NoSchwag · 06/24/2007, 07:35 PM

Are they snails, do the have a shell?

If so I have these same little white snails that come out at night.

fighton03 · 06/24/2007, 08:10 PM

no they are fast and they can free "swim"

PL-Reef · 06/24/2007, 08:30 PM

Acro eating flat worms?????

fighton03 · 06/24/2007, 08:35 PM

Are they fast and free swimming???? That was my first thought when I saw them on the plug, but then when they were so fast I thought it must be something else.

graveyardworm · 06/24/2007, 09:03 PM

Can you get any pics? It would help alot.

fighton03 · 06/24/2007, 09:05 PM

the only way would be to borrow a camera. Are there any suggestions that I could look up to compare?? Sorry that I can't just post a picture...I know that would be much easier.

fighton03 · 06/25/2007, 05:47 AM

bump.....coral still in isolation. I'd love to treat and try to save, but I have no idea what to treat it with. Any general treatments that would not hurt, regardless of the critter? Should I fresh water dip? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

rfequity · 06/25/2007, 08:29 AM

This sounds very similar to the black "pepper like" dots I've seen on a plug in my tank. None of these are on the coral tissue though. I'm wondering if these aren't pests but just some kind of critter we've never noticed becuase they blend in witht the live rock, but are easily seen on the plugs. They certainly don't seem to be bothering any of my corals.

fighton03 · 06/25/2007, 03:46 PM

Can someone tell me if AEF are fast and able to swim freely?

fighton03 · 06/27/2007, 04:51 PM

any chance that a few days later I might be able to get some help on this situation? I still have the frag isolated and have not taken any additional treatment steps, other than remove the critters.

Please help.

wentreefgirl · 06/27/2007, 05:01 PM

Ok, to tell you the truth, we really really need a visual. Any friend, family or coworker, stranger on the street willing to snaps some shots of those babies for us. To me it sound like if could be a flatworm but have to visually see the critter. Also would like to visually see the white bare spots. I think this is why there isnt any more responce as we are unsure until we see the whites of their eyes, or bodies,lol.

06/24/2007, 07:08 PM	#1
fighton03 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: baytown, tx Posts: 331	id??? Help.......white oval critters??? I have small white flat oval critters that are killing one of my frags. I have a pink milli that started bleaching in random spots. I moved it a couple times over the past weeks, but no help. Tonight I moved it again, but noticed something move across the plug. I pulled it out into a small glass and two of the critters came off the frag. They are about 2.5mm long, 2 mm wide, and are mostly white. I don't have a camera that will successfully photo something that small. It appears to have gray markings or matter near the "head". It also appears to "crawl" quickly and can "swim" freely in the water, but I can't see any legs or flagella. I now have the 2 critters and the frag isolated separately. I have had the frag in the tank for quite a while, but no other corals or frags are showing any distress. Please give me suggestions on species to search and any suggestions for the frag treatment and possible tank issues. Thanks.

06/24/2007, 07:35 PM	#2
NoSchwag Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterbury, Ct. Posts: 2,530	Are they snails, do the have a shell? If so I have these same little white snails that come out at night. __________________ Keeping low levels of po4 without chemicals since 2005. Current Tank Info: Beckett skimmed, penductor flowed, luminarc lighted, UV sterilized, litermeter dosed, Aquacontroller controlled, SPS dominated, 120 BB tank.

06/24/2007, 08:30 PM	#4
PL-Reef Awesome Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chaplin,Ct Posts: 4,345	Acro eating flat worms????? __________________ Jas tested, mother disapproved. Current Tank Info: 2 gallon goldfish bowl with a happy 7" Naso tang and 2 small Beluga whales. Just added a baby dolphin, large Trigger, a herd of Sea Horses and just fragged my first Manatee. All fish safely hand caught using organic cyanide.

06/24/2007, 09:03 PM	#6
graveyardworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nottingham, NH Posts: 7,251	Can you get any pics? It would help alot. __________________ -David- President - New Hampshire Reef Club There’ll be no one to save, with the world in a grave Current Tank Info: 100 gal lagoon/seagrass, 100 gal sump, Lifereef 72" skimmer, 180 inwall, 125 inwall seagrass/lagoon in progress

06/24/2007, 08:10 PM	#3
fighton03 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: baytown, tx Posts: 331	no they are fast and they can free "swim"

06/24/2007, 08:35 PM	#5
fighton03 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: baytown, tx Posts: 331	Are they fast and free swimming???? That was my first thought when I saw them on the plug, but then when they were so fast I thought it must be something else.

06/24/2007, 09:05 PM	#7
fighton03 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: baytown, tx Posts: 331	the only way would be to borrow a camera. Are there any suggestions that I could look up to compare?? Sorry that I can't just post a picture...I know that would be much easier.

06/25/2007, 05:47 AM	#8
fighton03 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: baytown, tx Posts: 331	bump.....coral still in isolation. I'd love to treat and try to save, but I have no idea what to treat it with. Any general treatments that would not hurt, regardless of the critter? Should I fresh water dip? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

06/25/2007, 08:29 AM	#9
rfequity Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 105	This sounds very similar to the black "pepper like" dots I've seen on a plug in my tank. None of these are on the coral tissue though. I'm wondering if these aren't pests but just some kind of critter we've never noticed becuase they blend in witht the live rock, but are easily seen on the plugs. They certainly don't seem to be bothering any of my corals.

06/25/2007, 03:46 PM	#10
fighton03 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: baytown, tx Posts: 331	Can someone tell me if AEF are fast and able to swim freely?

06/27/2007, 04:51 PM	#11
fighton03 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: baytown, tx Posts: 331	any chance that a few days later I might be able to get some help on this situation? I still have the frag isolated and have not taken any additional treatment steps, other than remove the critters. Please help.

06/27/2007, 05:01 PM	#12
wentreefgirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New milford, ct Posts: 3,010	Ok, to tell you the truth, we really really need a visual. Any friend, family or coworker, stranger on the street willing to snaps some shots of those babies for us. To me it sound like if could be a flatworm but have to visually see the critter. Also would like to visually see the white bare spots. I think this is why there isnt any more responce as we are unsure until we see the whites of their eyes, or bodies,lol.