Candy Cane Friend? or Foe?

[ereefic1]

Anyone know what these are?

 

[investigator1]

Yup flatworm attack. My advice to you is to by some deionized water and dip it in the water for a seconds or two. The flat worms will instantly dissolve.

 

[reefNewbie]

that wont hurt the candy cane?

 

[brandon4291]

Those don't look like marine planarians (flatworms?) to me... wheres the tiny eyespots and triangle-head? At first it looked like some alternate form of asexual reproduction or budding, but on that note the item in question is "sitting" on top of the caulastrea polyp and does not seem to be pulling away from it in some form of migration.

I don't know what they are!!

 

[brandon4291]

and, if they are flatworms they should be harmless to your corals... you'll notice their populations shift over time (sometimes many, sometimes few) and most congregations of them can be prevented by increasing water circulation so they can't attach easily...then they can be removed through mechanical means. I have also heard like Investigator said that a quick FW dip can prevent their re-entry into your system.

 

[ereefic1]

I have a positive ID.......................Copepods! They don't appear to be harming anything, so they can stay.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a positive ID.......................Copepods! They don't appear to be harming anything, so they can stay.

Are you sure? They look a hellava lot like flatworms to me.

RR

 

[ereefic1]

Dr. Ron from another forum. That's as close as a positive ID i'm going to get.

 

[Anonymous]

You're pulling our leg right? If not would you please post a link.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthrea ... candy+cane

 

[brandon4291]

Even at that they look fleshy, I've yet to see a rounded copepod that shows no jointed appendages especially on this close inspection (nice cam closeups). Do you find these guys to be mobile on the polyp, or do they stay in one place? If I had to choose between a cope and a flatworm Id go with flatworm--but still have never seen a such a pic of a flatworm that did not show three common planarian id's--dorsoventral compression (this pic is of a rounded, not flat, specimen) and triangle-shaped head with apparent eyespots. It may very well be another form of flatworm, different from the reddish orange ones we are used to seeing. It will be neat to get a final answer on this one...I dunno.

Brandon M.

 

[brandon4291]

my vote is currently asexual budding from the actual caulastrea polyp. Eric Borneman is the guy to ask, or if Dr. Shimek id's it I'd accept that as well! The color of the specimen is exactly like the tissue color, and even displays some of the banding from the region it is close to. Maybe not though, just going for the longshot here---

 

[Brooklyn Johnny]

Here's the link to where shimek ids them...

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthrea ... did=182637

 

[Anonymous]

Wow, I would have bet dollars to doughnuts those were flatworms. But I guess I won't second guess Dr Shimek.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the link, don't know how I missed it.



I posted to Dr Ron about this. I see no 'oar feet', or any feet at all, on anythese animals, so I am confused as to how they can be copepods.

 

[Brooklyn Johnny]

Man my sixline would eat those up with some fava beans and a nice bottle o...

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.

That's as close as a positive ID i'm going to get.

Even Einstein make mistakes when he do simple addition problems. They are flat worms.

 

[Brooklyn Johnny]

No prob righty... I'm guessing the feet are underneath and they're using them to attach... may be just the view we have... sort of like the old one "Did you see Dolly Parton's new shoes?... neither did she..." Maybe they're underneath?

I thought flatworms too... whatever they are, even if commensal, I'm itchin myself just looking at them...

Thanks for the link, don't know how I missed it.



I posted to Dr Ron about this. I see no 'oar feet', or any feet at all, on anythese animals, so I am confused as to how they can be copepods.

 

[Brooklyn Johnny]

Saw your post... let's see what he says...

 

[ereefic1]

I'll try to get one off and get some other pics of them. They do move around. Are Flatworms like chamelions, changing colors to there surroundings? Or Copepods for that matter?
I had borneman check them out and he didn't think they were flatworms, told me to have Dr. Ron check it out. I'll try to get some other pics tonight.
Oh, one half is not attached, it flips up a little with water movement, don't know if this helps.

 

[ereefic1]

Goodfellow..................How are you so sure?