Infested leather???????

[Viper070]

Hey ppl i have a question what tiny little creatures could be infesting my leather coral at the wee hours of the morning?????

these things r smaller then . that fullstop and they only show up once the lights go out and like ninjas disapear at daybreak. i have 2 tanks one 400ltr and a smaller 40lt. Recently the leather coral seemed to be upset in the main tank failing to expand for about 2-3 weeks so i moved it to the 40ltr to see if he improves.(he is the first new resedent after a major tank crash in the 40 6 weeks ago anyhow it has everything to itself in there been there for 2 weeks)

It is now expanding but not extending his pollops sort of got a goosebump effect on him. he does look better but not great.

on closer observation at night i noticed that these tiny creatures were swarming all over it i am asuming this is causing it irritation. i moved the coral to see if i had placed him on an underwater anthill of some sort which like ants swarm on whatever steps on there hill (just my interpretation of the incedent). Anyhow my discovery was that the little buggers seem to be confined to the coral and its rubble rock no trace anywhere else in the tank that i can see.

what do u guys recon, I am about to try a fresh water dip just not quite sure on how to go about it. Should it be a half strength saline solution or straight fresh water dip with adjusted ph????

any other advise will be welcomed cheers

 

[Viper070]

water parameters in 40 are as such 0 nitrite 0 amon 0 nitrate o phosphate dose 1 ml jbl 123 each week scince coral arrived have mangrove sump 2 plants no skimmer bio filter

 

[Len]

My don't think the little "bugs" are what's causing the problem. I'm guessing your leather coral is simply doing it's regularly scheduled shedding .... a process that can take weeks to over a month. I've had leathers close up for up to 6 or 7 weeks and then reopen as if nothing was wrong. Leathers do this periodically to shed dead cells, bacterial, algae, and other acculumation on its epidermis. My advice is to give it time. If nothing else looks wrong, I really wouldn't worry about it. I wouldn't do a FW dip; just give it time and provide good circulation (and of course water quality) around the colony.

As for the little "bugs," if they are fast moving and nocturnal, my hunch is you have mysis: a good thing If you really want to rid them, a mandarin or sixline wrasse could do it, but I don't see why you'd want to. There are some pests like certain flatworms and certain fireworms which will eat or disturb leather corals, but they aren't anything like you're describing.

 

[Viper070]

Fair enough ill leave him be for now see what happens i thought i was being paitent waiting 3 weeks, lol ah well the things u learn hehehehe thanks for advice champ.

 

[Len]

I just realized "My don't think" doesn't make any sense Obviously it should've read "I don't think ..."

If you see any narcosis or missing flesh, then you have a problem. Otherwise, I really think waiting it out is the best approach. Leathers (and many soft corals, in fact) do this "I refuse to open up act" often.