(Back To The Forum) I run an Aquarium DNA testing company, AMA

[AquaBiomics]

My university does research on the urchin problem in caribbean, seems to be a certain type of ciliate that causes the urchins to die off, have you ever encountered something similar in your research?

We find a wide range of diverse ciliates in aquarium samples, including some associated with sea urchins (e.g. Entodiscus sp). I wonder which type you're referring to? I'm always interested in functions of the other ciliates.

 

[Hats_]

We find a wide range of diverse ciliates in aquarium samples, including some associated with sea urchins (e.g. Entodiscus sp). I wonder which type you're referring to? I'm always interested in functions of the other ciliates.

I believe it was Philaster apodigitiformis that caused the die off of D. antillarum in the Caribbean

 

[AquaBiomics]

I believe it was Philaster apodigitiformis that caused the die off of D. antillarum in the Caribbean

Yeah we have not seen that one yet in aquaria. Lots of P. sinensis, and a variety of other unclassified members of the genus.