Black bugs, or harmless?

[NancyFish]

Possible black bugs - second photo is bugs in question at botrom.. First one (that photo is comparison), they’re tiny literal pin dot black dots that move on LPs skeleton.

I’ve had what someone in marine biology ID’d by photo as black bugs over summer, treated with inceptor but I did have 2-4 torches bail immediately after treatment. I’ll attach that photo below - these are darker than seed shrimp/ostracot which is why they were ID as black bugs and did cause recession on torches over time.

Post inceptor, I had nothing in the tank for a few months, I check corals 2-3x a week at night - all clear. Now immediately following new corals from a vendor that quarantines and places sale corals in their grow out tanks with mature colonies and thick flesh (seems safe). But immediately following, I found these tiny black dots.

So the photo below here is my problem, super tiny black specks that do move, they’re much smaller so I can’t tell if they’re round or flat. Same person thinks they’re also black bugs but I’m kinda praying maybe it’s something harmless? — thoughts?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

@ISpeakForTheSeas

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

@ISpeakForTheSeas

Definitely can't say for certain from the pics, but I would guess black bugs as well.

 

[NancyFish]

Definitely can't say for certain from the pics, but I would guess black bugs as well.

My phone can’t zoom in anymore without becoming blurry. I had the new coral for over a week now, and it doesn’t seem like they’re exploding but still finding one some here & there.

Do you think a microscope would help? Or just assume black bugs and do inceptor? I just don’t want to harm any of the coral (last time I did inceptor I had some heads bail, but maybe it was coincidence instead of result?)

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

My phone can’t zoom in anymore without becoming blurry. I had the new coral for over a week now, and it doesn’t seem like they’re exploding but still finding one some here & there.

Do you think a microscope would help? Or just assume black bugs and do inceptor? I just don’t want to harm any of the coral (last time I did inceptor I had some heads bail, but maybe it was coincidence instead of result?)

I'm always a fan of double checking things with microscopes, as it may end up being something like marine mites instead.

To give an idea of what black bugs would look like under the scope, the links in my quote below have some images and illustrations that may be helpful:

Yeah, white bugs, red bugs, black bugs, etc. (coral-parasitic pods) will almost exclusively be found on their host corals. For more info on these and for some closer up pics/drawings:

Aquarium Corals: Stony Coral Parasites: Red and Black Bugs: Identification Guide, Preventive Measures, and a Review of Treatment Protocols

This article is but a small tool for use by serious hobbyists in answering many questions.

reefs.com

Aquarium Corals: Stony Coral Parasites, Part Two: Copepods: Family Xarifiidae

Dana continues last month's discussion about copepods.

reefs.com

https://av.tib.eu/media/55499

 

[rayadog]

Fimbriaphyllia is not happy though, obviously

 

[MikeReefs]

A marine mite will looks like a spider with 6 appendages and a black abdomen. I’ve found them in my tank accidentally while Identifying Algea. I believe they are harmless to corals and are more than likely scavengers that feed on Algea. I would definitely Id what you have. These might not be marine mites, seeing how many are on your coral

 

[Paul B]

Those are Flatworms.