Copepod on Acropora ID

[Duke2000]

Hello everyone,

I've been noticing reduced polyp extension and declining health on some of my acropora recently, upon further inspection I noticed small white spots scattered on the corals tissue. I suspected some type of parasitic copepod but these guys are much smaller than the red bugs that I have seen, I took a sample and looked at it under a microscope and sure enough its a copepod. Just wanted to show an image of the little suckers under the microscope and get confirmation, maybe someone will have seen these guys before. How would you recommend I treat these guys? Interceptor or something else?

 

[cdemoss01]

This is tough.. unsure if mandarin gobies would you eat them since they are parasitic. BUMP

 

[Duke2000]

This is tough.. unsure if mandarin gobies would you eat them since they are parasitic. BUMP

Yeah, I have a mandarin and a red scooter dragonette and I have never see either attempt to eat off a coral. It might be possible but if it is the natural predation from the two doesn't seem to be enough to control the population.

 

[redacted_]

I'd get a sixline to be safe and stay away from random chemicals. I agree dragonets are not going to do anything. Though the sixline might compete

 

[Reefing102]

I’ve never had them so I can’t say with certainty, but it sounds like white bugs (similar to red bugs).

Maybe some of our better Acro experts can chime in. It’s not letting me tag for some reason though