Montipora flatworms

[JPergamo]

I have a red monti cap that has what I believe to be flatworms after hunting around for possibilities. Does anyone have any experience with these, blue polyp and green monti cap unaffected from what I can tell. I could see the underside of the coral and noticed black spots all over after it began to pale a bit for the past week or so. All acros and other sps all doing well.

I did a freshwater dip on the biggest section I could break off the rock, many of the small specs died and fell to the bottom. Debating on a coris wrass but my system is bare bottom. Any input is appreciated thanks.

 

[Backreefing]

I’m not good at this maybe a blue demsel (blue devil) they are known for eating flatworms. Maybe a 6line wrasse.
But both of these fish have reputations for being bullies.
A lot of peps are useing Bayer for dipping with good results. IMO nothing better then basting in a bowl.

 

[Highgrade]

Are you referring to Monti eating Nudi's? If so, they're a pain. Worse then AEFW IMO. Any pics of the suspected pest?

 

[JPergamo]

Not nudis those are pretty easy to ID ive had them years ago and yes they are horrible

 

[Highgrade]

I've never seen flatworms that eat monti's. Could the suspected flatworms be eating dead tissue? Any pics?

 

[Graffiti Spot]

Could be black bugs, can you take a pic?

 

[JPergamo]

I suspect flatworms because they detached and died almost instantly in an RO dip. I will post the best picture I can in a little bit of the deads ones in the RO but they are tiny. Look black to naked eye but honestly could be any color at that size.

 

[Highgrade]

I suspect flatworms because they detached and died almost instantly in an RO dip. I will post the best picture I can in a little bit of the deads ones in the RO but they are tiny. Look black to naked eye but honestly could be any color at that size.

This is interesting because most flatworms I've seen in a freshwater dip end up turning white or opaque.

 

[JPergamo]

Unfortunately these are the best I could get with my wifes phone. Mine is even worse. When they were on the cap they just looked like little black dots. Middle pic is them entangled in coral slime

 

[Highgrade]

Really hard to tell. Do they shrink or dissolve in the freshwater? Any chance you can get some alive and video of them moving?

 

[JPergamo]

If they come back on the coral I will do so.

 

[JPergamo]

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/262267/

This thread is exactly what they looked like on the coral. And also a red monti cap. Cant find much further information

 

[Highgrade]

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/262267/

This thread is exactly what they looked like on the coral. And also a red monti cap. Cant find much further information

I've seen the underside of monti caps have polyps that look like that. From the pic in that post those look like normal polyps on the top side of that monti. Unfortunately the person that posted that info hasn't posted on R2R close to 3 years now. Have you seen the spots move and are they on both the top/bottom of the Monti? I wouldn't suspect a flatworm, but black bugs instead. If so this post link may help ID/Treat them. https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/3/corals

 

[Thales]

Sometimes regular old flatworms like monti caps, they can cover them. I would dip in revive or something similar, rather that RO or FW because it is less harsh than FW but knocks the flatworms right off.

 

[JPergamo]

Yes they came off. The dots that is. Luckily there is no other coral affected in the tank. Nothing has been added in quite a while its strange

 

[Graffiti Spot]

Sometimes regular old flatworms like monti caps, they can cover them. I would dip in revive or something similar, rather that RO or FW because it is less harsh than FW but knocks the flatworms right off.

That’s true I have seen planaria completely cover an encrusting monti once too, so much it lost most color from the worms sitting on it.
The small black dots are hard to see that’s for sure.

 

[Dana Riddle]

I've seen the underside of monti caps have polyps that look like that. From the pic in that post those look like normal polyps on the top side of that monti. Unfortunately the person that posted that info hasn't posted on R2R close to 3 years now. Have you seen the spots move and are they on both the top/bottom of the Monti? I wouldn't suspect a flatworm but black bugs. If so this post link may help ID/Treat them. https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/3/corals

I was going to suggest my Advanced Aquarist article, but you beat me to it. Thanks!

 

[Dana Riddle]

Here's a photo of a Monti-eating nudi I took some years ago:

And a link to an article about these pests.
https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/6/inverts

 

[JPergamo]

Thanks Dana I've had those little buggers in the past