My possible first pest! Can it be true?

[twilliard]

Hey members!
Well during my routine coral check before lights on I found this on my birdsnest
Can it be true? Me... have a pest?

 

[twilliard]

@Russ265 now that I can finally keep a birdsnest look what happens!
I am clueless as I didn't think pests would eat a birdsnest :(

 

[Russ265]

dip in coral rx. if nothing is in the dip, it could be a nocturnal pest of some sort munching on him.

 

[Wilsoni]

Yikes! Those markings are incredibly unique. The trail of exposed skeleton doesn't appear to AEFW bite marks... The spots on the base somewhat do though. ):

 

[twilliard]

Ya this was not there yesterday!
There are a few trails on it with bite marks around the bottom.
Coral rx? Ugh what is that stuff? I don't know if I can get it here in time :(

 

[Wilsoni]

I've never seen a case of AEFW going after a Pocilloporidae species... Fingers crossed for you.

 

[twilliard]

OK so under my orphek flashlight I see what seems to be small bugs :( light light is too blue but they look like small black spots.
Do you think I will hurt it if I took it out of the water to collect a few of those to put under the scope?
All I have right now is fenbendazole

 

[Wilsoni]

I have a little crew of Trapezia Acropora Crabs that reside in my Stylos and BOP Birdsnest. I would totally give you one if you lived a bit closer. They're awesome little guards.

 

[Wilsoni]

I would put it in a tupperware and try basting it to see what comes off

 

[fragit]

Following along on this one I want to see what it is.

 

[Joshky]

Could it just be STN? Blue photos are terrible for proper identification.

 

[dewboy1127]

Pics when possible ...when n if take out to dip

 

[twilliard]

found him hiding this is his markings at 100x



a snail

 

[Russ265]

doesnt look like stn. there is a trail of munching going on.

 

[Triggreef]

Coral rx doesn't even phase red planaria, I would yeah coral rx and find a new dip if you use that. @twilliard how about iodine dip. Secondary benefit of bacterial infection aid maybe.

 

[Tahoe61]

There is a Limpet common to Florida and Caribbean rock that loves to munch on Birdnest. It's typically a small Limpet that looks benign. Those marks look like bite marks not RTN to me.

 

[Sabellafella]

Ya this was not there yesterday!
There are a few trails on it with bite marks around the bottom.
Coral rx? Ugh what is that stuff? I don't know if I can get it here in time :(

????? You havent made a secret nuclear explosive concoction that doesnt kill anything other then a birdsnest eating critter yet, bummer

 

[loglan]

Twilliard there is a strain of "black bugs" out there. Unfortunately I and a few others just noticed we have them. Thought they were a strain of red bugs so I did an interceptor treatment. 1/2 large dog pill in 140 gallon system. No effect at all on bugs. Next did a whole large dog pill. Again no effect on the bugs. I'm killing them now but it's taking a strong dose of bayer dip to do it. I took all coral out of display. 1 cup bayer per 1 gallon of water. Have done 2 dips now and corals getting color back and polyp extension better everyday.

 

[twilliard]

I am watching it closely for sure.
Out of all the pests I have dealt with this one is a challenge.
Not much came off the birdsnest but that 1 snail.

 

[Triggreef]

Twilliard there is a strain of "black bugs" out there. Unfortunately I and a few others just noticed we have them. Thought they were a strain of red bugs so I did an interceptor treatment. 1/2 large dog pill in 140 gallon system. No effect at all on bugs. Next did a whole large dog pill. Again no effect on the bugs. I'm killing them now but it's taking a strong dose of bayer dip to do it. I took all coral out of display. 1 cup bayer per 1 gallon of water. Have done 2 dips now and corals getting color back and polyp extension better everyday.

I've had those or similar on lps like hammer corals and frog spawn. They never went for any sps though. Bayer is what I used to get rid of them.