Anemone Parasites

[LucidGoblin]

I posted a previous thread expressing concerns about a condylactis anemone with damaged tentacles. (The anemone may actually be a Malu, I haven't positively identified it yet.) Anyway, I thought the damage was from being stung by a BTA. But now I'm worried about a possible parasite infestation. Here are a few questions I'd like to pose to anyone with knowledge or experience in this matter:
Are there microscopic parasites affecting anemones that can't be seen?

What are the symptoms of a parasite infestation? (Pictures of such would be very helpful.)

If there are parasites present, can anything be done about them?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Pictures of your anemone as well as full tank parameters and what do you have for flow and lighting would all be helpful to figure out the problem.

OH and what all do you have in your tank as inhabitants too.

 

[ThRoewer]

When I had sick giganteas I noticed some rotifers that were feeding on the anemone's Zooxanthellae. I noticed the same guys on dying corals. Though I do not think these are actually the cause of the anemone disease or the corals dying. I rather think that these guys are scavengers that come and feed of the decaying body or rather the symbionts that lost their shelter.

 

[MarinaP]

When I had sick giganteas I noticed some rotifers that were feeding on the anemone's Zooxanthellae. I noticed the same guys on dying corals. Though I do not think these are actually the cause of the anemone disease or the corals dying. I rather think that these guys are scavengers that come and feed of the decaying body or rather the symbionts that lost their shelter.

I remember reading about parasitic copepods that infect giganteas specifically, but not other hosting nems.

 

[LucidGoblin]

Anemone With Damage Tentacles

Anemone With Damage Tentacles

Thanks for the replies. I still don't know what caused the damage. Before I added a protein skimmer and Chaeto to my filtration system, my Nitrates hovered around 15 to 20 ppm. Now they're down to around 2 ppm. (I think this might be helping with the healing process, but I can't be sure. The deformed looking scar tissue seems to be moving toward the tips of the tentacles and dropping off a tiny bit each day.) Nitrites are undetectable. My pH is also a little low, around 7.8 (tested with an API kit, I will get a better kit soon), and I will take steps to remedy this as well, if it is an issue. My sg is always between 1.025 and 1.026, and I don't have a test kit for the dkH yet. Everything else in the tank, including a hammerhead coral, favia, zoas, xenias, are all thriving. So, I guess I can only wait and see what happens. If it is parasites, I assume the damage will continue. Otherwise, I will just work on my parameters and hope for the best. (By the way, an porcelain anemone crab lives in the anemone, but I don't think he is a suspect. Correct me if I'm wrong.)