Is there anything you could confuse with Red Bugs?

[Reeferhead]

Hey guys,

I posted this in the SPS forum as well but I'd like to here your take. Also, If there is anybody near the Collinsville/O'Fallon area that has experience with these little bastages and would like to come take a look at my tank, I would be very appreciative.

Thanks


I have an A. nana that has shown poor polyp extension and moderately slow growth since I got it about a year ago. I've only been doing SPS for about a year and just really started researching the details of Red Bugs few weeks ago. I've now noticed a couple pinhead size critters crawling on this one acro. I can't really say if they're red or not, the Army deems me red/green color blind, whatever that means.

I have about 12 or so other smooth skinned acros and although I don't get crazy growth, they all appear healthy and I've never spotted anything crawling on them.

Could I have just a couple of normal copepods or some other harmless critter crawling on this particular coral?

Once I get hold of some Interceptor, I plan on dipping this nana and checking these critters under a scope. Are there any key features to distinguish Red Bugs from other copepods? Anyone have a link to a good microscope photo?

Thanks,

 

[Markk96]

I am in Belleville and could come help you out. To me a A. Nana is one of the worst corals that get the red bugs. If you truely have red bugs, dipping the coral and not treating the tank will not do you much good.

 

[Reeferhead]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11088999#post11088999 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Markk96
I am in Belleville and could come help you out. To me a A. Nana is one of the worst corals that get the red bugs. If you truely have red bugs, dipping the coral and not treating the tank will not do you much good.

That would be great Mark, I'll send you a PM.

I plan on dipping just the one coral so that I can isolate a couple of these critters in order to view them under scope. I'm just trying to make sure of their ID before I nuke the whole tank.

 

[dphins]

Like Mark said, nana's always seem to have red bugs.