Montipora spiders

[Pyrrhus]

I was looking at some montipora today and noticed these guys hanging around, the tissue in the same area is definitely irritated at best and being consumed at worst.

FYI, the shipment that contained this coral originated from Surabaya/Sulawesi and there were also montipora nudibranch found on some of the corals.

 

[ScrubberOTanky]

Not cute at all lol. Any info on eggs? How to kill them?

 

[Pescado Racing]

Nice pics of the culprit. You should document as much as possible on these guys. How many have you seen?

 

[Pyrrhus]

I need to read up on the life cycle but IIRC, they brood the young so shouldnt be any eggs to worry about.

I know that TMPCC is effective on the Zoanthid spiders, but I havent tested on these guys yet, I am trying to hold them until a friend gets into town to check them out, after that, I have 3 spiders to play with.

 

[Garage1217]

I wonder if interceptor will nuke them. Good post! Crazy all of the evil and unknown bugs that come in shipments.

Also to note, I have had a zoa spider make it through a dip in TMPCC. Spotted it when it was in QT & picked it off. First one I had ever seen and it really did look just like a small spider!

 

[dccr]

WOW I have never see one at all!!!! Please Please keep us posted. I guess never seeing one is a good thing

 

[usefulidiot213]

I have never seen those before. I hope they aren't like super bugs..

 

[Lariviere]

not another monti bug !!

 

[Saddler]

Well at least they don't look as scary as the tongue-eating isopod!

 

[dccr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15725377#post15725377 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Saddler
Well at least they don't look as scary as the tongue-eating isopod!

OHHHH say it ain't so.:eek1:

 

[lobsterotomy]

Great pics and good eye.

I've only ever seen spiders on a pocilliopora I picked up.

 

[Logzor]

Don't let those hop onto your face!

So, have they continued to do damage do your monitpora? Is there any sign of them spreading/multiplying?

 

[Pyrrhus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15726866#post15726866 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Logzor
Don't let those hop onto your face!

So, have they continued to do damage do your monitpora? Is there any sign of them spreading/multiplying?

This coral had initially lost some tissue around the base about a week ago, a quick inspection didnt reveal anything at the time.

Yesterday was the first time that I saw the pycnogonids, I am nearly 100% certain that they are feeding on the tissue of the montipora.

Currently I have the coral and the pycnogonids segregated and plan to play with them when a friend comes into town in a few hours. I have Revive, TMPCC, and a couple other dips. TMPCC should work as it specifically states on the package it is effective on pantopoda.

I may keep one of the spiders in a container with some sacrificial montipora in an attempt to identify life cycle on these guys, but, to be totally honest, I probably dont have the time to look into that right now.

 

[coral_lagoon]

Very interesting.

I bet Revive would knock those guys off..

 

[Rickyrooz1]

Following along