Sea Spiders

[DODGENEM]

I have been having issues with my acros starting to randomly stn over the past few months and now my digitada colony. I was checking and rechecking everything I could think params, pest, equipment and couldn't fiqure it out until now. I was looking at the corals the other night with a flash light and couldn't believe my eyes. Spiders!! My purple digi was covered in them and spotted a few on some acro bases. I dip all in coming corals and don't add much but they some how slipped through. No telling how long they been in there. I lost my Mystery Wrasse about a month ago. I wonder if he was keeping them at bay.
Anyone treated for these with success? Will interceptor kill them?
I've only found limited info on them and most is inconclusive.
My tank is 180g mature reef so removing affected corals is pretty much impossible. Any advise is appreciated. TIA

 

[sahin]

I came across a couple on a suspect SPS frag I placed in QT about a year ago. The frag has since fully recovered and is in my display tank.

I picked up a frag from my LFS display tank and saw the spiders when I dipped (I knew the frag had issues as it was looking very rough). Since then 99% of the SPS in their display are dead.

I QT'd the frag for a few weeks dipping every 5 days or so. I used Revive as a dip.

You can try Interceptor, I have no idea if it will work. Maybe get a few tablets and test on a few sample corals in a QT tank and see what happens?

 

[Tweaked]

Yep, and just as creepy as they sound!

 

[DODGENEM]

Thanks for the reply. They're pretty damn creepy for sure. I tested with interceptor overnight in a tuperware container and they seem to be dead after about 12hrs. When I get back home in a few days I'm going to do a heavy full tank treatment using 1 large dog tablet. I'm going to follow up with 2 more doses after that. Wish me luck! I'll keep you posted.

 

[sahin]

That's awesome. Please do share the whole tank result. If there is any way you can take clear photos of these spiders that will be useful for others.

Good luck.

 

[DODGENEM]

I have some pics on my phone I'll post up later this week.

 

[snipersps]

Interceptor is the way to kill them

 

[Alberth napa]

 

[Alberth napa]

 

[Gig 'em]

Here's my thread on eliminating sea spiders from my tank. I haven't spotted them since my treatment. http://www.austinreefclub.com/topic/34702-sea-spiders/

Good luck!

 

[DODGENEM]

Nice write up and plan of attack Gig'em. Glad you got rid of them. Unfortunately it would be impossible to treat each coral in my tank. I plan to try the first dose of interceptor Saturday. I added a Melanarus Wrasse last week and the population has seemed to decline some.

 

[DODGENEM]

 

[Bent]

Dude I've never heard of such a thing. What actually are they?

 

[rovster]

Those are CREEPY! I had some come in on a monti once when I first started with SPS. Back then I didn't know of dipping. Saw a few of them for a few weeks and never to be seen again.

 

[naterealbig]

Had them on a birdsnest once. They were nasty, and only came out at night. I removed them using a turkey baster. Spent 10 minutes every night before I went to bed. Head someone hold a flashlight, as they would scurry away as soon as I turned on the lights. Good luck, and let us know if any in-tank treatments work.

 

[DODGENEM]

First dose complete. My tank is 180g with 30g sump and 24g frag tank plumbed in. I used one whole pill so roughly 2x regular dose. Dosed at 1am Saturday morning and and treated for 12hrs. I then did a 45g water change and replaced carbon and gfo. No sign of spiders last night. [emoji3] Going to do 2nd treatment on Friday.

 

[DODGENEM]

You can see the damage on this Monti colony.

 

[sahin]

Dodgenem: Thanks for the update. Have you established whether the Interceptor kills the spiders? Ie have you seen any spiders floating off the coral/spiders dying in a testing container etc? Just asking for info's sake.

The photo you posted shows a very similar looking spider I encountered. Thank you for the update.

Good luck and please post back if you start to see recovery on the corals. I hope you do.

 

[DODGENEM]

So far so good!! Treated the tank 3 times 7 days apart. Its been about 3 weeks since last treatment and no sign of spiders. The damaged corals are regaining colors nicely. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[MichaelW]

I have been seeing these spiders on a lot of incoming coral lately. Had them come off in Bayer dip. I do not know if any made it into display, it's very possible, however I have not seen any damage.
I think these are getting more and more common