[fishgeeksrus]

I posted a picture earlier of this acro.We were trying to get some input as to what kind of acro this is. While I was taking pictures, I noticed that there are little red bugs all over it. I'm sure this is not a good thing. What do I do? There is also a small crab that came with this one. Will it eat these little red bugs?

[Ninong]

These tiny red acro bugs have been discussed for the past three or four years now on Reef Central and Reefs.org. People who have them usually consider them a problem!

This is the only solution that I know of: http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=45859

I am NOT recommending it, I'm just saying that it is the only thing that I have heard of so far. The obvious problem with that treatment is that it also kills all of your amphipods and copepods and any other microcrustaceans in your system. It goes without saying that it will kill any shrimp or crabs that you do not remove from the tank before treatment.

You might want to consider your options and do some more independent research before deciding what you want to do.

[fishgeeksrus]

Oh man, what happens if you don't treat?

[Reefland]

And here is a post with a picture and link to Dr. Ron Shimek's website that has more information on them:
Info on the little bugs on acro needed

Scott Z.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by fishgeeksrus

Oh man, what happens if you don't treat?

I have never had that problem myself so I am hesitant to answer your question. Whatever I say could be bad advice.

Sorry.

[Ninong]

Now you know why I don't want to answer your question. There is more than one view on whether they are a problem or not. Just be aware that some people consider flatworms to be a problem while others do not.

[fishgeeksrus]

Should I have done something to prevent this. Maybe a dip or something? I am a little nervous now. Ninong what's your secret for not getting these?

[Poseidon]

Boy that sounds like a high risk endeavor... But Minh had posted in a thread that he was going to try it. Hey Minh!! How did it go? I currently don't have any coral Fleas, but I have purchased a Frag out of a tank at a LFS that did have a coral with the fleas on it... Guess I better break out the magnifying glass!

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by fishgeeksrus

Ninong what's your secret for not getting these?

I have no idea. I usually dip SPS frags in a solution made up of one liter of tankwater with 1/4 tsp tincture of iodine (2%) from the drugstore. I leave them in that bath for 10-15 minutes after I have already acclimated them by floating the shipping bag for 20 minutes or so to equalize the water temperature and then slow dripping tankwater over the next couple of hours.

After 10-15 minutes (it's supposed to be 20 minutes but I'm chicken) in the iodine bath, I swirl the frags in another bowl of tankwater before putting them in the tank. Some of them slime quite a bit in the bath but others do not. I don't know if it's necessary or not but it's something I copied from Steve Tyree. I don't know what effect, if any, it would have on the tiny red acro bugs.

[fishgeeksrus]

Ok, I am really panicing. I don't know what to do. I just read a bunch of different info on this problem. I just took the acro out that has the bugs and put it in a container. I took a powerhead and tried to blow some of the bugs off of it. But it looks like I may have ripped the tissue on the acro now. UGH this stinks! It also blew out the crab that was inside the acro. I don't think I am going to put the crab back in. Hopefully, the acro makes it through my torture. I am going to just sit down and cry. (Andrea)