Acro crab and red bugs

[sinkingbeach]

Do acro crabs eat red bugs? I don't even know if this is the situation as I can't find any on this particular coral, but I'm paranoid after learning someone else got them. Here's a pic of the coral, there's an acro crab living in it above the left circle you can see the claw. Is this even a indication of red bugs, the white skeleton circled or just lack of light reaching it.

 

[Phyl]

The good news is that doesn't look like red bug infestation results (usually the only thing you'll see there is diminished PE. The bad news is that it looks more like the result of AEFW. Hopefully that's not the case. I'll be able to see any red bugs when I'm there on Tuesday. AEFW... not so sure about.

 

[reneeRN]

AEFW is scary.  Look for circular bite marks.  If you have red bugs, they will affect the A. valida and the A. nana first.  The slimy variety of acros seem to be most immune.  AEFW are invisible to the naked eye unless the coral is out of the water.  The worm stays shiny while the coral starts to lose its sheen as it dries.  Get your magnifying glass out, 4x is best.  You can plainly see red bugs.
I had both in the past.  The AEFW gave me nightmares.  Treatment is radical. 

These are the bites and a big worm on my acro.  They are way smaller too. 

<img src="http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o157/reneeccrn/MayJune07083ffffffffffffff.jpg">



AEFW Eggs on a perfect frag clipping, just cut that whole bottom off and dispose of it.  Treatment cannot kill the eggs.

<img src="http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o157/reneeccrn/MayJune07085ffffffffffffff.jpg">


These are the AEFW eggs bottom right, laid after eating a bunch of my acro tissue for a while.

<img src="http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o157/reneeccrn/MayJune07093fffffffffffff.jpg">

 

[reneeRN]

Oh yea, to answer your question, it is unknown as to if the acro crab eats red bugs, some say yes some say no. I have no acro crabs, since I can never remove them manually, and also since every stony coral in my house gets treated with

1. Interceptor (red bugs)
2. Fluke Tabs (AEFW)
3. Flat Worm Exit
and finally
4. Tropic Marin PRO-CORAL CURE

In that order, over a week.
Yes, EVERY CORAL.

My zoos get a different regimen with less quarantine time.

 

[sinkingbeach]

Thanks Phyl and Renee any idea if they eat AEFW? I've really looked closely and don't see anything on it or any other coral for that matter but I can't figure what up's with this particular one.

 

[reneeRN]

I dont think anyone knows, read the posts about it on RC. There is a good post by melev. All of the main characters replied to it.
Whats going on in your photo could be Slow Tissue Necrosis secondary to poor circulation compounded by poor lighting in those two spots. Watch if it spreads. I just had my beautiful ORA A. tortuosa do that, I thought it was bacterial, so i dipped it in TMPCC for 15 min. It only got worse two days later, so I fragged the entire thing keeping away from the area with tissue loss. Sometimes you have to go radical so that you dont lose the entire coral. You are FAR from that right now.
Good luck Francis.

 

[wobbegong]

Do acro crabs eat red bugs? I don't even know if this is the situation as I can't find any on this particular coral, but I'm paranoid after learning someone else got them. Here's a pic of the coral, there's an acro crab living in it above the left circle you can see the claw. Is this even a indication of red bugs, the white skeleton circled or just lack of light reaching it.

Francis are you positive that theres an Acropora Crab {Tetralia sp.} hosting your acro and not a Gorilla Crab {Xanthidae sp.} because Gorilla Crabs are known to feed on Acropora tissue..

 

[Phyl]

We had a small gorilla crab sitting in one of our acros. He'd eaten a bunch of the flesh right off of it. We've since plucked him out and the acro is looking good now. Whew.