Small black worms inside damaged Montipora

Joe's Coral Reef

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 26, 2017
Messages
239
Reaction score
228
Location
Michigan
Rating - 50%
1   1   0
I have have been battling Montipora eating nudibranchs and came across some small black worms in the damage areas . Does anyone know what these could be?
 

ISpeakForTheSeas

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 22, 2021
Messages
6,587
Reaction score
7,921
Location
United States
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
@ISpeakForTheSeas might know.

My first thought was spionid worms but I don't think/know if they move like that.
I can tell you they're not Spionids or any other kind of Polychaete (or even Annelid), as these don't seem to have any bristles or segments.

This seems to be a microscopic flatworm species, but I can't say I'm familiar with these - most of the flatworms I've learned about are polyclads and acoels (these are the common ones in the hobby), so I've got a lot more to learn still about flatworms.

That said, @taricha tends to be better at microscope ID's than I am at present, so maybe they'll have some idea on an ID here.
 

taricha

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
May 22, 2016
Messages
6,616
Reaction score
10,203
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
These are a kind of ciliate, that is distinctively red. They appear all over in sandbeds and sump detritus. I haven't seen them in any harmful context before.
 

Making aqua concoctions: Have you ever tried the Reef Moonshiner Method?

  • I currently use the moonshiner method.

    Votes: 52 20.1%
  • I don’t currently use the moonshiner method, but I have in the past.

    Votes: 5 1.9%
  • I have not used the moonshiner method.

    Votes: 190 73.4%
  • Other.

    Votes: 12 4.6%
Back
Top