Tell Me About Monti Eating Nudibranchs

[Matt Rogers]

I was telling a guy at the LFS about my recent problem with my Montipora corals and how in a matter of days they all became patchy (the digitatas) and the cap. was nearly wiped out over night. I thought it was RTN, but he said since my other coral is fine it is probably 'Monti eating nudis.'

Anyone have some pics of these? I hear they are really small and there is not much you can do.

[amcarrig]

http://www.reef-encounters.com/photo...ages/pest1.htm

Hope this helps!

[APC]

Great picture! .5mm, man thats tiny. Any ideas on how to elimnate them?

[amcarrig]

This might help figure out what works best to get rid of them:

http://www.peteducation.com/article....articleid=3354

[Matt Rogers]

Thanks for the info.
Looks like I have to stay up late and go hunting with tweezers. I have a sixline wrasse but they recommend a Coris as a natural predator of these nudis. hmm..

This sucks!

[amcarrig]

It's not just the nudis that you have to worry about, it's also their eggs Good luck to ya Matt!

[Gresham]

How many montis do you have Matt, and are they able to be taken out of the tank to be inspected?

[Matt Rogers]

I have a lot of Digis.. I could definitely pull a piece out to take a look. But these nudis are nocturnal, right? What are ya thinking G?

[Gresham]

Well, the way I got rid of them, was by dipping in lugols bath, scrubbing the eggs off and manual removal with a baby ear dropper (like a small turkey baster, but with a small openning). If we could have at them, I know I could tell you if you had them and definitly help to get rid of them if you indeed had them. Just taking a few "infected" colonies out would prove their existance or not. Once you see them, you reconize them in a drop of a hat

[Matt Rogers]

Huh.. well here's another angle.. I just saw one of the asterina stars I have mow across the base of some digitata.