Dead blue tang with mysterious bugs

Reef.Blue

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 21, 2022
Messages
416
Reaction score
136
Location
NJ
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I went away for the weekend and I had a friend take care of the tank. I came back to see my blue tang on the floor of my qt dead. I took it out and found a bunch of tiny bug looking creatures crawling all on it. Is this a parasite that killed it or were these creatures just feasting on the dead body? I have a yellow tang in the qt with it so I want to find out what it is asap to make sure I don’t put the yellow in any danger. I attached a video below of these creatures. I appreciate any input.
 
OP
OP
Reef.Blue

Reef.Blue

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 21, 2022
Messages
416
Reaction score
136
Location
NJ
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Here’s the video
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0853.mov
    7.6 MB
OP
OP
Reef.Blue

Reef.Blue

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 21, 2022
Messages
416
Reaction score
136
Location
NJ
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I don’t think the video is working, but here is a picture I took. I thought it was ich at first because I saw little white dots, but then I saw them crawling around.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4282.png
    IMG_4282.png
    687.4 KB · Views: 47

vetteguy53081

Well known Member and monster tank lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
96,707
Reaction score
215,505
Location
Wisconsin -
Rating - 100%
15   0   0
I don’t think the video is working, but here is a picture I took. I thought it was ich at first because I saw little white dots, but then I saw them crawling around.
Looks to be white bugs but hard to see from pics. Flatworms also possible
Try a you tube version video and under bright white light intensity
 

vetteguy53081

Well known Member and monster tank lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
96,707
Reaction score
215,505
Location
Wisconsin -
Rating - 100%
15   0   0

vetteguy53081

Well known Member and monster tank lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
96,707
Reaction score
215,505
Location
Wisconsin -
Rating - 100%
15   0   0
I’m sorry that was the only one I had before I disposed of him. If you look closely you can see them moving.
If the bugs still on fish, see if you can get a microscope and post image of bug for confirmation
 

Jay Hemdal

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 31, 2020
Messages
28,604
Reaction score
28,261
Location
Dundee, MI
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I’m sorry that was the only one I had before I disposed of him. If you look closely you can see them moving.
Those are almost assuredly various “pods” that are feeding on the dead fish. True primary fish parasites don’t actively move around.
 
OP
OP
Reef.Blue

Reef.Blue

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 21, 2022
Messages
416
Reaction score
136
Location
NJ
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Those are almost assuredly various “pods” that are feeding on the dead fish. True primary fish parasites don’t actively move around
I was thinking about that but isn’t there nothing for the pods to feed on? It’s a bare bottom qt tank with no rock work
 

Jay Hemdal

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 31, 2020
Messages
28,604
Reaction score
28,261
Location
Dundee, MI
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I was thinking about that but isn’t there nothing for the pods to feed on? It’s a bare bottom qt tank with no rock work
The way to confirm this is to put a bit of fish flesh at the bottom of the tank overnight and see if the same scavengers show up on it.
 

MnFish1

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 28, 2016
Messages
24,326
Reaction score
23,111
Location
Midwest
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
The way to confirm this is to put a bit of fish flesh at the bottom of the tank overnight and see if the same scavengers show up on it.
This is a good answer - I would have said - it was scavengers as compared to parasites
 

HAVE YOU EVER KEPT A RARE/UNCOMMON FISH, CORAL, OR INVERT? SHOW IT OFF IN THE THREAD!

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
Back
Top