Monti Eating Nudi's

[jgraz]

So I woke up this morning and was taking a look at the nano. Noticed that my ORA Jeremys monti was dead. On the last little bit I noticed a something. It looked like a grainy very tiny whiteish micro brittle star. When I git it out I noticed that it was not a star. I looked up Monti E Nudis and there it was. So over night one monti gone. So I continue to look around and find more of them on my Monti Spong. And thats gone too. Over the last couple of weeks I have noticed my monti's not doing weel in this tank. I summed it up to my alk swings. Guess I summed it up wrong. I thought I lost a leng sys, which seems to be making a comeback after losing almost all tissue and my undata started to recede yesterday. Sorry to be long winded here but what are my options other then dipping all montis which I will try to do tonight. Is there any inverts that can/will handle them. Any fish, Its a nano so I may be limited there. Thanks for the help guys/gals.
John

Add: I've also lost a small grinch and small superman monti. My others besides the undata appear to be untouched ATM.
I have in there a superman digi, seasons greetings, idaho grape, orange cap, and JF setosa. Should I remove and dip all? And, should I put them in my other tank for the time being?

 

[howze01]

That really stinks! I don't know of any inverts that will take care of them. If they can be removed for dipping that's probably the best bet but you'll have to dip them consistently over a few week to ensure they're all gone. Dipping will not kill eggs. Good luck!

On a side note, those bacon wrapped Jalapenos were just ridiculous! I need a recipe!

 

[TanksNStuff]

Jon is right. Removing and dipping is the only known way to exterminate them. When you remove to dip, try to pick off with tweasers and/or use a tooth brush to get them off before they hatch. Look closely in the folds underneath the monti.

The more eggs you get rid of, the shorter it will take.

Sometimes it's easier to just break off pieces that have hard to reach eggs and just discard.

Good luck graz.

 

[jgraz]

Thanks guys. Not sure how much damage just a few of these guys can do on their own. When I first noticed on the jeremys monti, i only found a couple of them. the monti was almost completly gone though it was only a vey thin 2"branch. I tossed that one. Also tossed the spongeods(sp?) which was also tiny and I have the mother colony in my other tank. On that one I noticed one or two nudis. The spongeods was still in good shape but just did not want to take a chance. Last night about an hr or so after lights out I took all other monties not glued down and dipped and had the powerhead blowing all around the frags, I did not see any. This morning while it was still dark I took a flashlight and went over the tank a saw a lone nudi on my Leng Sys. I was hoping that was gonna come around guess not. Im gonna continue with the dipping, while hoping that It was a stray incident on a few otherwise unhealthy montis. as all were reletivly tiny and or fresh cut frags. The Grape, Seasons Greetings, and all branching montis seem to be unaffected for now.

ADD: I should add that as of now upon very close inspection I have not yet found any eggs. I have been doing some reading and it seems that they do seem to prefer encrusting over plating and branching, and they do lay eggs on the monti itself. Is this accurate?

 

[rudy16189]

That pest is very difficult to get rid...the best way is to quarantine all your montipora for couple months or more from your main tank

 

[TanksNStuff]

Yes they do lay the eggs on the monti ... usually on the under side and in the small cracks and crevices.