how come you think there are so many pests these days?

[fungia]

i hear from old timers they did not have to deal with all the pests that we have today like bugs and monti eating flatworms, it used to be just algae and aiptasia and sometimes regular flat worms. what do you think is the reason for this?

hehe, i have heard there is a giant conspiracy to sell more corals 8)

 

[jandree22]

Global Warming.

 

[Anonymous]

Just speculating here but the "old timers" might have had the pests, just they didn't know what the hell was killing their SPS and attribute it to "them being hard".

However as more and more SPS come in the chances of them getting into big holding tanks, then going to lots of others does increase dramatically.

 

[Anonymous]

It may well be the case that we had all the bugs before, we just didn't know it and blamed all kinds of declining corals on the mysterious RTN/STN.
It may also be the case that the surge in mariculture/aquaculture allowed the pests to breed and proliferate.
It could also be that killing one pest allowed another to flourish - when everyone treated for red bugs and killed their acro crabs, AEFW may have gotten an advantage.
Me, I think its sock gnomes.

 

[liquid]

Me, I think its sock gnomes.

1. Collect socks
2. ?
3. Profit!

 

[Ben1]

Theres is also alot more people keeping acros/montis now versus even 10 years ago. The boom in people keeping these types of corals also must have an effect.

 

[Len]

It's possible this all stems from a few collection sites, collection holding facilities, or wholesalers. These pests might not be very prevalent in the wild, but once a few get into any of these closed systems and reproduce, they're easily imported to hobbyist tanks that sets logarithmically spreads (like a viral outbreak).

 

[Len]

BTW, I also like the gnome sock theory 8)

 

[pwj1286]

This is my first post that Ive made in months, Ive been kinda busy with work, school, and finally have a social life/a girlfriend that I spend too much time with...

but this is something that I really would like to comment on....


I think its a variable amount of causes...

1. Unscrupulous business practices

Having knowledge that you have coral pests and selling/trading them anyways..

2. Not taking protection

Being that there is sooo many things out their that want to destroy corals, one should take the proper precautions before introducing anything into your tank, IE iodine/fresh water dipping

3. Increase of trade of various species from various regions

someone aboved mentioned about the monties being more regularly traded, it just makes sense that it would be true that more disease comes along with increased trade.



Think about something you can relate to....STD's...there out there. And if you wouldnt take proper precautions, you would likely end up with one...

I mean if we practice our sexual activities like we do with corals, it would likely be that we would die of AIDs or some other nasty std.
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economic recession history

 

[Anonymous]

BTW, I also like the gnome sock theory 8)

8)

 

[JD'sReef]

Not to change directions on this topic, but let me ask this. Do these bugs manifest themself, or do you do they have to be a hitch hiker on a new piece. If this is true, wouldn't dipping the new coral be a way to controll if not deminish these pests? I am more or less just asking as I have not added anything for a while and I wonder if a supprise is waiting around the corner.
Thanks
J.

 

[Anonymous]

Hobbyists, retailers etc. can all share some of the blame mostly due to not knowing what to look at in the best or knowing and not caring / infrorming others at worst.

For what its worth I've had a fair number of fish come from wholesalers lately completely infested with flukes, worms and other nasties and even aquacultured fish coming from reputable vendors very sick right out of the bag.

When in doubt, quarantine, even if you think its a perfect specimen, quarantine.

 

[dadstank]

they are "underpants gnomes".....
:lol:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-KLbW-3mhc

 

[pwj1286]

Not to change directions on this topic, but let me ask this. Do these bugs manifest themself, or do you do they have to be a hitch hiker on a new piece. If this is true, wouldn't dipping the new coral be a way to controll if not deminish these pests? I am more or less just asking as I have not added anything for a while and I wonder if a supprise is waiting around the corner.
Thanks
J.

No, they exist on the coral at all times. I think its possible that some strains of bacterial can infect corals that are naturally around at all times. Not to mention virus infections cannot be ruled out, but there is so little research in that area that it remains as an unknown.

Best thing to do is keep quarantining and dipping corals. As well as keeping tank's water pristine.
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