Red bug update?

[One_Divided]

Here is a before and after pic of the same coral after the bugs took hold on it.

Oct 22nd 2003


Dec 5th 2003


Of course, there could be more here then meets the eye here.. I have no way to prove that the bugs are responsable for the colour loss and lack or growth. Seems a little odd if you look at how healthy it looks in the first pic.

[Acro]

Hey Guys, The Redbug thing is really a tough one (to me at least). Are they bad are they good? In all honesty I'm not sure I can answer that. Though if you asked me if monti eating nudi's or Acropora eating flatworms were bad I'd tell you with 100% certainty yes and I don't think a single person would disagree. Though when one asks about the redbugs you get such a mixed bag of answers. (As I'm sure many have read the RC threads on the subject.) I do believe that thread is getting a little more inline with the truth now though. My personal thoughts on them are if you can keep the coral happy the bugs won't bother it to any noticeable degree. If the coral becomes less then healthy (lets say sick) the bugs seem to populate on those corals. Then perhaps make things worse; I’m not sure on that even. It is clear to me though that a sick infested coral can improve its health and become a healthy looking piece. Once this happens it at least appears the bug numbers drop but not disappear. I've also seen corals that normally don't host the bugs carry them after a problem or stress event and then regain it’s health and lose the bugs once again. I can personally say I have the bugs now and have had them for close to 2 years. In all honesty I can’t point to a single coral that looks negatively affected by them right now. I do think it’s safe to say that the corals don’t need them and perhaps would fight off what ails them better with out them. It does appear like some people have had success with a multiple dip and QT period. So yeah in the end I think a person and their corals would be better off with out them. Which leads back to the QT period. I’m sure some of you have noticed my thread in the buy sell forum looking for a small tank. I know… after over 7 years in the hobby I’ve finally come to terms with the fact that I’ve been a dumb ass and should know better. Which is the exact reason why when an unwanted pest or problem occurs I’ve got no one but myself to blame for it.

Anyways just my thoughts