AHHH flatworms are eating my fancy acro!

[Cactuspancake]

I found like 50 flatworms eating my acro last night while I was cleaning... I would have never noticed them since they have perfect camouflage and are 1.2mm in diameter. I took a few to the lab today and we got some pictures under the dissecting scope and we all had fun looking at the nasty little critter. I wanted to make sure they weren't nudis. I have some cool digital pictures but I have to get them at work. They are tan and have tiny white dots all over them and they ripple, don't swim, and only are found on one species of acro, nothing else. Other acro is okay, monti is fine... it's so weird. So... am I right about this? Are they most likely eating that one acro? Is that a normal thing to find? What should I do? I have coral rx and some iodine, but I'm not good at using it and I killed some acro a long time ago using it so I just don't do it. If this is what you suggest, could you give me some specific instructions? Thank you!

Also I have one bubble of bubble algae on a new piece of coral. I've never had it before; is it possible to "nip it on the bud" before it spreads or is it too late? If so, what should I do? I forgot what kind of coral it is... it looks like tiny daisy polyps that are bright neon yellow. It looks mostly squishy though.

-Natasha

 

[wilfx]

Sounds to me like acro eating flat worms. I had them a while ago They ate all my acro's. Take the affected acro out and dose it good. Keep a good eye on the other acro's. They seemed to multiply like crazy.

 

[afrankiewicz12]

Get a blue velvet nudibranch they only eat flatworms

 

[JohnK]

Get a blue velvet nudibranch they only eat flatworms

This is a whole different flatworm. AEFWs are no where as easy as the many other common FWs..

 

[Moe_K]

I found like 50 flatworms eating my acro last night while I was cleaning... I would have never noticed them since they have perfect camouflage and are 1.2mm in diameter. I took a few to the lab today and we got some pictures under the dissecting scope and we all had fun looking at the nasty little critter. I wanted to make sure they weren't nudis. I have some cool digital pictures but I have to get them at work. They are tan and have tiny white dots all over them and they ripple, don't swim, and only are found on one species of acro, nothing else. Other acro is okay, monti is fine... it's so weird. So... am I right about this? Are they most likely eating that one acro? Is that a normal thing to find? What should I do? I have coral rx and some iodine, but I'm not good at using it and I killed some acro a long time ago using it so I just don't do it. If this is what you suggest, could you give me some specific instructions? Thank you!

Also I have one bubble of bubble algae on a new piece of coral. I've never had it before; is it possible to "nip it on the bud" before it spreads or is it too late? If so, what should I do? I forgot what kind of coral it is... it looks like tiny daisy polyps that are bright neon yellow. It looks mostly squishy though.

-Natasha

Please post the pics!!!

 

[jamesdong009]

That really stinks Natasha. Fighting AEFW can be a pretty long battle and that's the reason why QT all incoming SPS frags. I have seen Flatworm Exit kill AEFW but the dosage is very high and can be very costly.

Levamisole is another option but I would remove the SPS and treat in a separate tank it all possible. I do have some if you want to take that route. Feel free to shoot me a text if you do.

 

[mchartier]

What Anthony said above. Also most of the dips do not kill the eggs, that is why you should treat in a separate tank and treat all SPS. With no SPS in the tank the AEFWs that are left in the tank or hatch from left over eggs will have nothing to eat and will die out.

 

[higorc]

This is a whole different flatworm. AEFWs are no where as easy as the many other common FWs..

Doesn't the Sixline wrasse eat flatworms? I thought I read/heard that somewhere...

Oh yeah...

http://www.reefkeeping.com/joomla/i...latworms-and-other-bugs-that-make-you-see-red

 

[mchartier]

There are a few wrasses that eat flatworms like the Melanurus Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus), this is just going to control them and not eradicate the flatworms. Need to break the egg laying cycle.

Heres a thread that another member had about their AEFW battle. http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?96562-AEFW-infestation&highlight=AEFW