AEFW or..? Pics, video, and microscope shot

pharazon · May 2, 2020

Hello!

I recently (luckily?) set up a dedicated frag/coral QT tank. With some of the pieces so close to the glass, I’ve been indulging in some closeup shots. While taking pics today, I noticed some critters scurrying about on a frag of bonsai.

I sent the pics and videos of to a few buddies, who unanimously ID’ed the bugs as AEFW. Just looking for a few second opinions!

Here are some observations:
- They are TINY. Absolutely minuscule. Perhaps they are recently hatched?
- The ones that move are FAST. You’ll see in the videos below.
- The microscope pic only resembles in shape what I could find in the internet. The worm does, however, appear to be filled to the brim with what could be zooxanthellae. Their own? Or harvested from the coral..
- No bite marks found on this frag. I have always dosed KZ Flatworm Stop as a preventative measure, so perhaps they’re not finding my coral all that palatable.

So have a look and let me know what you think!

T-J · May 2, 2020

Look like red bugs.

ycnibrc · May 2, 2020

pharazon said:
Hello!

I recently (luckily?) set up a dedicated frag/coral QT tank. With some of the pieces so close to the glass, I’ve been indulging in some closeup shots. While taking pics today, I noticed some critters scurrying about on a frag of bonsai.

I sent the pics and videos of to a few buddies, who unanimously ID’ed the bugs as AEFW. Just looking for a few second opinions!

Here are some observations:
- They are TINY. Absolutely minuscule. Perhaps they are recently hatched?
- The ones that move are FAST. You’ll see in the videos below.
- The microscope pic only resembles in shape what I could find in the internet. The worm does, however, appear to be filled to the brim with what could be zooxanthellae. Their own? Or harvested from the coral..
- No bite marks found on this frag. I have always dosed KZ Flatworm Stop as a preventative measure, so perhaps they’re not finding my coral all that palatable.

So have a look and let me know what you think!

U need to load to YouTube and then paste the link for us to see.

pharazon · May 2, 2020

ycnibrc said:
U need to load to YouTube and then paste the link for us to see.

Ah, thanks. I’ve embedded the videos on Imgur. I don’t know if they auto play, but they will if you click on them.

ycnibrc · May 2, 2020

pharazon said:
Ah, thanks. I’ve embedded the videos on Imgur. I don’t know if they auto play, but they will if you click on them.

U can dip the frags and if aefw are present they will fall off the frag. Red bug is different dipping won't help only use the interceptor pills

pharazon · May 2, 2020

T-J said:
Look like red bugs.

ycnibrc said:
U can dip the frags and if aefw are present they will fall off the frag. Red bug is different dipping won't help only use the interceptor pills

I thought red bugs until I dipped. The microscope shot was post-dip, and pretty much confirms some type of flatworm.

I did I very high dose of Melafix because I wanted to be able to capture some footage. They didn’t seem to care that much about it until after being basted off the coral. They became immobile, but still wriggled a bit. Will try another dip with Bayer if I find more.

T-J · May 2, 2020

pharazon said:
I thought red bugs until I dipped. The microscope shot was post-dip, and pretty much confirms some type of flatworm.

I did I very high dose of Melafix because I wanted to be able to capture some footage. They didn’t seem to care that much about it until after being basted off the coral. They became immobile, but still wriggled a bit. Will try another dip with Bayer if I find more.

Looking at the video, I’ve never seen flatworms move that fast. Or look like that. I’ve never had AEF but I’ve had the brown flatworms.

pharazon · May 2, 2020

T-J said:
Looking at the video, I’ve never seen flatworms move that fast. Or look like that. I’ve never had AEF but I’ve had the brown flatworms.

That’s what I thought too! I’ve had red planaria and acoel, and while they can cruise, they’re not “fast.” These definitely remind me more of small crustaceans.

Perhaps the worm from the microscope was an innocent, benign bystander.

watchguy123 · May 2, 2020

They sure look like flatworms but they aren’t “eating acropora”—no bite marks!!!

Don’t think those are aefw

pharazon · May 2, 2020

watchguy123 said:
They sure look like flatworms but they aren’t “eating acropora”—no bite marks!!!

Don’t think those are aefw

That is reassuring to hear. I spent most of the evening looking over the coral in this tank very closely. Mostly tenuis, but even amongst the other smoothskins, I couldn’t find any other evidence of them. Good PE and tissue health, as far as I can tell.

jsbzcmcdaniel · May 2, 2020

What camera / microscope are you using to capture the videos?

pharazon · May 2, 2020

jsbzcmcdaniel said:
What camera / microscope are you using to capture the videos?

iPhone X with macro lens and a $50 scope from amazon.

dragon99 · May 2, 2020

I would rule out AEFW based on movement. flatworms definitely can't move that fast. Bite marks from AEFW are very noticeable that that zoom level also.

pharazon · May 2, 2020

dragon99 said:
I would rule out AEFW based on movement. flatworms definitely can't move that fast. Bite marks from AEFW are very noticeable that that zoom level also.

Yeah. Nothing like that at all on any pieces.

Possible to have benign flatworms actively living on acropora?

I did not see any on the affected piece today. Will dip another smooth skin at random and see what falls off.

C. Eymann · May 5, 2020

There are a few suspected FW other than the commonly encountered larger amakusplania acroprae AKA AEFW that we encounter in the hobby, from my knowledge there are up to four distinct KNOWN species of FW that are predatory towards acropora exclusively. There certainly could be more.

I have never seen predatory FW cruise around that fast though. Could be harmless? or even commensial?

Very interesting!

pharazon · May 5, 2020

C. Eymann said:
There are a few suspected FW other than the commonly encountered larger amakusplania acroprae AKA AEFW that we encounter in the hobby, from my knowledge there are up to four distinct KNOWN species of FW that are predatory towards acropora exclusively. There certainly could be more.

I have never seen predatory FW cruise around that fast though. Could be harmless? or even commensial?

Very interesting!

I figured that there are likely a variety of coral predators and/or inhabitants that are relatively uncommon and perhaps even not described. Would you happen to have any links regarding those other flatworms?

Thank you for the input!