Help! What would you do...

jpines · Mar 25, 2016

I got a frag of PC Rainbow today. Broke it off of it's original plug, and threw it in a Bayer dip. After dipping for 10 minutes, there were two large AEFW in the bottom of the container. I put the frag into a separate container with just tank water and inspected for more AEFW. Saw a few bite marks, but I can't visualize any more worms. Currently, i've got the frag in a second bayer dip....question!?

I don't have a QT so should I just toss the frag and consider it a loss? Or if no worms after the second dip consider it "ok"....or...?

Opinions appreciated

las · Mar 25, 2016

I'd get a 10 gal tank. Fill it with some display tank water, a piece of LR, a power head and some lighting. And watch the frag progress. But, I'm an SPS newbie. So others may have better advice for you.

fishbrain · Mar 25, 2016

If there are no eggs you probably ok. But if it where me I would just toss it in the trash. Not worth the risk if you ask me.

Jimbo · Mar 25, 2016

I'd trash it too...not worth it

BryanS4 · Mar 25, 2016

Trash it for sure. They grow so fast and can be found for pretty cheap, not worth the risk.

hybridazn · Mar 25, 2016

If it were me I'd either set up a quick qt tank or trash it. Even if it's a small 5 gallon with a small powerhead and no light for a couple days to handle in between dips. If you broke the base off just make sure to inspect for eggs. If there are eggs I probably wouldn't bother since no proper qt is already set up

Pete polyp · Mar 25, 2016

I have only seen aefw one time and those frags found a trash can.

Salty1962 · Mar 25, 2016

I would setup a QT or trash. Dip won't kill eggs and they are very hard to see. It would also give you a qt tank for future purchases.

jpines · Mar 25, 2016

Thanks for the quick replies everyone. Definitely didn't put it in the QT. Currently it's in a 1 gallon container with an air stone. How often would it need to be dipped to ensure no AEFW make it into the DT? If it survives the dipping and 1 gallon tank, great. If not, i'll get another in the future. Thanks in advance...

las · Mar 25, 2016

How do you break it off the plug? Like with a chisel? Or do you grab the coral with your hand and just snap it off? I've always been concerned about touching the frag with any force what so ever. Like I said I'm a newbie.

I also read dips won't kill eggs.

jpines · Mar 25, 2016

las said:
How do you break it off the plug? Like with a chisel? Or do you grab the coral with your hand and just snap it off? I've always been concerned about touching the frag with any force what so ever. Like I said I'm a newbie.

I also read dips won't kill eggs.

I use snips and cut it or just break it by hand. And that's correct, none of the dips will kill the eggs. If I knew the incubation period of the eggs I would know how often to dip the infected frag to ensure there are no AEFW left.

whatchamacallit · Mar 27, 2016

Toss that sucker in the trash, set it on fire, and bring the remains to the person you bought it from! But in all seriousness, if you don't have a quarantine don't even risk it.

jpines · Mar 27, 2016

whatchamacallit said:
Toss that sucker in the trash, set it on fire, and bring the remains to the person you bought it from! But in all seriousness, if you don't have a quarantine don't even risk it.

Ha exactly what I did. Contemplated it for about 2 hours. Was gonna run a small 1 gallon QT but ended up chunking it in the trash

whatchamacallit · Mar 27, 2016

Did you let the person know that they have aefw?

Wiz · Mar 27, 2016

Wait it out. Use a small container and keep dipping periodically. Hopefully it will live. But trash is a bit drastic in my opinion.

just be overly cautious and hope it survives.

jpines · Mar 27, 2016

whatchamacallit said:
Did you let the person know that they have aefw?

Yeah, I messaged them immediately. I don't have an appropriate QT. had it in a plastic container and was sitting on the edge of my tank. Wasn't worth the hassle or worry of adding Aefw to my tank

Wiz · Mar 27, 2016

:-( I guess better safe than sry. Stinks to kill it though.

Sabellafella · Mar 27, 2016

Dude i had to trash a rommels rainbow colony about 2 months ago. It took me about 3 hours to make the decision. Same happened with me, after a bayer dip 2 large ones came off. I then put in a new container of water and with a pipette- squirted every nook and cranny with prazipro. I just didnt trust it and if i got aefws on my acros i wouldve left the hobby

jpines · Mar 27, 2016

Wiz said:
:-( I guess better safe than sry. Stinks to kill it though.

Sabellafella said:
Dude i had to trash a rommels rainbow colony about 2 months ago. It took me about 3 hours to make the decision. Same happened with me, after a bayer dip 2 large ones came off. I then put in a new container of water and with a pipette- squirted every nook and cranny with prazipro. I just didnt trust it and if i got aefws on my acros i wouldve left the hobby

Yeah, I hated to do it. But didn't want to dip every 6 days for who knows how long (depending on incubation period of the AEFW eggs). And I doubt it'd survive in a gallon container for multiple weeks. Definitely sucks.

On the bright side, I picked up another PC rainbow today from a different source. [emoji16][emoji16]

Wilsoni · Mar 28, 2016

jpines said:
Yeah, I hated to do it. But didn't want to dip every 6 days for who knows how long (depending on incubation period of the AEFW eggs). And I doubt it'd survive in a gallon container for multiple weeks. Definitely sucks.

On the bright side, I picked up another PC rainbow today from a different source. [emoji16][emoji16]

Did you notify the previous source of their AEFW infestation? I know a lot of people feel bad about doing so but it can hopefully help prevent this terrible plague from spreading if the source is responsible enough to halt their sales until the problem is cured...