Panic Time! Need Some help! Acropora Spreading Death.

[billyocean]

The problem with the newer ones is identifying them. We all know to look for round bite marks and tightly clustered eggs with traditional aefw. These make it look like rtn from the bottom up in a night or so. Eggs can be sporadically laid and there aren't the traditional round bite marks either

 

[ackshee]

It looks like you're not the first person to deal with this weird purple pest. Here's an older forum thread I found and a YouTube video. Not sure what the ID is, though.

 

[carmodpg]

Take a close look at the circled area and tell me what you see. Specifically, the little oval purple nodule looking things on the rock where the blackish dead coral is.

It is tough to tell without seeing the base. But I pulled up some of the other materials I sifted through when I was battling, and the shot under the microscope you took looks eerily similar to the below 2019 article the late (and great) Jake Adams did on potentially new AEFW eggs. The standard dipping did work, according to the article.

https://reefbuilders.com/2019/03/15/is-this-a-new-acro-eating-flatworm/

 

[billyocean]

...posted a Pic of what they look like earlier in the thread.

 

[carmodpg]

I was talking about a base of a coral that was still alive (i.e., looking for bite marks). Although we may be talking about a new kind of beast here.

 

[AKL1950]

I was talking about a base of a coral that was still alive (i.e., looking for bite marks). Although we may be talking about a new kind of beast here.

Unfortunately theses are the oldest colonies in my tank and all have a massive base. Only way to see it would be to take the entire rock out which may allow or not to see the base.

Broke off a piece of the second full coral to die. Close as I could get to the base. Can’t tell if I’m seeing eggs or the actual critters. Neighbor is trying to find his microscope. Hopefully can get a better look.

 

[Reefahholic]

I posted on FB to try and see if anybody could ID.

Tagged Adam, because he seems a lot of these pests coming in, or at least did when importing more.

Looks like these ARE the new ones sadly.

Man, hopefully something can take them out.

 

[Reefahholic]

Definitely looks like them for sure.

 

[Reefahholic]

It is tough to tell without seeing the base. But I pulled up some of the other materials I sifted through when I was battling, and the shot under the microscope you took looks eerily similar to the below 2019 article the late (and great) Jake Adams did on potentially new AEFW eggs. The standard dipping did work, according to the article.

https://reefbuilders.com/2019/03/15/is-this-a-new-acro-eating-flatworm/

It’s them bro.

 

[Reefahholic]

If they have legs it's probably black bugs. I'd they don't and have 2 eyes...it's aefw. The new aefw looks similar to black bugs but isn't. Magnification is required to make an ID. Most people have never encountered the newer aefw

They do have eyes. It is the new AEFW’s sadly.

 

[carmodpg]

It’s them bro.

I agree, I hated to say that when I posted the article. I am so interested I have AI trying to figure this out! Although the stupid thing keeps telling me that it is AEFW and I need to dip the corals.

@AKL1950 I would seriously give AEFW-X a shot. I am sure others have some suggestions for ways to "beat" them.

 

[Reefahholic]

Unfortunately theses are the oldest colonies in my tank and all have a massive base. Only way to see it would be to take the entire rock out which may allow or not to see the base.

Broke off a piece of the second full coral to die. Close as I could get to the base. Can’t tell if I’m seeing eggs or the actual critters. Neighbor is trying to find his microscope. Hopefully can get a better look.

Mail me sample of these guys, and I’ll see what kind of medication they can tolerate.

-Evil Grin-

 

[ryshark]

Unfortunately theses are the oldest colonies in my tank and all have a massive base. Only way to see it would be to take the entire rock out which may allow or not to see the base.

Broke off a piece of the second full coral to die. Close as I could get to the base. Can’t tell if I’m seeing eggs or the actual critters. Neighbor is trying to find his microscope. Hopefully can get a better look.

The orange things are eggs, right?

 

[Reefahholic]

The orange things are eggs, right?

From the RB article:

“but the egg masses are just as puzzling. In common AEFW the eggs are clustered in masses of small dark dots, always on exposed tissues, usually at the base of Acropora frags and colonies. In this sample the eggs are somewhat larger, they are a light yellow color instead of brown, and more importantly they are randomly spread out, unclustered and seem to be laid directly on the coral tissue.”


“Thankfully, this infestation of a bizarre acro eating flatworm has been successfully treated using the same protocols as common AEFW, dipping colonies to remove the flatworms and removing any egg masses or better yet, discarding infected branches.”

 

[AKL1950]

They do have eyes. It is the new AEFW’s sadly.

Is the treatment process the same as other flat worms

 

[robanister]

Take a close look at the circled area and tell me what you see. Specifically, the little oval purple nodule looking things on the rock where the blackish dead coral is.

I mean we could always resort to toasting the strip.

 

[moosevandyke]

Gosh so sorry I hope you try battle them and win such beautiful colonies. There are so many bugs out there now. I also recently found aefw from a very reputable vendor after this post I will never not dip and treat and observe in qt.

 

[ryshark]

Is the treatment process the same as other flat worms

Yeah. The worms will die in KCL

 

[robanister]

Unfortunately theses are the oldest colonies in my tank and all have a massive base. Only way to see it would be to take the entire rock out which may allow or not to see the base.

Broke off a piece of the second full coral to die. Close as I could get to the base. Can’t tell if I’m seeing eggs or the actual critters. Neighbor is trying to find his microscope. Hopefully can get a better look.

Those are eggs same as mine

 

[Reefahholic]

Is the treatment process the same as other flat worms

Yes, it does appear the same. Make sure to document your treatment method.

I’m curious how long these eggs take to hatch. I wish you had a few QT’s setup for experimenting with.