Could this be AEFW?

Nico_I99

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Hey, I've noticed some white spots on some of my acropora recently and I've caught some worms out of my tank using a turkey blaster - I'll attach some images.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated

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PXL_20231019_182806461.jpg PXL_20231019_132621252~2.jpg PXL_20231019_115127030~2.jpg PXL_20231019_125435496.MP.jpg
 

Reeflix

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Hi, welcome to Reef 2 Reef, i cant really tell what you are circling on the coral, is there small bite marks? can you also post a video on they move? this definitely looks like some kind of flatworm, and either aefw, or red planeria, which i dont really think so.
 
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Nico_I99

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Hey, thanks!
Not directly bite marks but rather white spots..

Best video I can supply, I can't really see them on the coral but they do come off when I blast the corals with a turkey blaster
 

vetteguy53081

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Hey, I've noticed some white spots on some of my acropora recently and I've caught some worms out of my tank using a turkey blaster - I'll attach some images.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated

1000013179.jpg
PXL_20231019_182806461.jpg PXL_20231019_132621252~2.jpg PXL_20231019_115127030~2.jpg PXL_20231019_125435496.MP.jpg
These are polyclad flatworms and while they are not harmful as red planaria, they in numbers can smother bases of coral and block the needed light for production of zooxanthellae which is their energy source.
Removal can be accomplished by siphoning them with a 3/8" tubing into a nylon stocking and discard
OR
Add a wrasse such as Yellow coris, 6 line, lunare or malanurus OR even a springieri damsel which will eat them

With the number you have, for the next 2 weeks you will have to look for eggs and scrape off as there is likely some and would be future acoels. Eggs are really tiny

1678293158905.png
 
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Nico_I99

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These are polyclad flatworms and while they are not harmful as red planaria, they in numbers can smother bases of coral and block the needed light for production of zooxanthellae which is their energy source.
Removal can be accomplished by siphoning them with a 3/8" tubing into a nylon stocking and discard
OR
Add a wrasse such as Yellow coris, 6 line, lunare or malanurus OR even a springieri damsel which will eat them

With the number you have, for the next 2 weeks you will have to look for eggs and scrape off as there is likely some and would be future acoels. Eggs are really tiny

1678293158905.png

I actually do have a 6 line wrasse (who did a very good job at eating tubellaria back when I had an outbreak)

Manual removal is pretty much impossible on a larger scale as i can't really see them with the naked eye at all, I have to work with a turkey baster and hope to hit some if i want to get a specimen to look at. I'm just fairly worried about my acropora :s

And aefw are a species of polycladida, arent they?
Even now with the light being out for a couple of hours i can't spot any flatworms, that is until i get the baster and blast.
 

Reeflix

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When you turkey bast, if they are floating around, the 6 line should pick them out of the water column, you could also get a springeri damsel, those also might eat them
 
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Nico_I99

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When you turkey bast, if they are floating around, the 6 line should pick them out of the water column, you could also get a springeri damsel, those also might eat them
When I turkey bast my 6 line goes into hiding for the next 30 minutes, lol. He's a bit of a scaredy.

I honestly don't want that damsel, I've heard many reports that they can be a tad mean, especially against other blue coloured fish which is like half my stock
 

Reeflix

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When I turkey bast my 6 line goes into hiding for the next 30 minutes, lol. He's a bit of a scaredy.

I honestly don't want that damsel, I've heard many reports that they can be a tad mean, especially against other blue coloured fish which is like half my stock
you could also do a mel, but how big is your tank? i have a springeri and it is fine, but i have heard that they can be meaner, but not like normal damsels
 

vetteguy53081

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I actually do have a 6 line wrasse (who did a very good job at eating tubellaria back when I had an outbreak)

Manual removal is pretty much impossible on a larger scale as i can't really see them with the naked eye at all, I have to work with a turkey baster and hope to hit some if i want to get a specimen to look at. I'm just fairly worried about my acropora :s

And aefw are a species of polycladida, arent they?
Even now with the light being out for a couple of hours i can't spot any flatworms, that is until i get the baster and blast.
They are a type polyclad and its hit and miss with fish consuming them. Blue velvet nudibranch consumes them well if you can find one.
As a last resort- Salifert flatworm exit but you still need to siphon daily to remove dead ones which can release toxins
 

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