New Photo Gallery for Pests

[alrha]

Melanarus Wrasse (Halechores Melanarus)

the Melanarus Wrasse (Halechores Melanarus) is known to eat flatworms.
its a good way to get rid of them without having to use Flatworm Exit. Also as long as he is in your tank, he'll eat any that may come back.

 

[jhale]

are they invisible acro eating nudibranch? !!!

 

[ShaunW]

What do I win?

Tell me what it is to win!

 

[Josh]

A flatworm or a nudi, can't tell for sure.

Oh wait, you wanted the actual sp.? Good luck with that!

 

[ShaunW]

are they invisible acro eating nudibranch? !!!

NOPE.

You could cheat by using this image in the pest photogallery.

 

[Josh]

I can't see any features or lungs with it out of the water like that, so I would guess a flatworm.

It looks a little like a clear sponge or tunicate, but the coral would most likely be bleached where it was attached.

 

[ShaunW]

I can't see any features or lungs with it out of the water like that, so I would guess a flatworm.

It looks a little like a clear sponge or tunicate, but the coral would most likely be bleached where it was attached.

Correct!!

 

[Josh]

And my prize is??????

A jar full of flatworms!!!!

 

[ShaunW]

Unfortunately, as of June 15, 2005, a proven method of eradicating all of these FW?s from a system has not been found. Some methods have had limited success. These possible solutions are divided into three groups: natural, chemical and mechanical. The best results point to using a combination of more than one method, however the ?magic formula? has yet to be discovered.

Regardless of the method(s) used, to completely eradicate the FW?s from a system, the FW?s life cycle must be broken. Some general information to keep in mind while trying these treatments:

1) Adults need to be on a coral to feed; without food (energy), they won?t be able to lay eggs.

2) If all eggs are removed, and a constant monitoring reveals no additional eggs, eventually all adults will perish, and no new FW?s will develop.

 

[Josh]

I know a way to eradicate them.

Red bugs!

 

[ShaunW]

The damage that these guys can cause!!!

A heavily infested SPS.

Their eggs at the base of an SPS.

The eggs are laid typically on dead coral skeleton, where the flatworms have already killed the tissue. Eggs have been found on superglue, plugs, and even the side of zooanthids as seen in this image.

 

[ShaunW]

I know a way to eradicate them.

Red bugs!

:lol:

Poor SPS!! I don't know what would be worse. Probably the flatworms.

 

[Josh]

These are GREAT photos, but please tell me they are of somebody else's tank!

 

[ShaunW]

These are GREAT photos, but please tell me they are of somebody else's tank!

No, thank goodness they are not from my tank.

If I came down with these, I would seriously consider quitting SPS keeping!!

 

[ShaunW]

Some more close ups!

 

[nanoreefer22]

WoW..those things do damage.

 

[Deanos]

More flatworm information

Flatworms #1

Flatworms #2

 

[DRZL]

::barfs::

 

[ShaunW]

I was thinking about setting up a place at the fragswap for people to check their frags out under bright lights for reef pests. Additionally having some small tanks with interceptor and flatworm exit to dip any suspect corals.

Would this be helpful?

 

[House of Laughter]

Ugh, yeah, if we can do that we can asure that anything in the swap is bug free - Not sure if we'll have to up the dose of IC given it should be exposed for 6 hours.

What do you think? Can we jack up the dose and shorten the time?