My own AEFW (Acro Eating Flatworms) images

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7893564#post7893564 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JeffCo
Betadine works great and it's pretty cheap. You can find it at about any grocery store or pharmacy. It has 10% providine-iodine. The mix is 3ml betadine for every liter of water. Soak for a max of 25 minutes, then rinse the coral with clean saltwater. I tested this with about 30 frags and did not have any casualties.

I just finished setting up the 75 g and moved over all my acros, (man did that suck). Will probably dose the tank with betadine tonight or tomorrow.
Click to expand...

I was just re-reading this post. You said you were going to dose your tank with betadine, rather than dip them for 25 minutes? Could you clarify your procedure with a little more detail please?
 
I treated the Tyree frag with the 25 minute bath in Betadine, as suggested above.

I did blow off some larger flatworms, but after the coral was removed and the water settled, I didn't find any of them. I wonder if they dissolved entirely.

Here are some eggs I scraped off the coral before putting it back in my tank.
aefw_eggs.jpg
 
I recently dipped a red milli frag in TMPCC (which is just some form of iodine)....the flatworms dropped off and they did pretty much dissolve/fall apart shortly afterwards while I was trying to take some pictures.......I used the recommended dosage on the bottle.

IMO quarantine for an extended period with TMPCC/Betadine/Providone/Iodine dips is the way to go on these critters.

Has anyone witnessed the eggs hatching yet? Curious if the juvies are identical to the adults?
 
Marc,
i just read about your AEFW. I am sorry to hear you have them. I have the regular flatworms but they are a pain too. You work so hard on your tank and helping others. I wish I could say something to help but I do not have experience with the products you are referencing. The best of luck in irradicating the nasty buggers.

R-
 
Melev

I was wondering, could I just setup a large rubbermaid tube from Walmart or something, take out all the rock that has my SPS corals attached and bath both the rocks and SPS corals in a betadine bath?
 
It will kill off stuff on the coral, and odds are on the live rock. I watched starfish fall off, amphipods, and of course the flatworms.
 
I agree that it will probably kill off whatever is alive on the rock but to me treating the whole rock is much easier than pulling every SPS of each live rock which is totally encrusted.

Melev

The corals you treat, are pulling the coral off the live rock or if the coral is pretty encrusted, will you just treat the whole rock and coral?
 
I've only treated the one piece that was obviously infected. I've not taken any course of action yet regarding all the acropora sp. in my reef.
 
TMPCC is the way to go IMO. I know other cures are out there. I just started my battle on these and redbugs yesterday, removing about 7 golfball sized colonies and 8 or so frags and dipping 2X strength TMPCC.

I loved watching the AEFW just peel off the acro, fall to the bottom and squirm until they dissolve. Redbugs float to the surface in about 10 min.

1 week down, 4 to go.


Good luck to you Marc!!


Miles
 
Melev

The Betadine treatment. Its 1 liter of Salt or Fresh water and I can do 1 gallon for 12ml correct? I know that may sound stupid but thought I should ask.
 
The TMPCC works on BOTH red bugs AND AEFW?? If so, I'm going to switch to this for a dip on all incoming corals. Where can I get this online?

Sorry to hear that you're "infected" Marc. That really bites. I always look to your website and podcasts for help on all topics. Look at it this way...this is just another subject you can become an expert on and share your knowledge with the rest of us.
 
Betadine is a much cheaper solution that will kill both annulids and arthropods. TMPCC is a great dip, but is very costly. Marc is using Betadine.
 
Are red bugs and AEFW annulids and arthropods? Sorry, never was very good in biology. I currently use interceptor and levamisol. Can I replace both with the betadine? That would be great because I've had some coral losses in the levamisol dip - that stuff is deadly!
 
I used one liter of reef tank water, and added 3 ml of betadine. The flatworms dissolved completely. The coral lost some color in the process, but didn't die - yet. :rolleyes:

I had it soaking for 25 minutes, using a timer. A turkey baster was used to squirt the coral about every 5 minutes. Then a dental tool to scrape away the eggs I saw within the coral's core.
 
I will. It was relocated to a semi-safe spot, but something knocked it down. I'd prefer not to handle it yet again, but will probably use some tweezers tomorrow to put it up higher in the tank again.

After that, I'll take a picture of it in its current state.
 
What is the difference between Betadine, Lugols, TMPCC and Seachem Reef Dip? Aren't they all some form of iodine? Is the Betadine more effective than the others??
 
hey guys, interesting thread going on here...just wondering if anyone could provide the links to the other threads that are the most helpful?

sparkss- you seem to know all about them, do ya have the links

thanks, and good luck everyone
 
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