New AEFW Info

[Atomikk]

Don't know if this was already posted but it is definitely eye opening about the AEFW pest.

http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0042240

 

[Ira]

My god, found on 7 out of 10 wild colonies at the description local?

Even more incentive to only buy long term, established frags from reputable sources.

 

[Reef Bass]

I don't buy that aefw are only in tanks and not in the wild. Indoor reef keeping has not been around long enough for new species to evolve from our tanks! IMHO, the article would be better summed up as "locally heavy infestations of aefw found in some areas".

 

[aqua80]

wonder if these flatworm are fairly common/abondant in the wild, there must be some kind of predator (like acropora crabs ?) that lacks in our tanks for them to kill so many captive acropora colonies...

 

[Ira]

I would imagine they are extremely common in the wild, I would bet this is the first time anyone has ever really bothered to look for them.

 

[Atomikk]

I don't buy that aefw are only in tanks and not in the wild. Indoor reef keeping has not been around long enough for new species to evolve from our tanks! IMHO, the article would be better summed up as "locally heavy infestations of aefw found in some areas".

Did you not read this part?

"Amakusaplana acroporae occurred on 7 of the 10 coral colonies collected. Between 1 and 5 animals were found on each colony, with an average of 2.6±0.65 (mean ±SE) animals per colony"

The article suggests, IMO, that the flatworms could have evolved in home aquaria. They are the same species, except for a few specific differences.

 

[Atomikk]

wonder if these flatworm are fairly common/abondant in the wild, there must be some kind of predator (like acropora crabs ?) that lacks in our tanks for them to kill so many captive acropora colonies...

That is what I am assuming as well. Could be that the crabs are the biological predator we were looking for in our battle with AEFW.

 

[karsseboom]

I don't buy that aefw are only in tanks and not in the wild. Indoor reef keeping has not been around long enough for new species to evolve from our tanks! IMHO, the article would be better summed up as "locally heavy infestations of aefw found in some areas".

Looks like he didn't read the article.

 

[SpinyReef]

That is what I am assuming as well. Could be that the crabs are the biological predator we were looking for in our battle with AEFW.

There is definitely a bunch of predators for AEFW, there's anecdotal evidence that acro crabs do protect their hosts. Some report wrasses eating the worms too in their tanks. I would also guess some shrimps probably eat them or their eggs too.

 

[Atomikk]

There is definitely a bunch of predators for AEFW, there's anecdotal evidence that acro crabs do protect their hosts. Some report wrasses eating the worms too in their tanks. I would also guess some shrimps probably eat them or their eggs too.

Maybe we should all stock up on symbiotic crabs. I don't know if they are prolific breeders in home aquaria, so acquiring them through SPS is the only way for now.

(BTW nice A. convexa that you have there in your avatar)

 

[SpinyReef]

Maybe we should all stock up on symbiotic crabs. I don't know if they are prolific breeders in home aquaria, so acquiring them through SPS is the only way for now.

(BTW nice A. convexa that you have there in your avatar)

I did acquire some in the past for that very reason, however they are hard to come across if you don't know anyone who imports corals, and I don't think they breed in aquaria, or if they did, my wrasses were faster at eating them than the crabs were breeding.

And thanks for the comment I believe you have a colony from the same lienage in your tank (I got this one from CM). The color is stunning and growth is ridiculous. I'll have to frag it again, otherwise it'll overtake all the corals surrounding it, several of which are frags I got from you which are becoming nice little colonies

 

[Atomikk]

I did acquire some in the past for that very reason, however they are hard to come across if you don't know anyone who imports corals, and I don't think they breed in aquaria, or if they did, my wrasses were faster at eating them than the crabs were breeding.

And thanks for the comment I believe you have a colony from the same lienage in your tank (I got this one from CM). The color is stunning and growth is ridiculous. I'll have to frag it again, otherwise it'll overtake all the corals surrounding it, several of which are frags I got from you which are becoming nice little colonies

Ha! Thats right. User names trick me.

Don't want to sidetrack the tread, but do you have a link to where you can show me your mini colonies?

 

[doosiec]

The open wild is so fast, there's plenty of predators that terrify those flat worms.
But in captivity, they really have nothing to fear until you place the proper components in to control the infestation.