Red Flatworm Starvation???????????

[macon77]

I don't have a flatworm issue, but I do have a question about flatworms (particularly the red ones). Given that I don't tend to keep Acropora, the answer to the question may indicate why I haven't experienced the horrific issues that some have.

I was reading something a week or so ago, and vaguely recall someone having said that if there are no Acroporae in a tank, any of these yucky red guys would eventually starve to death. I may have misinterpreted what I read, or may be misunderstanding somehow. But, I would like to understand this in greater detail. So, my question is, "Is this true?"


P.S., If this is true, this is unofficially reason #3,476 to become a hardcore Corallimorph collector.:bigsmile:

 

[iap]

The red ones..assuming red planaria.. don't eat acropora. The ones that eat acropora are AEFW, ACRO eating flat worms. The red planaria don't eat acro.

 

[macon77]

Iap,

Thanks. Obviously, my knowledge is incomplete here (I am guessing my lack of understanding results from lack of experience, which I am grateful for.)

Could you please tell me how one might easily make a distinction between the two?

Thanks again.

 

[swannyson7]

The red ones..assuming red planaria.. don't eat acropora. The ones that eat acropora are AEFW, ACRO eating flat worms. The red planaria don't eat acro.

+1. Red Planaria eat rotifers & phyto, & other microscopic organisms which you won't be able to remove from your tank to starve them. Basically the only options are chemical treatments or adding a natural predator

 

[macon77]

Oh, I guess my original question changes a bit then.

New question...

Would AEFW in fact starve to death in the absence of Acroporae?

Thanks again.

 

[swannyson7]

Iap,

Thanks. Obviously, my knowledge is incomplete here (I am guessing my lack of understanding results from lack of experience, which I am grateful for.)

Could you please tell me how one might easily make a distinction between the two?

Thanks again.

AEFW are brown, not red. If you have an acro being effected by them, expect poor polyp extension, and spots that look like circles of flesh missing from your acro

 

[swannyson7]

THey'll usually last for a while with no acros. The problem is that even though they starve, they will continue to reporoduce. Most people wait 2-3 months after removing acros before returning them to the tank

 

[macon77]

THey'll usually last for a while with no acros. The problem is that even though they starve, they will continue to reporoduce.

Thanks, your time/insights are appreciated.


You appear to have some knowledge I am lacking. So, one more stupid question, if I may, without starting a new thread.

In my same reading session, I read something else that I found unfamiliar. What would be the purpose/function of DOSING Lugol's?

Thanks again.

 

[macon77]

THey'll usually last for a while with no acros. The problem is that even though they starve, they will continue to reporoduce. Most people wait 2-3 months after removing acros before returning them to the tank

Sorry to be a pain, but this isn't pointed enough for me.

Will they ultimately starve to death (i.e., to extinction)?

 

[swannyson7]

People use it to dose their tank to bring up iodine levels which inverts need to molt. It also has an effect on coloration of corals, making them more resilient to changes in lighting intesity. Elevated levels will also allow leathers to "shed" more frequently, allowing them to grow. It's also used as a coral dip to kill off parasites and during fragging to speed up healing.

 

[swannyson7]

Sorry to be a pain, but this isn't pointed enough for me.

Will they ultimately starve to death (i.e., to extinction)?

Eventually they will all die off, as new generations become too weak from starvation to reproduce.

 

[PR_Reefers]

I believe so with no food available they will perish eventually!!!

Dosing lugol's would have the function of replacing iodine in your tank! which I believe is depleted fairly quickly if I'm not mistaken!.... However some people also use Lugol's in a more concentrated solution as a coral dip, to potentially kill pests or predators

 

[macon77]

Okay, sorry...One more question.

Given that I am now considering Planaria, Red Planaria, and AEFW... I read that AEFW are resistent to FWE treatments (or the like). Is there a difference between the White vs. Red Planaria in terms of their tolerances to these medications?

 

[swannyson7]

Not positive, but I think the biggest problem is that things like FWE don't do anything to deal with the eggs. These either have to be manually removed, or you'll have to dose again once they hatch to wipe them out. usually, people tend to remove all fo their acros and put them in a hospital tank for AEFW treatment. That way they can easily inspect the corals with a magnifying glass to search for eggs and manually remove them.

 

[macon77]

I believe so with no food available they will perish eventually!!!

Dosing lugol's would have the function of replacing iodine in your tank! which I believe is depleted fairly quickly if I'm not mistaken!.... However some people also use Lugol's in a more concentrated solution as a coral dip, to potentially kill pests or predators

So, ultimately, this is to say that Acroporae are their sole food source (or at least the only food source in a closed system which would be abundant enough to enable their survival).

I have certainly used Iodine as a "pre-QT treatment," but had never considered dosing it.

Indeed, Iodine is quickly used up in the reef aquarium. However, everything I have read seems to indicate that dosing it may have little utility. Of course, what many think of when they consider dosing is Iodide.

So, directly dosing the more toxic Iodine is a new idea to me.

 

[swannyson7]

If you do contemplate dosing with lugols, you have to be very careful. It is extremely concentrated and can cause major damage to your system

 

[macon77]

Oh, and I should mention this...

I have personally dosed the less toxic Iodide. As it was noted above, Iodide has been thought by some to have beneficial properties for softies in particular (I am pretty well a strictly-softy person). So, I have experimented with it in the past. I was never able able to detect any difference in ANYTHING, aside from my wallet being a little lighter.

 

[macon77]

If you do contemplate dosing with lugols, you have to be very careful. It is extremely concentrated and can cause major damage to your system

Given my previous experiences with dosing Iodide, I am not convinced that Iodine would offer much more in terms of potential outcomes.

Thus, I just don't see the need to even experiment. Too costly, too risky, benefits not well-documented.

 

[swannyson7]

Given my previous experiences with dosing Iodide, I am not convinced that Iodine would offer much more in terms of potential outcomes.

Thus, I just don't see the need to even experiment. Too costly, too risky, benefits not well-documented.

agreed. Plus it's difficult to test for. I think I've only seen one brand of test kit (Red Sea) and based on my experience with their Alk & Mag test kits, I wouldn't trust it.

 

[macon77]

This conversation has gotten me thinking about something I have considered in the past.

I think it's thread-worthy though. So, I'll start a new one. Fun Friday night stuff for those of us (me) who should "get lives."