Parasitic Flatworm pictures

[OrionN]

Here is a picture of parasitic flat worms that infected LPS and solf corals. I got this when I board my coral in a friend's tank after mine crashed in June. Fortunatly, this flat worm is relativley easy to get rid from our tank. I plan to do a fresh water dip tomorrow and they will be all gone.
Here is the picture. I can see at least 4 here with possibly one more behind one of the polyps.
http://www.maast.org/albums/Minh-Nguyen/Flat_worms.jpg
Minh

[DeletedAccount]

Great picture, Minh!

How long do you do your freshwater dips for your corals to get rid of these buggers? Can you do this with pretty much all of your corals or are there some that do not tolerate a freshwater dip?

[OrionN]

I use two baths of fresh water, temperature adjusted in containers large enough to move the coral freely. I wash the coral in one for about 15-30 seconds shake it vigrously. I then redo this in the second bath. Temperature need to be adjust. 15 second each twice is all you need to do. Essentially all the LPS and solf coral tolerate this procedure without problem.
Minh

[OrionN]

These flatworms are very dificult to see. I did not see them until I look at the close up picture of my Alveopora. I was not trying to take a picture of the flatworm but only see it from looking at the picture. Once I saw them in the picture, I look at the coral and I see them there.
I need to tell my friend regarding the flat worms in his tank.
I am trying to document the treatment process. Here is the picture of the A. gigas right after the double fresh water bath. I took the coral out of the tank and shake it in a bath of tank water first to make sure it retracted first. I then I shake the coral in a fresh water bath for about 30 seconds, then repeat in a second fresh water bath. I got about 100+ flat worms off the coral. I will try to take picture daily until the coral returen to normal (or died)
http://www.maast.org/albums/Minh-Nguyen/Alveopora_gigas_after_fresh_water_dip.jpg
Minh

[GaryP]

Minh,

What about using flatworm exit on these guys? It works great on the non-parasitic flatworms.

Gary

[OrionN]

Minh,

What about using flatworm exit on these guys? It works great on the non-parasitic flatworms.

Gary
I think that it would work just fine. However, I don't want to expose my tank to the stuff, and using fresh water will be OK.
Here is the picture of the Alveopora a few days after the FW dip.
http://www.maast.org/albums/Minh-Nguyen/Alveopora_gigas_recovering.jpg
Minh

[OrionN]

Here is a close-up without flatworms
http://www.reefland.com/gallery/data/500/1316Alveopora_gigas.jpg

[Henry]

Minh glad to see that the Alveopora has had no ill effects from either the flatworm or fresh-water dip. I also have one and have been sitting staring at it for hours looking for flatworms, thankfully none so far. Best of luck on your new tank.

Do you have your's sitting on the sand or on a rock? Also do you have a lot or a little flow on your's?

[OrionN]

The Alveopora was quite stressed but recover fine. I dipped a little too much this time. I did not wanted to have any flatworm after the treatment. It may be possible to dip the coral for a few seconds, like five, and successful in remove the worms.

I have my Alveopora attach to a small piece of rock with a flat base. I put the wole thing on the sand in a low flow area of the tank with moderate light. More flow will result in less polyps expansion.
Minh

[Sherri]

I have a Alveopora just like yours...my polyp expansion is sometimes 7-9 inches during day and will totally retact at night. Is this normal to have that much of an extention? It is beautiful. I may have it in too much of a flow area on the sand. Was just curious... :D

[OrionN]

Sherri,
I think these corals are the most beautiful LPS.
The more flow you give it the less the polyp extension. They do well, IME, with moderate to low flow. Moderate light and feeding.
Minh

[Sherri]

I agree Minh...Well...they must love my 440 VHO's then...they are georgous. Will post a pic of their full extension - mine is very healthy and I love the way they retract totally leaving a porous looking rock.

[GaryP]

Minh,

As I'm sure you are aware, both Alveopora and Gonipora have terrible rates. It seems you are doing something right. I think it would be great if you shared with the group what you feel are your secrets for success with these very difficult species.

Thanks,
Gary

[OrionN]

Minh,

As I'm sure you are aware, both Alveopora and Gonipora have terrible rates. It seems you are doing something right. I think it would be great if you shared with the group what you feel are your secrets for success with these very difficult species.

Thanks,
Gary
Gary,
I am convince that Goniopora and Alveopora need feeding. People who have sucess with Goniopora usually have a DSB type tank. There are lots of pods that got eatten by the Goniopora. I have seen picture of Goniopora eatting a mysis shrimp somewhere on the internet before.
Alveopora also need a mature and well feed tank. I certainly see my Alveopora eats bits of flake food and mysis shrimp also.
Minh

[GaryP]

Minh,

Hmmm, I wonder if target feeding frozen mysid, brine, and cyclop-eeze would be sufficient for these guys? What about lighting? Are these guys in your SPS tank?

I was once told by the owner of a really LFS in New Orleans that a "branched Gonipora" was easier to maintain than the regular flower pot type Gonipora. I'm wondering now if he was talking about Alveopora? Do you have any idea what he is referring to?

Gary

Gary

[OrionN]

There are branched Goniopora. I am not sure how hard these are to keep. I know that when my tank was established, I did not have any problem with keeping Goniopora or Alveopora. I think feeding them is a very goo idea. They do seem to tank rather large prey. You will have to let the prey driff to them. If you squit the food at them, they just close up.

They are every beautiful LPS. I did not keep them for a long time until the LFS here (Bruce at TFH) gave me a Goniopora that is dying. It recovered in my tank. Since then, I keep several and seem to have good luck with them (until my tank crashed)

Minh