SaltCity forum member “Shadowramy” and his recent aquisition of Acro Eating FlatWorms (AEFWs) could be the best thing that has ever happened to those who are infected with reefing herpes. Shadowramy turned over the infected corals to Eric Borneman who has kicked off an AEFW study with polyclad expert Dr. Kate Rawlinson. The first order of business is determining exactly what the AEFWs are and the details of their life cycle. After just a few days of handling the AEFW material, Dr. Rawlinson has discovered that the AEFW undergoes larval development within the egg and it metomorphoses before hatching. The tiny AEFW juvies then quickly swim “into” the coral skeleton, which helps to explain why eradicating AEFWs completely might prove to be very difficult. The reefing community thanks Shadowramy, Eric B. and Dr. Rawlinson for their efforts. Image above by Kate Rawlinson. To keep up with new developments on the project please visit the AEFW study thread on SaltCity.
AEFWs staring down the barrel of an expert’s microscope
Jake Adams
Jake Adams has been an avid marine aquarist since the mid 90s and has worked in the retail side of the marine aquarium trade for more than ten years. He has a bachelor’s degree in Marine Science and has been the managing editor of ReefBuilders.com since 2008. Jake is interested in every facet of the marine aquarium hobby from the concepts to the technology, rare fish to exotic corals, and his interests are well documented through a very prolific career of speaking to reef clubs and marine aquarium events, and writing articles for aquarium publications across the globe. His primary interest is in corals which Jake pursues in the aquarium hobby as well as diving the coral reefs of the world.
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