Biological Controls for Acropora Eating Flatworms in Reef Tanks

Both the Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) and the Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata vittata) can be used to control the Acropora-eating flatworm (Prosthiostomum acroporae) in our reef tanks. These flatworms are something those of you with fish-only saltwater aquariums don't need to worry about - but they drive Acropora keepers mad! Their eggs make it through dips like Flatworm Exit and from there they make it into our tank.
Be sure you actually want a Six line wrasse before you add one - they're quite territorial and even though they're pretty reef fish that's easy to care for, they can cause trouble protecting their territory. Similarly, there are several different species of Peppermint Shrimp and this paper is only looking at the vittata species - and a lot of these shrimp pick on LPS coral from time to time. These species will tend to work a lot better in a SPS coral quarantine tank where they'll have less rock and such to pick over - spending more time looking at the corals in the tank.
Interestingly, the paper points out that Peppermint Shrimp hunt almost purely using chemical cues that they pick up from the water. Because of this they need to basically stumble across an AEFW in order to eat it - but they do eat eggs which are ignored by the Six Lined Wrasse.
The Acropora-eating flatworm has only really been studied in coral aquaculture - they've never been studied in the wild on coral reefs. That's strange, but given the secretive nature of these flatworms it's not all that surprising.
Biological controls to manage Acropora-eating flatworms in coral aquaculture
Jonathan A. Barton, Craig Humphrey, David G. Bourne, Kate S. Hutson
doi.org/10.3354/aei00347
The images of the acropora eating flatworms at the beginning of this video are from this paper, which I'd also recommend checking out.
The Life Cycle of the Acropora Coral-Eating Flatworm (AEFW), Prosthiostomum acroporae; The Influence of Temperature and Management Guidelines
Barton Jonathan A., Hutson Kate S., Bourne David G., Humphrey Craig, Dybala Cat, Rawlinson Kate A.
www.frontiersin.org/article/1...
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[@mariotrujillo5697]

Great video! So helpful! Thanks

[@WickedEfie]

Super interesting, great video!

[@homegrownreefer]

great video!

[@mr.no3871]

I found it! Really enjoy the information in your video's! you the man jajaja

[@deanfielding4411]

Excellent video thank you. Do you have any suggestions on any other fish that would be able to eat them up?

[@bartstanczyk3810]

2:48 :D I love it

[@rw09903]

Are lysmata vittata available for sale in the states? Everything I've seen are Caribbean soured.

[@nwyk153]

Melanurus, Green and yellow coris wrasse ate AFEW too.

[@ReefMan]

Thanks for sharing!

[@KreefAquariumhobby]

Bleeeu hahaha 💪💪

[@ReefMan]

Let's see who can find the mistake I forgot to edit out 😆

[@Reefkpr1]

Flatworm exit doesn't work on AEFW. Is that the mistake? If not it should be. lol

[@ReefMan]

Yep, a lot of people claim it works though I bet that's for people who also have the normal flatworms or maybe don't have AEFW at all. I also mess up about half way through 😄

[@theideaofclips5481]

2:48 blah 😒