Do YOU have coral boring Spionid Worms in your tank

[trevorhiller]

If you answer the poll, kindly fill out the data collection form:


If you have them, add your data to this template:
1. Do the antenna sticking out of the corals in the photos bother you?
2. What do you feed your tank?
3. How frequently do you feed your tank?
4. Do you add powdered or liquid coral foods to your tank?
5. Do you use an automatic feeder?
6. Does your tank employ mechanical filtration?
7. Does your tank have any pest-eating fish (CB Butterfly fish, wrasses, etc.)?


Background:
I've got these worms in my current tank and I'm trying to understand why some people say they are not a problem and others take issue with them & report problems. Before I start moving rock and corals from my old tank into my new tank, I want to know more about the systems that have them that report they are not an issue and some reefer's perceptions.

I have several working theories:

1. Certain fish may be keeping their populations in check
2. Feeding practices may be effecting their populations
3. Filtration practices / tank management may be keeping them in check
4. Specific reefers have a larger tolerance for a "natural look"

According to research, these are quite prevalent on the reefs so I think they are likely in a lot of tanks out there, but I suspect the people who report they are not an issue are reefing in a way that keeps their populations managed or just don't care about them.

 

[eggie]

Yes I have them only in 1 coral Bill Murray acro
I believe it enables its growth and make the coral deform

1. Do the antenna sticking out of the corals in the photos bother you?
No
2. What do you feed your tank?
Phyto, Coral Vitalizer, Reef Roids or Benepets
3. How frequently do you feed your tank?
Everyday a different option
4. Do you add powdered or liquid coral foods to your tank?
Both
5. Do you use an automatic feeder?
No
6. Does your tank employ mechanical filtration?
Yes Skimmer,Filter Roller and Carbon
7. Does your tank have any pest-eating fish (CB Butterfly fish, wrasses, etc.)?
Yellow Coris, Spring Jerry Damsel and Fox Face but they dont bother with spinoids

 

[Reefer Matt]

I have them in my frag tank. I consider them a pest, but not a high level one. I don’t really feed the coral anything, I just feed the fish flakes. My plan is to frag the infected spots from the coral, and discard the infected area. They do multiply at a moderate rate.

 

[kyreefville]

1 no
2 flake and frozen
3 3-5 times daily
4 no
5 no
6 yes filter floss
7 no pest eating fish

Tank is to new to say it’s under control but for now it’s ok. Compared to spirobid worms those other ones are few but growing. I don’t know if coral boring! But I assume the worst.

 

[trevorhiller]

1 no
2 flake and frozen
3 3-5 times daily
4 no
5 no
6 yes filter floss
7 no pest eating fish

Tank is to new to say it’s under control but for now it’s ok. Compared to spirobid worms those other ones are few but growing. I don’t know if coral boring! But I assume the worst.

Did you see the photos above? The coral boring worms are specifically the ones I’m referring to. They seem to cause a lot of damage to the corals and really alter the growth patterns of them.

 

[trevorhiller]

I have them in my frag tank. I consider them a pest, but not a high level one. I don’t really feed the coral anything, I just feed the fish flakes. My plan is to frag the infected spots from the coral, and discard the infected area. They do multiply at a moderate rate.

I heard recently on Reef Bum’s last live stream that Chris Meckley has killed them off as a side effect of feeding fenbendazole laced flake food.

I’m going to give it a whirl and see if I can knock them back a little bit because they really annoy me.

 

[SomeWobbles]

I heard recently on Reef Bum’s last live stream that Chris Meckley has killed them off as a side effect of feeding fenbendazole laced flake food.

I’m going to give it a whirl and see if I can knock them back a little bit because they really annoy me.

Have you tried this with success?

 

[trevorhiller]

Have you tried this with success?

I’m trying it right now. I just bought the food the food about a week or so ago and I’ve added a small pinch of food to the tank about 4-5 times.

I haven’t noticed any die off yet, but I am taking this very slow because it is a 3 year old established tank that I don’t want to mess up.

I have a decent amount of coral boring worms likely due to not using mechanical filtration on this tank so it may take a while before I notice a difference though [if it works].

 

[fendanto]

If they're only found on your coral, I would recommend an ivermectin dip. LPS and SPS both tolerate treatment incredibly well. Overdosing isn't a concern. I use 30 units of 1% ivermectin per gallon with constant, moderate flow for about 45 minutes to an hour. Works great. Polyps don't even retract usually.

 

[SomeWobbles]

If they're only found on your coral, I would recommend an ivermectin dip. LPS and SPS both tolerate treatment incredibly well. Overdosing isn't a concern. I use 30 units of 1% ivermectin per gallon with constant, moderate flow for about 45 minutes to an hour. Works great. Polyps don't even retract usually.

Does this get rid of the worms completely?

 

[fendanto]

Does this get rid of the worms completely?

Yes, it does. Search for spionids and ivermectin on here and you'll find a couple of other threads where we've discussed this. I've treated 3 specimens in the past month and no signs of recurrence.