AEFW

Definition

AEFW (Acropora-eating flatworms) are 3-5 mm tan flatworms (Amakusaplana acroporae) that feed on Acropora tissue. Bite marks appear as small white spots; advanced infestations strip tissue + leave bare skeleton.

Practical use in aquariums

Detection: blow water across acro with a turkey baster after lights-out - flatworms will be dislodged and visible. Treatment: Bayer Advanced dip every 5 days for 4-5 cycles to break the egg-hatch cycle. Quarantine all new acro for 30+ days. Wrasses (sixline, leopard, melanurus) provide some long-term control.

How AEFW fits the bigger picture

Understanding AEFW matters because it's connected to broader husbandry decisions: disease prevention is cheaper than treatment - quarantine + dipping protocols paid back the first time you avoid a tank-wide outbreak.

Browse the Fast Aquatics care library for full husbandry tutorials covering AEFW in context.