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Waminoa Coral Flatworms (Waminoa spp.) ARTICLE

Waminoa Coral Flatworms (Waminoa spp.)

Waminoa are small flatworms that sit on coral tissue and can cause chronic irritation and shading, especially when populations build up.

Reefapedia 1 min read
Waminoa Coral Flatworms (Waminoa spp.)
Vermetid Snails (Vermetidae spp.) ARTICLE

Vermetid Snails (Vermetidae spp.)

Vermetid snails are tube-dwelling pests that spread on rock and frag plugs and irritate corals with sticky mucus webs.

Reefapedia 1 min read
Vermetid Snails (Vermetidae spp.)
Red Planaria Flatworms ARTICLE

Red Planaria Flatworms

Red planaria are common nuisance flatworms that multiply quickly in low-flow, detritus-rich areas. Heavy infestations can shade and irritate corals, and large die-offs during...

Reefapedia 4 min read
Red Planaria Flatworms
Vermetid Snails ARTICLE

Vermetid Snails

Vermetid snails are tube-dwelling pests that spread on rock and frag plugs and feed with sticky mucus webs. Their webs can irritate corals and...

Reefapedia 4 min read
Vermetid Snails
Aiptasia ARTICLE

Aiptasia

Aiptasia are fast-spreading pest anemones that hitchhike into reef tanks and sting corals. Catch and control them early—once established, they’re difficult to eradicate.

Reefapedia 4 min read
Aiptasia
Red Planaria (Convolutriloba retrogemma) ARTICLE

Red Planaria (Convolutriloba retrogemma)

Rust-Brown Flatworms / Red Planaria are common nuisance flatworms that multiply fast in low-flow areas and can irritate corals or foul the tank during...

Reefapedia 1 min read
Red Planaria (Convolutriloba retrogemma)
Predatory Oenone Worm (Oenone fulgida) ARTICLE

Predatory Oenone Worm (Oenone fulgida)

Oenone worms are hidden predators often blamed for unexplained snail losses and empty shells in reef tanks.

Reefapedia 1 min read
Predatory Oenone Worm (Oenone fulgida)
Bobbit Worm (Eunice aphroditois) ARTICLE

Bobbit Worm (Eunice aphroditois)

Bobbit worms are rare but notorious ambush predators that hide deep in rock or sand and can cause mysterious fish and invert losses.

Reefapedia 1 min read
Bobbit Worm (Eunice aphroditois)
Bearded Fireworm (Hermodice carunculata) ARTICLE

Bearded Fireworm (Hermodice carunculata)

Bearded fireworms are predatory, stinging polychaetes that can damage corals and eat inverts, and they’re not the “normal” bristleworm you ignore.

Reefapedia 1 min read
Bearded Fireworm (Hermodice carunculata)
Bristleworms (Eurythoe spp.) ARTICLE

Bristleworms (Eurythoe spp.)

Bristleworms are common reef hitchhikers that usually help clean detritus, but large individuals and certain species can become nuisance pests.

Reefapedia 1 min read
Bristleworms (Eurythoe spp.)
Spirobid Worms (Spirorbidae spp.) ARTICLE

Spirobid Worms (Spirorbidae spp.)

Spirorbid worms are tiny white spiral tube worms that commonly appear in reef tanks and are usually harmless hitchhikers.

Reefapedia 1 min read
Spirobid Worms (Spirorbidae spp.)
Lymphocystis (Lymphocystivirus) ARTICLE

Lymphocystis (Lymphocystivirus)

Lymphocystis is a stress-linked viral condition that causes cauliflower-like nodules on fins or skin and often looks scary but is usually not deadly and...

Reefapedia 1 min read
Lymphocystis (Lymphocystivirus)
Marine Leeches (Piscicolidae; e.g., Trachelobdella spp.) ARTICLE

Marine Leeches (Piscicolidae; e.g., Trachelobdella spp.)

Marine leeches are external parasites that attach to fish and cause wounds, stress, and sometimes heavy breathing when near gills, and a visible leech...

Reefapedia 1 min read
Marine Leeches (Piscicolidae; e.g., Trachelobdella spp.)
Skin Flukes (Benedenia spp.) ARTICLE

Skin Flukes (Benedenia spp.)

Benedenia skin flukes cause chronic scratching, mucus buildup, and stressed, faded-looking fish, and they can persist in systems without proper quarantine and follow-through.

Reefapedia 1 min read
Skin Flukes (Benedenia spp.)
Eye/Skin Flukes (Neobenedenia melleni) ARTICLE

Eye/Skin Flukes (Neobenedenia melleni)

Neobenedenia flukes are contagious skin and eye parasites that cause flashing, excess mucus, and cloudy eyes, and they’re often missed because they look like...

Reefapedia 1 min read
Eye/Skin Flukes (Neobenedenia melleni)
Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) ARTICLE

Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans)

Marine ich is a contagious parasite that causes white “salt grain” spots, flashing, and breathing stress in saltwater fish. It can cycle in the...

Reefapedia 1 min read
Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans)
Hydroids ARTICLE

Hydroids

Hydroids are stinging colonial polyps that hitchhike into reef tanks and can spread across plugs, racks, and rockwork. They often irritate corals and cause...

Reefapedia 4 min read
Hydroids
Myrionema Hydroids ARTICLE

Myrionema Hydroids

Myrionema hydroids are stinging colonial polyps that often spread around zoa mats and frag plugs, causing localized zoanthid irritation and persistent closure. They thrive...

Reefapedia 4 min read
Myrionema Hydroids
Christmas-Tree Hydroid ARTICLE

Christmas-Tree Hydroid

Fire/Christmas-tree hydroids are stinging Pennaria colonies that look like tiny feathery “mini trees” on plugs, racks, and sump/overflow surfaces. They can irritate corals—and sting...

Reefapedia 4 min read
Christmas-Tree Hydroid
Zoanthid-Eating Nudibranch ARTICLE

Zoanthid-Eating Nudibranch

Zoanthid-eating nudibranchs are tiny, camouflaged predators that eat zoa polyps and can wipe colonies fast. They hide in mats and lay eggs, so outbreaks...

Reefapedia 4 min read
Zoanthid-Eating Nudibranch
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