Help with Flatworms

[DennisL]

I have lots of these little things on several of my corals. Not on every coral, but several corals are just totally infested.

Are these flatworms? And regardless of what they are, does anyone have suggestions on how to get rid of them?

 

[davelin315]

Look like flatworms to me (the picture's kind of fuzzy). Haven't had them in my tank because I try and avoid purchasing from places that have obvious flatworm problems, either that, or somebody I have is eating them. I know there are a couple of species out there that do eat them, but I'm not sure what they are. Maybe a slug? Can't remember. If I think of it, I'll tell you. Otherwise, do a search for flatworm on the internet or on this site.

By the way, if they are flatworms, they will spread. They'll cover your substrate, your glass, your corals, your snails, you name it, they'll be there.

[ August 17, 2001: Message edited by: davelin315 ]

 

[danmhippo]

I do not have a solution for you either. Some nudibranch eat it, but are hard to come by these days now. I used to have heavy infestation but got rid of it. You do not want to try my method, cause I got rid of them by accident. My tank water accidentally went up to 92-94F Killed a bunch of corals, hard & softies. In this, flat worms and aips are wiped out as a bonus.

 

[Dewey]

Very hard to get rid of flatworms. Syphon them and get your water perfect so they wont have much to live on.
Flying Fish is selling the nubibranch that is reported to each flatworms. I have never tried it. Anyone?
Flying Fish Express-Collector's Corner
Link is to their page with all their special stuff. Its listed as the "Flatworm Eating Varians Nudibranch $29.

 

[sally1]

I bought the flatworm eating nudibranch from Flying Fish for my flatworm infestion. My advice is to not get one. After being in the tank for two days I never saw it again. They float around the tank if the tank has any current and end up going in an overflow or powerhead. It was an expensive lesson.

 

[chris_crawford]

I had a bad breakout of flat worms, but it seems they have mostly gone away. I think my Royal Gramma(?) has been eating them but I'm not sure. I only feed him a couple of times a week, but he's getting bigger and bigger. I see him picking things off the glass every now and them, and I think it may be the flat worms. Just my theory though. -chris

 

[Rick O]

I had a mild case of flatworms a few months ago. I did nothing about it and now I have very few of them. You might try making sure that you have good circulation to all parts of the tank. Mine only appear in areas of less water flow.

I also had them in the sump of my prop tank. I put a 6-line wrasse in there and don't feed him. I think he does eat them but he hasn't eliminated them completely in the few months he's been in there.

Rick

 

[Nostrathomas]

Try shaking your mushroom anemones vigorously in a separate bucket.Some corals can be freshwater dipped but I am unsure which one

Sychiropus picturatus(psychedelic mandarin)Have been known to feed on these also.If you have The Reef Aqaurium vol.1 it has more on these.

 

[Nostrathomas]

Try shaking your mushroom anemones vigorously in a separate bucket.Some corals can be freshwater dipped but I am unsure which one

Sychiropus picturatus(psychedelic mandarin)Have been known to feed on these also.If you have The Reef Aqaurium vol.1 it has more on these.

 

[sub trate]

I have SEEN six Line wrasse's pluck flatworms off in no time.......in a few cases........In one case I saw a mandarin doing a number on them......Anyone else?

 

[DennisL]

Thanks everyone. I still want more ideas

, but these are great. I checked out TRA, Vol 1, p. 290-94. Great section on the parasitic and non-parasitic forms. There's several methods for removal: the most attractive (to me) being a 5-10 second freshwater dip. TRA says "Such dips work best on mushroom anemones, stony corals and the tougher soft corals..." TRA also says raising the SG above 1.022 will rid your tank of them. Uh.... I run my tank at 1.025 all the time and the flatworms are doing very nicely

Biologically, TRA mentions Six-Lined Wrasses, the Yellow Wrasse and the Leopard Wrasse.
Thanks again for the suggestions. I will try a freshwater dip tomorrow on a couple corals. Anyone have any experience with any nudibranchs or other biological solution?

 

[DennisL]

!!!! UNBELIEVABLE !!!!!

But first, thank you to everyone who offered suggestions, or even just commiserated with my flatworm problem.

I just finished giving a freshwater dip to my mushrooms (seen above) and a badly infested very large cynarina. As soon as I put the corals in the dip, it was like THE GREAT MIGRATION. The flatworms, in droves, instantly left their host. Some vigorous shaking and they were flying off the host.

Both the cynarina and the shrooms are pretty closed up, it's only been about 10 minutes since the dips. I'll post some "after" shots when they open up more. I hope this doesn't fall into the The operation was a success, although the patient died category.

Thanks again,
Dennis