Flat worms- what eats them

[Katspaw]

Okay help me out here, I just noticed I have flat worms in the tank.

I know that there are some creatures that eat these guys, But not really sure of their names. Also I have a wrasse in the tank that doesn't seem to like them. Any suggestions??

Tracey

 

[danmhippo]

I have heard that mandarins will pick them off, but have never seen or witness myself, and I would not recommend them either. The easiest way to do it is take the coral/LR out and give them a freshwater dip. Shake vigorously while you are giving a FW dip. That along should be able to rid most of the flatworms in one attempt. Repeat a couple days later if necessary.

Good Luck

 

[slojmn1]

My lfs has a gnarly red flatworm outbreak in one of its display tanks. I noticed last time I was in there that they had a spotted mandarin in the tank and I actually saw it eat one of the red flatworms. The tank was still infested with them, but not as many as they had two weeks ago. I believe it really is a crapshoot with the Mandarins or the Wrasses as to whether they will go for the flatworms. I personally would not get a Mandarin for the job of eradicating flatworms. I would get one because my tank could support one and it was a fish I planned for and really wanted. I would try the freshwater dip but it might not be feasible with your tank as I am sure many of your rocks have sps corals on them as well as other life. You are changing tanks soon right? or did you already? I can't remember... if you have not made the change yet maybe the fresh water dips might work for a large part of the problem as you are making changes in your tank to the new tank. Then you could siphon up a lot of the other ones hanging out in places that you cannot take apart to dip. Hope this makes sense. I hurt my back and had to resort to drugs to help today so I am slow and somewhat dimwitted at the moment

 

[Katspaw]

Thanks guys for the replies, actually A mandrin is one fish tant has always been on my list to get, but I don't want to kill anything so have thought more than twice about it.

The more I look the more I see, I haven't moved to the new tank yet, THat will be sometime in December or after thanksgiving. I am into day four of filling it and it is going oh so slow. Need a bigger R/O unit

I don't want to wait that long to rid my self of these things. they are so tiny. And this tank is sooo full. Guess I will tak to one of my suppliers and see what they think. Thanks

Tracey