Are These Flatworms?

William Morris · Feb 13, 2021

Just noticed these on the skeleton of my hammer.
Are these flatworms?

lapin · Feb 13, 2021

Could be. Im old and dont have great eyes no more. Try dipping it to see if they fall off

ScottR · Feb 13, 2021

I typically see flatworms as much smaller. Can you take it out and dip it? Looks recently glued?

William Morris · Feb 13, 2021

Yes, I put it up there about a week ago.
I have Coral RX or Revive to use as a dip.
Any preference?

Probably want to wait on confirmation if I can get it before dipping.

Sdot · Feb 13, 2021

William Morris said:
Just noticed these on the skeleton of my hammer.
Are these flatworms?

Touch them with something... like an acrylic rod. If they move..... you have your answer.

ScottR · Feb 13, 2021

Do they move? Flatworms won’t be stationary. A dip won’t hurt. Either dip will work.

William Morris · Feb 13, 2021

ScottR said:
Do they move? Flatworms won’t be stationary. A dip won’t hurt. Either dip will work.

I took a dental scraper and rubbed it - they don't move and I can't scrape it off the skeleton.
Are they typically this size? I thought they were much smaller.

I do have a lot of new coralline algae growing everywhere now - perhaps that's what it is.

ScottR · Feb 13, 2021

William Morris said:
I took a dental scraper and rubbed it - they don't move and I can't scrape it off the skeleton.
Are they typically this size? I thought they were much smaller.

I do have a lot of new coralline algae growing everywhere now - perhaps that's what it is.

It’s not coralline from the looks. If you scraped them and they didn’t move, definitely not flatworms. Hard to find this info but it’s common to foraminifera on euphyllia.

William Morris · Feb 13, 2021

ScottR said:
It’s not coralline from the looks. If you scraped them and they didn’t move, definitely not flatworms. Hard to find this info but it’s common to foraminifera on euphyllia.

What is foraminifera - good, bad, or indifferent?