Can someone ID this for me?
- Thread starter renato120
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Elysium
Well-Known Member
Convolutriloba retrogemma flatworms
Generally benign, but can irritate corals. Some good reading here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fltwmid.htm
Generally benign, but can irritate corals. Some good reading here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fltwmid.htm
Elysium
Well-Known Member
From Anthony Calfo:
"...Book of Coral Propagation, Vol. 1 on these so-called "Rust-Brown Planaria": "Rust Brown Planarians are just one such example of a nuisance organism that needs to be monitored if not controlled. This flatworm is usually 1/8 to ?" in size (~3-6mm) with a color ranging from orange through red to brown. It is cited in aquarium literature as Convolutriloba retrogemma and considered to be a pest because it can expand in population to plague proportions in a matter of a few short months. Populations get so dense that they occur in crowded mats that literally block necessary sunlight and circulatory functions from the corals that are forced to serve as perches for them. They are said to ingest zooxanthellae from decaying coral tissue and prosper under bright illumination. They dislike strong water flow and are often noticed in the areas of weakest water movement in an infected display. Increased water movement alone in otherwise properly maintained aquariums can sometimes reduce the population of flatworms. Aggressive protein skimming also helps to control the population of this annoying pest. It has also been demonstrated that low salinity impedes the growth of flatworm populations but at the expense of other desirable invertebrates in the display if applied as a long bath.
...Natural predation may help but is somewhat unpredictable. Dragonets (Synchiropus species) and Leopard wrasses (Macropharyngodon species) have been used with varying degrees of success. Both fishes are truly in need of care by advanced aquarists. Leopard wrasses and dragonets will survive very well in systems with refugiums generating copious amounts of zooplankton as well. Chelidonura species of sea slugs have also been cited as excellent natural predators, but acquiring an effective species is difficult for many livestock resellers, as collectors often lump various Nudibranchs into an assorted category. The result is that numerous species of sea slugs unsuitable for captivity get imported in an effort to acquire just one that eats this species of flatworm. Manual siphoning is moderately effective but laborious. The truth of the matter is that such flatworms are common and present in many tanks. They will wax and wane and rarely linger in a large sustainable population. If a system is aggressively scrubbed with a protein skimmer, properly fed and not overstocked, the colony of pest flatworms will most likely crash within a couple of months. Support in the meantime through occasional siphoning, increased water flow and a natural predator (if it is suitable for the system and tank mates) is likely to make this frighteningly unpleasant symptom a truly small concern."
"...Book of Coral Propagation, Vol. 1 on these so-called "Rust-Brown Planaria": "Rust Brown Planarians are just one such example of a nuisance organism that needs to be monitored if not controlled. This flatworm is usually 1/8 to ?" in size (~3-6mm) with a color ranging from orange through red to brown. It is cited in aquarium literature as Convolutriloba retrogemma and considered to be a pest because it can expand in population to plague proportions in a matter of a few short months. Populations get so dense that they occur in crowded mats that literally block necessary sunlight and circulatory functions from the corals that are forced to serve as perches for them. They are said to ingest zooxanthellae from decaying coral tissue and prosper under bright illumination. They dislike strong water flow and are often noticed in the areas of weakest water movement in an infected display. Increased water movement alone in otherwise properly maintained aquariums can sometimes reduce the population of flatworms. Aggressive protein skimming also helps to control the population of this annoying pest. It has also been demonstrated that low salinity impedes the growth of flatworm populations but at the expense of other desirable invertebrates in the display if applied as a long bath.
...Natural predation may help but is somewhat unpredictable. Dragonets (Synchiropus species) and Leopard wrasses (Macropharyngodon species) have been used with varying degrees of success. Both fishes are truly in need of care by advanced aquarists. Leopard wrasses and dragonets will survive very well in systems with refugiums generating copious amounts of zooplankton as well. Chelidonura species of sea slugs have also been cited as excellent natural predators, but acquiring an effective species is difficult for many livestock resellers, as collectors often lump various Nudibranchs into an assorted category. The result is that numerous species of sea slugs unsuitable for captivity get imported in an effort to acquire just one that eats this species of flatworm. Manual siphoning is moderately effective but laborious. The truth of the matter is that such flatworms are common and present in many tanks. They will wax and wane and rarely linger in a large sustainable population. If a system is aggressively scrubbed with a protein skimmer, properly fed and not overstocked, the colony of pest flatworms will most likely crash within a couple of months. Support in the meantime through occasional siphoning, increased water flow and a natural predator (if it is suitable for the system and tank mates) is likely to make this frighteningly unpleasant symptom a truly small concern."
WetWhistle
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 13, 2015
- Messages
- 741
- Reaction score
- 482
I would try manual removal or fish. If you have a large amount of them and you treat with something like flatworm stop or flatworm exit and they have a mass die off they can crash your tank. As most species are toxic and will release this into the water. I fine some wrasse and even mandarin fish do a good job. Melanurus wrasse, green wrasse (with caution), sixline, leopard wrasse have worked in the past for me.
For manual removal I have shut off all lights in the room and on the tank except a small clamp on light on one side shining down. After a few hours most of them have crossed the tank as they are attracted to the light. In the mean time i sharpen a plastic tube that old school skimmers use and find some aitline tubing and attache it to one end. I start a siphon and start sucking them up. This sometimes needs a few treatments.
For manual removal I have shut off all lights in the room and on the tank except a small clamp on light on one side shining down. After a few hours most of them have crossed the tank as they are attracted to the light. In the mean time i sharpen a plastic tube that old school skimmers use and find some aitline tubing and attache it to one end. I start a siphon and start sucking them up. This sometimes needs a few treatments.
OP
OP
renato120
Valuable Member
I just got a melanurus wrasse. Im not placing him in my dt. The flat worms are only in my refugium. The wrasse went under sand, so tomorrow I will check if He is doing the job.
Thank you for the help guys.
Thank you for the help guys.
