Crazy new creature - identify and advise please

Michael Brown · Dec 4, 2017

I have a bunch of these little creatures. I took these close up pics and videos and clearly they are animals - What are they? They look like little moving tubes. They tend to cluster like roaches.

Good or bad? If bad, how do i get rid of them? Help! Thanks!

S-t-r-e-t-c-h · Dec 4, 2017

Planaria flatworms. Not directly harmful, but a pain as they can multiply fast enough to smother your other organisms in the tank. Here's a good link on how to deal with them.

http://www.melevsreef.com/articles/how-to-eliminate-flatworms-red-planaria

There are chemical methods to get rid of them, but you have to be very careful as they can nuke your tank if enough die at once.
There are also wrasse that will eat them, as well as a specific species of nudibranch (which creates its own issues)... Good luck!

Michael Brown · Dec 4, 2017

S-t-r-e-t-c-h said:
Planaria flatworms. Not directly harmful, but a pain as they can multiply fast enough to smother your other organisms in the tank. Here's a good link on how to deal with them.

http://www.melevsreef.com/articles/how-to-eliminate-flatworms-red-planaria

There are chemical methods to get rid of them, but you have to be very careful as they can nuke your tank if enough die at once.
There are also wrasse that will eat them, as well as a specific species of nudibranch (which creates its own issues)... Good luck!

Thank you!!! Man its always something...Bristle worms now planaria worms.

ifarmer · Dec 4, 2017

Its flatworm. Just not good for the tank. Its less harmful than the actual acro eating flat worm but its bad for your tank.

Hersheyb · Dec 5, 2017

Yup flatworm, I️ love wrasses.. have 4 of them n they take care of those pest

Salty1962 · Dec 6, 2017

Bristle worms are great CUC.

Michael Brown · Dec 8, 2017

Salty1962 said:
Bristle worms are great CUC.

On toast maybe - lol.

Salty1962 · Dec 8, 2017

Michael Brown said:
On toast maybe - lol.

They may be creepy, have a nasty sting but they are a very good part of your CUC. Just imagine losing livestock in an area where you have no access, who's going to clean it up so your tank doesn't turn on you, Bristle Worms! Or clean up after you accidently put too much fish food in your tank, Bristle worms. So they are good!