Euphyllia eating flatworms :(

[starfishguy869]

Today I looked at my torch coral and saw a massive flatworm on the flesh band of the coral. I have never encountered flatworms and I am worried because my torch is closed up and looks annoyed. If anyone has tips, please help. Thank you. Currently dipping in TLF Revive

 

[Lavey29]

Get a 6 line

 

[starfishguy869]

Too bad, tank is only 12 gallons and I think a six line would be too much. That would be nice though because I also have some pyramid snails in the tank.

 

[Lavey29]

Too bad, tank is only 12 gallons and I think a six line would be too much. That would be nice though because I also have some pyramid snails in the tank.

Banded shrimp would get them too

 

[starfishguy869]

Yeah, but my yellow clown goby is quite slow and I am afraid that it will get eaten

 

[starfishguy869]

I think I am going to dip it every two days. I am wondering if the flatworms will wander off or will stay attached to the torch coral.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Today I looked at my torch coral and saw a massive flatworm on the flesh band of the coral. I have never encountered flatworms and I am worried because my torch is closed up and looks annoyed. If anyone has tips, please help. Thank you. Currently dipping in TLF Revive

These flatworms as you figured are a grand nuisance. When in numbers can ingest flesh of skeleton, smother bases of coral and block the needed light for production of zooxanthellae which is part of their energy source.
Removal can be accomplished by siphoning them with a 3/8" tubing into a nylon stocking and discard
OR
Add a wrasse such as Yellow coris, 6 line, lunare or malanurus OR even a springieri damsel which will eat them

For the next 2 weeks you will have to look for eggs and scrape off as there is likely some and would be future acoels. Eggs are really tiny

 

[BristleWormHater]

Pink streaked wrasse could work for this tank size.
Blue velvet nudibranch will eat these- please note that blue velvet nudis only eat flatworms and once they run out they will starve, so you'll have to re-home it quickly. Also make sure to run carbon with these guys, they can secrete toxins. Make sure to keep them happy because if they die, your tank will be in bad shape, they release a bunch of toxins when they die. I would only use one of these as a last resort.

 

[Devin6871]

By massive do you mean one of the ones that is grey colored and can stretch to inches long?

If so, in my experience, dipping will not work. When you dip the coral it will retreat to between the polyp and stony base of the coral. Hiding out until things calm down and it comes out again.

Physical removal is likely the best treatment in this case. If possible isolate the coral on a frag rack and try to notice when the worm is out. They can split easily and survive a split as well so handle carefully.

I've used rubber tipped long tweezers to moderate success. I lost a torch in the battle but the rest of my euphyllia survived. (until I had a tank collapse a few years later)

 

[starfishguy869]

By massive do you mean one of the ones that is grey colored and can stretch to inches long?

If so, in my experience, dipping will not work. When you dip the coral it will retreat to between the polyp and stony base of the coral. Hiding out until things calm down and it comes out again.

Physical removal is likely the best treatment in this case. If possible isolate the coral on a frag rack and try to notice when the worm is out. They can split easily and survive a split as well so handle carefully.

I've used rubber tipped long tweezers to moderate success. I lost a torch in the battle but the rest of my euphyllia survived. (until I had a tank collapse a few years later)

I think that was a bit misleading. I've seen flatworms before and they were tiny. So I thought these ones were bigger. They are not that massive. At most they are 3/4 inches.