Flatworm eating fish for a nano?

[4n6doc]

I’ve got a fairly new 20 gallon tank, started on 12/10/2021. I’ve been battling flatworms for a few months now and their population is beginning to get worrisome. Everything in the tank is going well, parameters are good, etc.
I was using flatworm exit as a dip, which was fairly successful but I must have missed some because they are rebounding hard. At this point, the corals are too established for me to take all the rock out. I’m very nervous about using flatworm exit directly in such a small tank, as I’m sure you know…things happen very quickly.
I currently have no fish, just two cleaner shrimp, a couple hermits, and some snails. I know both six line and Springer’s damsels are great for flatworms, but I’m concerned about aggression. Is there anything I can do besides dose the tank itself to deal with this issue?

 

[jda]

Even flatworm eating fish cannot really keep up as their numbers get big. Wrasses are your best bet, but not too many are cool in a 20g for long. 6 lines are complete jerks. I have never had problems with springers damsels.

You can siphon them to help.

Velvet nudibrach only eat flatworms, but can be hard to find all of the time. They will die when they get all that they can get.

 

[thomas_neil]

I’ve got a fairly new 20 gallon tank, started on 12/10/2021. I’ve been battling flatworms for a few months now and their population is beginning to get worrisome. Everything in the tank is going well, parameters are good, etc.
I was using flatworm exit as a dip, which was fairly successful but I must have missed some because they are rebounding hard. At this point, the corals are too established for me to take all the rock out. I’m very nervous about using flatworm exit directly in such a small tank, as I’m sure you know…things happen very quickly.
I currently have no fish, just two cleaner shrimp, a couple hermits, and some snails. I know both six line and Springer’s damsels are great for flatworms, but I’m concerned about aggression. Is there anything I can do besides dose the tank itself to deal with this issue?

I’ve heard of gobies eating flat worms. You could look into them. I think a wrass in a smaller tank would get territorial.

 

[Lividfanatica]

Possum Wrasse - My Yellow Banded is a model citizen and hunts all day. Great fish for tanks as small as 15 gallons or so.

 

[dking271]

A Six Line wrasse would make fast work of a flatworms in a 20 gallon tank. I have had many that were model citizens and a few that were not. You could always use the fish to eliminate the flatworms and then trade him back to your LFS. I Have never had one that went after cleaner shrimp or hermits. I haven’t seen a flatworm or bristleworms in any tank that has housed a six Line. A possum wrasse would be a great choice as well.

 

[Nano sapiens]

Typically, what you describe would be 'Red Planaria'. The blooms are often intense, but they are self-limiting and will subside in time as the system matures.

To speed up the reduction process, keep lighting low (or off if there are no photosynthetic organisms), manage nutrients (always remove any uneaten food). One old school trick that is seemingly forgotten is to turn off the lights and shine a spotlight into an accessible corner. The FWs will migrate to the light where they can be easily siphoned out.

Old School reef keeping wisdom says don't use chemicals if other effective measures will work. Especially true for these FWs since you have not just the product chemicals, but also the nasty toxins released by the dieing animals.

 

[Lividfanatica]

Typically, what you describe would be 'Red Planaria'. The blooms are often intense, but they are self-limiting and will subside in time as the system matures.

To speed up the reduction process, keep lighting low (or off if there are no photosynthetic organisms), manage nutrients (always remove any uneaten food). One old school trick that is seemingly forgotten is to turn off the lights and shine a spotlight into an accessible corner. The FWs will migrate to the light where they can be easily siphoned out.

Old School reef keeping wisdom says don't use chemicals if other effective measures will work. Especially true for these FWs since you have not just the product chemicals, but also the nasty toxins released by the dieing animals.

Totally agree with this - I used FlatWormStop for red/brown planaria in my tank several times and it never fully killed off the worms. In addition, between the FWS and the toxins from the flatworms... my coral were significantly ticked off. Suggest a small wrasse as well as general "good husbandry" as Nano suggests. Proper feedings and good CuC. My wrasse keeps the worms out of my display but I still have plenty in the corner of my sump where sunlight hits it. They don't bother anything back there, so I don't bother them.

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

Chrysiptera springeri are always good for flatworms. Of course, no fish or invert will solve pests, they just keep them at bay.

 

[4n6doc]

Typically, what you describe would be 'Red Planaria'. The blooms are often intense, but they are self-limiting and will subside in time as the system matures.

To speed up the reduction process, keep lighting low (or off if there are no photosynthetic organisms), manage nutrients (always remove any uneaten food). One old school trick that is seemingly forgotten is to turn off the lights and shine a spotlight into an accessible corner. The FWs will migrate to the light where they can be easily siphoned out.

Old School reef keeping wisdom says don't use chemicals if other effective measures will work. Especially true for these FWs since you have not just the product chemicals, but also the nasty toxins released by the dieing animals.

Really sound advice, thank you for sharing! I’m definitely going to give that a try the next few nights. I’m in a bit of a pickle as far as lights go - I have a lot of photosynthetic corals, so I’d really tick them off if I messed with the lights. I’m not so sure they’re red planaria they are kind of greenish/tan in color and they have a bright red dot towards their two “tails”. Either way, they gotta go. Thanks again, really appreciate it!

 

[4n6doc]

Totally agree with this - I used FlatWormStop for red/brown planaria in my tank several times and it never fully killed off the worms. In addition, between the FWS and the toxins from the flatworms... my coral were significantly ticked off. Suggest a small wrasse as well as general "good husbandry" as Nano suggests. Proper feedings and good CuC. My wrasse keeps the worms out of my display but I still have plenty in the corner of my sump where sunlight hits it. They don't bother anything back there, so I don't bother them.

Yeah, it sounds like a good idea to me. I might have some trouble finding a possum wrasse, but it certainly sounds like the best fit in conjunction with siphoning them out myself. I had an experience like yours, just using flatworm exit as a dip. It was “mostly” effective. No use risking it for a “mostly” effective chemical.

 

[4n6doc]

Chrysiptera springeri are always good for flatworms. Of course, no fish or invert will solve pests, they just keep them at bay.

Haha, I’d be perfectly happy with keeping them at bay. Have you had one? I read they can be aggressive.

 

[4n6doc]

A Six Line wrasse would make fast work of a flatworms in a 20 gallon tank. I have had many that were model citizens and a few that were not. You could always use the fish to eliminate the flatworms and then trade him back to your LFS. I Have never had one that went after cleaner shrimp or hermits. I haven’t seen a flatworm or bristleworms in any tank that has housed a six Line. A possum wrasse would be a great choice as well.

I’m considering that as an option too - borrowing a six line for the time being and seeing how it goes…trading them back if they get too aggressive or if the problem resolves.

 

[4n6doc]

Even flatworm eating fish cannot really keep up as their numbers get big. Wrasses are your best bet, but not too many are cool in a 20g for long. 6 lines are complete jerks. I have never had problems with springers damsels.

You can siphon them to help.

Velvet nudibrach only eat flatworms, but can be hard to find all of the time. They will die when they get all that they can get.

I’ve been siphoning them out, but looking at the tank today…it’s clear I’m going to need some help.
I had a six line in a previous nano and it was a freakin nightmare, hence my hesitation to try that again. I think either a springer or the possum wrasse might be the right choice to help manage the population.

 

[AlienGhost]

My yellow coris made a noticeable dent in my flatworm population, and has been a total gentleman towards tank mates.

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

I haven't had one before, but one of my LFS keeps at least one in every display tank. They say that they do an excellent job of eating pests, and cause no trouble with the other fish. Most damsels make piranhas look friendly, but these are actually known for being rather timid. I don't have one because my tank is fully stocked without one, but I'm upgrading soon, and one or two are on my stocklist.

 

[Lividfanatica]

Really sound advice, thank you for sharing! I’m definitely going to give that a try the next few nights. I’m in a bit of a pickle as far as lights go - I have a lot of photosynthetic corals, so I’d really tick them off if I messed with the lights. I’m not so sure they’re red planaria they are kind of greenish/tan in color and they have a bright red dot towards their two “tails”. Either way, they gotta go. Thanks again, really appreciate it!

Shoot - i said Flatworm Stop... but i MEANT FlatwormExit... sorry - too many products floating around in my head lol.

 

[Nano sapiens]

Really sound advice, thank you for sharing! I’m definitely going to give that a try the next few nights. I’m in a bit of a pickle as far as lights go - I have a lot of photosynthetic corals, so I’d really tick them off if I messed with the lights. I’m not so sure they’re red planaria they are kind of greenish/tan in color and they have a bright red dot towards their two “tails”. Either way, they gotta go. Thanks again, really appreciate it!

'Reddish Rust/Olive Green Planaria' is perhaps more descriptive. Usually 2 tailed, but sometimes 3 tailed.

When your aquarium lights are off, shine a flashlight or desklamp where ever you want them to congregate and siphon away!

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

'Reddish Rust/Olive Green Planaria' is perhaps more descriptive. Usually 2 tailed, but sometimes 3 tailed.

When your aquarium lights are off, shine a flashlight or desklamp where ever you want them to congregate and siphon away!

Old post, but does this actually help?

 

[Nano sapiens]

Old post, but does this actually help?

Yes, indeed. Just need to keep doing it until the population is controlled.