Flatworm ID (hundreds of these guys)

Jackmot · Oct 2, 2021

Hey!
So, Today I noticed a substantial amount on these guys covering most of my bottom (it's a bare bottom tank).
Should I be worried about these??
What method do you prefer in order to get rid of them??
Thanks!

MaxTremors · Oct 2, 2021

I can’t tell you what species (they don’t look like the regular red planaria) or how dangerous they are (whether they’re just a nuisance or coral eating), but your options are either a fish or invert that will eat them (wrasses, some mandarins, some crabs, and there’s a species of flatworm eating nudibranch) or use a product like flatworm exit (if you use it, follow the directions exactly, it can turn south pretty quickly if you don’t do it exactly as specified - and even then it’s risky).

Isopod80 · Oct 2, 2021

They look like Polyclad flatworms. Suck out what you can and see if that works. If not, there's always Flatworm Exit.

Jackmot · Oct 2, 2021

Thanks for the quick response!

MaxTremors said:
I can’t tell you what species (they don’t look like the regular red planaria) or how dangerous they are (whether they’re just a nuisance or coral eating), but your options are either a fish or invert that will eat them (wrasses, some mandarins, some crabs, and there’s a species of flatworm eating nudibranch) or use a product like flatworm exit (if you use it, follow the directions exactly, it can turn south pretty quickly if you don’t do it exactly as specified - and even then it’s risky).

I was thinking about a 6 line wrasse but my tank is way to small to handle it (I think). It's only 24 liters

Isopod80 said:
They look like Polyclad flatworms. Suck out what you can and see if that works. If not, there's always Flatworm Exit.

According to my very quick google search that's some really bad news haha.
My corals seem perfectly fine for the moment. I only have Pulsing Xenia, GSP and some mushrooms alongside with 3 mexican turbos. Will these guys bother any of them??

Isopod80 · Oct 2, 2021

Depends on the species of flatworm. Either way, your best bet is to remove them.

Jackmot · Oct 2, 2021

Isopod80 said:
Depends on the species of flatworm. Either way, your best bet is to remove them.

Will do! (at least try to haha)
I haven't done any water change for a month or so because of some very low nutrients but now that my tank is re-stabilizng maybe is time to do it and his looks like a very good chance to do it haha
How probable are that these release toxins if stressed or killed?

Isopod80 · Oct 2, 2021

Again, depends on the species. If you're worried about toxins run some carbon. A turkey baster works well for sucking them up off the glass between water changes.

Jackmot · Oct 2, 2021

Isopod80 said:
Again, depends on the species. If you're worried about toxins run some carbon. A turkey baster works well for sucking them up off the glass between water changes.

Looks like I have some homework then haha. I will try my best. Thanks!!
I was hoping for them to be ghost flat worms

vetteguy53081 · Oct 2, 2021

They are acoel flatworms AKA ghost flatworm. While not harmful as red planaria can still cause issues in numbers as they will congregate at the base of coral and lay eggs but also block the light from these corals which depend on zooxanthellae for color and growth.
Three efective ways to battle:
-Siphon them with a 3/8" tube
-Add a wrasse such as - Yellow Coris, lunare, 6 lined or melanurus which will eat them
-Salifert flatworm exit will kills them BUT you must siphon the dead ones daily which can release toxins

Inspect rntire coral zone daily for 2 weeks for presence of eggs which are very tiny

MaxTremors · Oct 2, 2021

Jackmot said:
Will do! (at least try to haha)
I haven't done any water change for a month or so because of some very low nutrients but now that my tank is re-stabilizng maybe is time to do it and his looks like a very good chance to do it haha
How probable are that these release toxins if stressed or killed?

They will release toxins when killed (not so much when stressed), a few dying isn’t a problem, it’s when you have a mass die-off that you run into trouble. Make sure you’re running some carbon (the directions for flatworm exit, I believe have you run carbon as soon as you see them starting to die, usually works pretty quick). Also, a sixline needs at least a 25-30 gallon tank (I have one in a 28 gallon, and it’s the absolute smallest I would go).