Flatworm ID

[ccole]

Hi everyone,

I found these two flatworms on a goniopora colony. Does anyone know what type they are?

Thank you.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

They appear to be polyclads, but let's call in the experts!

@ISpeakForTheSeas
@WheatToast

 

[Lavey29]

Looks like wrasse food to me

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

They do look like polyclad flatworms to me (though I'm not sure which species) - they're most likely ones that you would want to remove from your tank though.

 

[ccole]

I’m fairly certain they’re eating the gonis. Multiple of my colonies have been on the decline. Does anyone know if they’re able to reproduce in my tank?

I have a leopard and a melanarus wrasse they’ve managed to escape. These ones looked too big for them.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I’m fairly certain they’re eating the gonis. Multiple of my colonies have been on the decline. Does anyone know if they’re able to reproduce in my tank?

I have a leopard and a melanarus wrasse they’ve managed to escape. These ones looked too big for them.

There is a good chance they may be able to reproduce, as many polyclad flatworms hatch as fully-formed juveniles rather than pelagic larvae. These kinds of flatworms are also usually pretty good at avoiding predation because they tend to crawl around inside of and live in the rockwork of the tank.

For some good examples, you can search on here for info on leopard flatworms, which people have pop up again in their tank long after removing the ones they can find.

 

[ocboat]

Those look much too large for any reef safe wrasse to eat plus they probably only come out to feed at night when your wrasses are asleep. Good luck getting them all out.

 

[ccole]

There is a good chance they may be able to reproduce, as many polyclad flatworms hatch as fully-formed juveniles rather than pelagic larvae. These kinds of flatworms are also usually pretty good at avoiding predation because they tend to crawl around inside of and live in the rockwork of the tank.

For some good examples, you can search on here for info on leopard flatworms, which people have pop up again in their tank long after removing the ones they can find.

Thank you for the information. When I first got my live rock two years ago, I found two decent sized leopard polyclad flatworms and removed them immediately. I read that they often responsible for killing snails but I haven’t really struggled keeping snails alive. Is it possible that these can eat coral rather than snails? I have had random coral death in the past from colonies that had been healthy and growing.

 

[Jared Bryant]

I’m fairly certain they’re eating the gonis. Multiple of my colonies have been on the decline. Does anyone know if they’re able to reproduce in my tank?

I have a leopard and a melanarus wrasse they’ve managed to escape. These ones looked too big for them.

You would be surprised by the melanarus. Mine violently thrashes food pieces against the rock to break them. Mine is about 5 inches long now but he can eat chunks of food the size of a cleaner shrimp no problem.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Thank you for the information. When I first got my live rock two years ago, I found two decent sized leopard polyclad flatworms and removed them immediately. I read that they often responsible for killing snails but I haven’t really struggled keeping snails alive. Is it possible that these can eat coral rather than snails? I have had random coral death in the past from colonies that had been healthy and growing.

Yeah, depending on the species, they might eat snails, clams, corals, barnacles, etc.

 

[Troylee]

Looks like Eefw.. I found some on a torch I had and they were having a field day with it! Start looking for eggs and scraping them off out of the tank obviously and dip your corals “and turkey baste” every few days and they will be gone.. they’re def not as bad as aefw..

 

[ccole]

Looks like Eefw.. I found some on a torch I had and they were having a field day with it! Start looking for eggs and scraping them off out of the tank obviously and dip your corals “and turkey baste” every few days and they will be gone.. they’re def not as bad as aefw..

Those do look very similar! The ones I have seem to specialize in eating Gonis. I'll check my euphyllia as well though, just in case.