ID Help Please- Snail Eggs?

KingBlingTX · Dec 1, 2015

My daughter's 28g nano reef is being overrun by little brown "squares". I was thinking they might be snail eggs, but I don't see anything like these when I search "snail eggs". Any help with 1) ID and 2) how to get rid of them would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Prairie Dog · Dec 1, 2015

Looks like flatworms.

oldsaint · Dec 1, 2015

No they are red planaria flatworms

oldsaint · Dec 1, 2015

Vacuum out as many as possible. Then a treatment of Flatworm Exit. Follow the instruction carefully. When the worms die they release a toxin that can harm your inhabitant. The instruction will tell you how to avoid this by using carbon and doing a water changes. Also, It's is a good idea to do another treatment 7 days later, weather you see worms or not. Sometimes they can be difficult to get rid of. I've actually had to use FWE at 10 times the suggested strength. But, I'm NOT recommending that for you.

KingBlingTX · Dec 1, 2015

Thanks for the response. I'll definitely have to look at the options and get started on some course of treatment. I've watched these things and they don't seem to move. I just assumed the snails were laying more eggs each night. These certainly are prolific!

saltysilverado · Dec 1, 2015

Small six line wrasse or scooter blenny could take care of it for you

KingBlingTX · Dec 1, 2015

I've sat around in front of her aquarium for long periods of time to see if any of them were moving, but I didn't see even a small bit of movement. However, they certainly move once you siphon them out into a plastic bowl!! LOL. I will get out as many as I can and then do the Flatworm eXit treatment. Thanks for the advice!!

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 2, 2015

Double check the diagnosis. FWE is pretty aggresive treatment.. common flatworms populations can be controlled. mine lasted 3 months
we are random voices on the internet
heres one verified expert.
http://www.melevsreef.com/node/651

http://www.ronshimek.com/flatworms.html

oldsaint · Dec 2, 2015

saltyfilmfolks said:
http://www.melevsreef.com/node/651

http://www.ronshimek.com/flatworms.html

The first link contains very nice instructions on how to kill these pests using FWE and I would follow it to the T. BTW, By a hobbyist, a random voice but a good one at that.
Comparing Marc to Dr. Shimek is probably a little unfair to the Dr. considering his degrees. Actually, comparing Dr. Shimek to anyone else is a little unfair if you've had the pleasure of sitting through one of his speaks.

I would caution on the use of a P. hexataenia. They will become very aggressive. I don't see it getting along with the two fish I see in the pic.

But, I do agree with you salty. You should always verify any recommendations you get no matter who gives it to you. With out investigation, research, and understanding of the suggestion you're just a robot and aren't learning a thing.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 2, 2015

Bless you old saint. Melev is a pretty well recognized hobbyist in his defense. And Dr Shimeck is "a golden god".
Sadly they are Both grouped as "experts". And deservedly so in both cases, IMO.

FWE treatment is tricky and the just take a pill solution in this could lead to some serious heartache.

Good luck with the tank.

Im a total Shimek fan boy BTW.. if you cant tell.

twilliard · Dec 2, 2015

I personally would not use FWE those planaria they will laugh at that treatment if dosed more than twice.
With that population the water will become toxic unless massive amounts of carbon is in place if killed.
There is one good method at removing them before they have a chance to perish.
Peroxide
They will release from the surfaces, end up in the water column to be retrieved by filtration methods which would have to be cleaned daily.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 2, 2015

Hello MR twillard, is there a link to a how to for that method? I'd like that in my tool kit.

twilliard · Dec 2, 2015

saltyfilmfolks said:
Hello MR twillard, is there a link to a how to for that method? I'd like that in my tool kit.

Thank you !
I have not written one up yet as I am still working with exact amounts based on volume.
I am close! BUT I have run out of planaria.
Too much peroxide kills them within a matter of minutes (had to start some where!)
When I ran out of planaria I was at roughly 1Ml per 10 gallons working to 1.5Ml
The goal is not to kill them instantly.
For the OP I would add 4Ml
Completely safe

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 2, 2015

Perhaps the OP would like to be a test subject. That would be a great thread...

twilliard · Dec 2, 2015

saltyfilmfolks said:
Perhaps the OP would like to be a test subject. That would be a great thread...

Or ship them to me!

oldsaint · Dec 2, 2015

I meant no disrespect to Melev. I have much respect for what he has accomplished in the hobby and I'm very familiar with who he is. After 13+ years in this hobby it would be difficult not to know of him.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 2, 2015

twilliard said:
Or ship them to me!

Last Hijack I promise.
Yer Funny.. but its a great learning and teaching tool to see a well documented step by step of a process we usually only hear about.
To see the process for better or worse and document the result, as hard as it may be, for better or worse.
Heres a link to my local board about red bug treatment..we have a few weeks to go, and personally I'm on the edge of my seat..
http://www.sdreefs.com/forums/showthread.php?123141-Red-Bug-Treatment

oldsaint.. its cool. were all on the same page.
mine is in crayon

KingBlingTX · Dec 2, 2015

Thanks for all the advice. I'm an engineer, so I almosr never accept any advice without doing a lot of research and exploring the pros/cons of each approach to a problem. Having said that, since this is my teenage daughter's tank, I have to include her in the process. She'd like another fish in the tank anyway, so I'm thinking we are going to try siphoning and a melanurus wrasse first. If this isn't making progress, I am certainly open to trying an experimental treatment since we don't have too many things in this tank to begin with. I will provide an update in a few days and see where things stand.

KingBlingTX · Dec 6, 2015

After a few days of siphoning hundreds (maybe thousands!) of these little guys out of aquarium and adding a melanurus wrasse, I'd say the population is down to about 1/4 of what it was to begin with. The biggest issue we had to deal with was the neon dottyback harassing the wrasse non-stop until my daughter declared it was time for "Gizmo" to have a time-out in my 10g nano for a few days. So Gizmo is doing time in solitary for now. I never knew these little fish were the chihuahua's of the reef. (They apparently don't know small they are! LOL)

KingBlingTX · Dec 15, 2015

Just wanted to give update on the red planaria flatworm situation. After spending a couple of weeks siphoning every day (or two) and adding a melanurus wrasse, it did not appear that we were making any progress in the "battle". I went ahead and started with the Flatworm Exit treatment. I dosed the tank according to the directions and after about 5 minutes or so flatworms started dying. After 45 minutes of "the purge" as my daughter referred to it, i did a 20% water change and began running a cannister filter with carbon to remove the remaining medication and toxins. Hopefully, this will be the end of the problem. Stay tuned...