Not an emergency just yet..

[Hincapiej4]

Saw these in the sump this morning. Never saw them before, almost looks like worms or even fluke..
But could just be copepods? They are different shapes than what I'm used to..

 

[Hincapiej4]

No symptoms of anything in any of the fish..yet. all eat like pigs.

 

[Hincapiej4]

I feel like if I had an outbreak so bad that I could see flukes on the glass...I'd have lost fish already or at least saw something.

 

[Hincapiej4]

Anyone able to help?

 

[38bill]

Flat worms, very common dont panic. Many times they go away on their own or you can get a wrasse that will eat them.

Probably Red Planaria

 

[Hincapiej4]

Flat worms, very common dont panic. Many times they go away on their own or you can get a wrasse that will eat them.

Probably Red Planaria

I have at this point two wrasses. Exquisite and yellowfin flasher. Had leopard and black leopard


What do I need to watch out with these flatworms? Coral in trouble? I haven't noticed them in the main tank at all

 

[38bill]

I'm no expert. Do a search here on R2R. There is a lot of info available on line also.

 

[Hincapiej4]

Yea flatworms can be bad for coral. Least now I know I have them. I'll get some flatworm meds, thanks!

 

[38bill]

If you end up using something like Flatworm Exit make sure to read the directions carefully. Too many dead flatworms can mess up your tank.

 

[Hincapiej4]

If you end up using something like Flatworm Exit make sure to read the directions carefully. Too many dead flatworms can mess up your tank.

Absolutely! Only place I can see them in the sump, so I'll have to do what I can

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

So - every aquarium develops something called the microbiome , all the microorganisms that grow over time. As this microbiome develops, populations of various creatures grow and ebb. One truism is that if any of these are parasites, they are going to live on the host. These free-living flatworms would therefore be harmless....don’t treat for them as you may have unintended consequences!
Jay

 

[Hincapiej4]

So - every aquarium develops something called the microbiome , all the microorganisms that grow over time. As this microbiome develops, populations of various creatures grow and ebb. One truism is that if any of these are parasites, they are going to live on the host. These free-living flatworms would therefore be harmless....don’t treat for them as you may have unintended consequences!
Jay

Yes sir! I am aware and have gotten their natural predator instead of chemicals. I did get the flatworm exit, but I got a sixline to keep them in check. If they start to irritate coral, I'll do a single treatment of exit and let the babies hatch. I have other wrasses who I'm pretty sure have kept the population down in the main tank, but just to make sure