Red Flatworms, problem or not?

[Pete_the_Puma]

Hi,

I have a fairly new 140Gal peninsula tank running the Triton method. It has been up now for about 4 months. After a rocky start (alk swings, Nitrate swings, Dinos, cyano) things are finally running smoothly. Acros are encrusting, parameters are exactly where I wan them to be, no algea/dinos/cyano, massive coraline growth and ReefBot is making my life easy.

I have a TON of pods, both in the massive Cheato ball in the fuge and in the display.

About 2 weeks ago I found some red Flatworms in the sump!! (NOT AEFW, the rusty red "Planaria" type flatworm).

Careful inspection showed a small amount of them in the display tank as well. They hang out on the glass and I'm pretty sure my six-line wrasse is snacking on them. They do not seem to be causing any harm whatsoever.

I have read most everything I could find on this website and other sources of information and am torn between two camps: Some people advocate just letting them be (PaulB among others if I remember) while others recommend immediate action. The real issue is the well documented "toxin" they release when dying in large numbers.

I have received the Salifert "Flatoworm exit" and a bunch of high quality carbon, I would be ready if I decided to dose but part of me keeps wanting to keeps things simple and avoid large rapid changes to water chemistry/tank biology and just see what happens.

What would you guys recommend?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I recommend a melaurus wrasse or 4 line wrasse or both as they will consume them.
Do you have pic(s) to confirm flatworms?

 

[Pete_the_Puma]

They are flatworms for sure (well 99.99% I'll say).

The issues is the Fuge, as with the pods there is no way another worm predator in the tank (4 line or Melaurus) would achieve eradication.

The real questions is do they need to be eradicated? So far 2/3 are saying no.

 

[andrewkw]

I would get them now while there aren't too many of them. It is possible you have some that will never reproduce to plague like proportions. I've had some in the past where I see just a couple and I've had the red ones a few times too.

Flatworm exit has always worked as long as I overdosed and dosed more then once. I personally have never had any issues. That being said if I had a huge number I'd remove them first. Look around and make sure I didn't miss any huge clusters then dose. Then after water change / carbon and a couple of days dose again. Something along the lines of twice the recommend dosage maybe slightly less.

After the second dose you may not have to do a water change / carbon but still won't hurt. After that I'd watch carefully and if I see even one more I'd dose again at higher then the recommended dosage. After that they should in theory be gone for good. Of course if they don't bother you then you can leave them, but then you always have to worry about population exploding. There is little downside to elimination and little upside to keeping them.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Eradicate: They only grow in numbers and unless youre ok with an infestation- reduce/eliminate them now

 

[Scott Campbell]

With a Melanurus Wrasse you will never see flat worms in your main tank. My refugium is overrun with them which is fine by me. They don't really harm anything that I have noticed. But would indeed be unsightly in the main tank if not consumed by the wrasse.

 

[lapin]

+1 above.
Its my observation they reproduce more, the stronger the light source is.
I do have a strain now that is immune to Flat Worm Exit, Pig Dewormer and various other chemical things that say they kill flat worms.
My wrasse keeps my display free of them,

 

[Jettareefer223]

Let it be... get several more wrasses problem solved.

Leopards/yellow coris/melanurus/Yellow banded possums are also prolific especially red planaria hunters. And personality’s that make a great addition to any tank.

I have always kept 3-5 at least in my tanks. Never treated for flatworms even with infestations prior introducing a wrasse. Once I added almost instantly they start patroling feasting and efficiently eradicating the problem in a timely manner. Unlike other utilitarian fish they continue this indefinitely “earning their keep” ime.

 

[Pete_the_Puma]

Would a Mandarin be of any use here? Already have a six line and without a tight lid (see my build, peninsula tank) I'm worried about the more "jumpy" wrasses. If I had to i'd much rather add a wrasse rather than dose antibiotics to the tank...

 

[vetteguy53081]

Would a Mandarin be of any use here? Already have a six line and without a tight lid (see my build, peninsula tank) I'm worried about the more "jumpy" wrasses. If I had to i'd much rather add a wrasse rather than dose antibiotics to the tank...

My guess would be not as I seyour point on jumpers.

 

[Jettareefer223]

Would a Mandarin be of any use here? Already have a six line and without a tight lid (see my build, peninsula tank) I'm worried about the more "jumpy" wrasses. If I had to i'd much rather add a wrasse rather than dose antibiotics to the tank...

I’m sure a mandarin would contribute although nothing substantial or anything equivalent to wrasses. Yeah definitely their one flaw “carpet surfing” and occasionally it happens. I wouldn’t worry all much though all of my tanks in at least 10 years have been either rimless/open top. I’ve had a lot of them only 2 jump both fairy wrasses as long as no bullying going on you’ll be fine. IME anthias/gobies screens are mandatory lol. I would try build a screen if you’re worried or handle looking at it.