Type of Flatworm and how harmful is it?

[Tim Olson]

I discovered a few of these Flatworms in my display tank today and was wondering how harmful they are and what I should do. I'm virtually certain they came in on snails I purchased a couple of weeks ago. My 40g display is still new at 3 months old, but doing relatively well (Phosphates 0.03, Nitrates 2 ppm and slowly falling) and I'm hoping I can nip this in the bud.

I looked at http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhikers-guide/ and it doesn't look exactly like any of the flatworms, except maybe the Acoel. Although, mine are almost white, not brown. Also, they're less than 1 mm long.

I'd rather not use Flatworm Exit and my tank's too small for a 6 Line Wrasse, which was suggested in other threads. So do you all think is the best solution?

Thanks!

 

[cloak]

You might want to build yourself a siphon much like the one pictured in the link below and give that a try first. Diligence is key. GL.

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

 

[Reef2zach]

If you have any intentions of using flatworm exit down the line as a last resort then just use it right away. If you see these guys multiplying rapidly it might be your best option honestly. If you dose FE now however you run a very small risk of nuking your tank as opposed to dosing after they've taken hold and you've givin up on other treatment methods. But if your totally against chemical treatment which is totally cool maybe try a manderin goby, mine pretty much destroyed my flatworm problem in my tank but I also have a 300 gallon with plenty of pods for it to feed on. Good luck

 

[Tim Olson]

You might want to build yourself a siphon much like the one pictured in the link below and give that a try first. Diligence is key. GL.

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

Cool idea and great link ... I'm going to make one soon and see how many I can get.

Thanks!

 

[Tim Olson]

If you have any intentions of using flatworm exit down the line as a last resort then just use it right away. If you see these guys multiplying rapidly it might be your best option honestly. If you dose FE now however you run a very small risk of nuking your tank as opposed to dosing after they've taken hold and you've givin up on other treatment methods. But if your totally against chemical treatment which is totally cool maybe try a manderin goby, mine pretty much destroyed my flatworm problem in my tank but I also have a 300 gallon with plenty of pods for it to feed on. Good luck

That sounds like a reasonable plan for FE. I'll monitor the number of flatworms and if they start ramping up I might give FE a shot. I'd love to get Mandarin Goby, but I don't think it would survive, since I have very few pods so far and the tank is probably too small. Currently I only have two Clownfish in the tank and am thinking I might be able to add 1-2 more fish, so I have to be selective.

Thanks!