what is wrong with my duncan coral

[kz4q66]

What are all dark spots on the Duncan?
It does not look normal. Please help.

 

[Robink]

They look like flat worms.

 

[sbash]

They look like flat worms.

+1 Those definitely look like flatworms...

Do you see them anywhere else? What colour are they?

Either way, the fact they are crawling on the heads feels like a bad sign to me. Can you get out to a store first thing in the morning and pick up some flatworm exit?

In the meantime, do you have any coral dips handy? I would dip it...

 

[kz4q66]

I always dip my corals before put them in the tank and not sure how they got in
Close exam I see them on my other corals too. They might been there for awhile and I did not notice it until now.
These worms has a dark purple color.
How should I remove them?
I saw this product "Salifert Flatworm Exit". What is your experience with this product?

 

[Dsnakes]

They look like flat worms.

This. Definitely flatworms...

 

[Jr'sReef]

Idk but wouldn’t a wrasse usually make easy work of this then dosing something into the tank? It will also help rid pest in the future or am I mistaken?

I put a 6 line, a melanarus and a yellow chorus and never seen a pest knock on wood

 

[kz4q66]

I got a six line wrasse and a blue mandarin in the tank already.
Maybe I need to stop feeding so the wrasse will go after the flatworms

 

[kz4q66]

I really do not want to use chemical unless I have too.
I like the idea of adding a couple wrasses but want to know if the new ones will get along with the current 6 line.

 

[kz4q66]

I think the flatworm I got is the "Benign Flatworm". It has a clear body but looks purple under LED light.
This flatworm is reef safe. I am going to keep close eyes on them in the next few days to see if it get worse or not.

"Benign Flatworm
By: melev
This tiny creature is a Flatworm - Amphiscolops sp. This type is virtually clear, and quite small. The rounded end is inflated like a sail, and stretches in the direction it wants to travel, then like a suction cup it grabs the glass and pulls the rest of its body that direction. This is a benign type and you shouldn't worry if you see any in your tank. I've seen them on and off in reef tanks as well as refugiums, usually short-lived and forgotten later. Reef-safe."

 

[Reefpharmer]

I got my melanarus wrasse when my Duncan had the same looking flatworms. Within a week, not one flatworm to be seen .. very effective but YMMV

 

[SandJ]

Ugh, sorry you are having to deal with flatworms.

Some people find they are more successful using wrasses if they use a turkey baster and blast the flatworms into the water column. Apparently they are easier for the wrasses to find.

Good luck!

 

[Mark Teitelman]

Same here. Melanarus wrasse madevshort work 0f them.

 

[kz4q66]

Great suggestions. Thanks!

 

[Maritimer]

Will have to bump a Halichoeres up on my restocking list, as my elegance has similar flatworms.

~Bruce

 

[kz4q66]

I added an Onate Wrasse today since my local fish store does not have a Melanarus Wrasse.
I feel bad to see the new guy got chase around the tank by the Six Line.
My tank is big (230 gals) so I hope the new guy is ok.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Oh no- no doubt flatworms :-(

 

[Clarke]

Hey Bruce use a turkey blaster and suck them off, I have used the flat worm med but you have to do a water change after it kills off the worms . See you at Jess’s.

 

[kz4q66]

Any last minutes advise for me?
Option #1: Add another wrasse - Did not work. The existing Six Line does not want to see another wrasse in the tank.
Option #2: Siphon - I tried. It might work for a small tank but not a 230 gals. I have short arms.
Option #3: Blue Velvet Nudibranch - None of my LFS carries it
Option #4: Salifert Flatworm eXit
OPtion #5: Wait and pray ....

 

[luckyazn6]

Order one Through lfs

 

[vetteguy53081]

Any last minutes advise for me?
Option #1: Add another wrasse - Did not work. The existing Six Line does not want to see another wrasse in the tank.
Option #2: Siphon - I tried. It might work for a small tank but not a 230 gals. I have short arms.
Option #3: Blue Velvet Nudibranch - None of my LFS carries it
Option #4: Salifert Flatworm eXit
OPtion #5: Wait and pray ....

Lunare or better yet, a melanurus wrasse. Option B is flatwork exit but I warn you that I know people who have had success with the exit, and others who lost their tank with its' use. I would love to see wrasse devour them and then no worries about siphoning them out and eggs. If the 6 line is being a jerk, pull it from tank for now until issue resolved