what the heck is it?

[homer1475]

Ok so I've been reefing on and off for roughly 25 years, woke up this morning and past by the tank, and looked in quickly(lights are out). To my wonder I see this huge spot on the side glass. Thinking something odd happened I see this blob move! Now I'm wondering what the h e double hockey sticks this is! I'm thinking flatworm, but I had no idea they can get this big! This thing was easy 2 inches long and an inch across! I did remove it and it was like a giant mass of jelly, but it moves!

Any Idea here?

 

[pcon]

Polyclad worm? Not a fun hitchhiker to have. They eat snails, and some corals/clams.

Parasitic Polyclad Worms

Photo Credit: 100%hydrophylic (ReefCentral)Parasitic Polyclad Flatworms and Eggs.Polyclad worms are a type of flatworm that can wreck havoc on our prized corals. In this article we are going to take a look at a particular type of parasitic flatworm that some aquarists may be unfamiliar with. The...

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[DSC reef]

+1 for polyclad, remove it.

 

[homer1475]

I assumed it was a flatworm, had no idea they could get that big! I have added nothing new to my tank in about a year, so it's been in there at least that long.

Of course I removed it.

 

[Mr Fishface]

Someone in my local reefing group took a video of one of these they found on a frag plug in qt. Probably about the size of a quarter which, until now, was the biggest I have seen footage of! Crazy how big they get!

 

[homer1475]

After some research it seems I might have had an euphyllia eating flatworm(EEFW)They can grow up to 3 inches(only ones that get this big), and only eat euphyllia. The only euphyllia in my tank is my original frogspawn that is 4 years old.

I can't believe I haven't seen this thing being this big in the last 4 years.

 

[DSC reef]

Glad you caught now, that could've ended badly.

 

[homer1475]

I'm just surprised if it was an EEFW that my frogspawn continues to grow and has not lost a single head. Of course it's way to big now to pull out and search for eggs, so I'll have to keep an eye peeled.