Yay or Nay on these flatworms

kdino · Jan 14, 2019

KJ · Jan 14, 2019

Acoel brown flatworm.

KrisReef · Jan 14, 2019

That might become a problem right their.

Rjukan · Jan 14, 2019

At least they aren't the plague inducing red planaria.

kdino · Jan 15, 2019

ho

KrisReef said:
That might become a problem right their.

How so? Please explain, this is my first experience in all my reefing years with flatworms

KrisReef · Jan 15, 2019

Some of these flatworms (there a many different species) will grow into a plagues, with a few worms quickly making millions of individuals in a tank in very short order. I'm not an expert at their identification, and the other folks who chimed don't seem to be worried so hopefully they are correct and you are not dealing with the problematic kind. Keep an eye out. If they start to reproduce exponentially you will want to treat them before they get totally out of hand.

For more information, search "flatworm" on here and you will find many threads with folks who have had the good and bad ones. Again, others seemed confident that yours are not the problem kind so you probably dodged a bullet this time?

Also do a search on coral dipping and coral quarantine to learn how to prevent future pest introductions. Hth.

kdino · Jan 15, 2019

KrisReef said:
Some of these flatworms (there a many different species) will grow into a plagues, with a few worms quickly making millions of individuals in a tank in very short order. I'm not an expert at their identification, and the other folks who chimed don't seem to be worried so hopefully they are correct and you are not dealing with the problematic kind. Keep an eye out. If they start to reproduce exponentially you will want to treat them before they get totally out of hand.

For more information, search "flatworm" on here and you will find many threads with folks who have had the good and bad ones. Again, others seemed confident that yours are not the problem kind so you probably dodged a bullet this time?

Also do a search on coral dipping and coral quarantine to learn how to prevent future pest introductions. Hth.

Great thanks! ohh and I dipped. no QT though.

Jlyons · Jan 15, 2019

Do you plan on using anything to get rid of them? Someone I know has them but on the fence about advising to use flatworm exit or similar

Cthulukelele · Jan 15, 2019

If you get a leopard or halichoeres wrasse they seem to love snacking on them

Jlyons · Jan 15, 2019

That’s what I first said. I was also told scooter blennys would assist as well but not 100% on that. A family member has them and just added two scooters and a leopard so hopefully that will solve the problem. Will update in a few days.

Cthulukelele · Jan 15, 2019

Jlyons said:
That’s what I first said. I was also told scooter blennys would assist as well but not 100% on that. A family member has them and just added two scooters and a leopard so hopefully that will solve the problem. Will update in a few days.

From personal experience my acoel flatworms never really exploded in populatiom, and after adding a leopard I only see them here and there. They seem to be the "tier 2" food for the leopard I.E. it snacks on all the easy to reach pods first THEN munches the flatworms, but I have heard it is very fish-to-fish.

Jlyons · Jan 15, 2019

Thanks for the feedback! Keeping fingers crossed that we got lucky and will have one very chunky wrasse soon but time will tell.

reef lover · Jan 15, 2019

Not so bad ones...aka ghost fw

and the not so good ...

youll have to decide which you have...

Jlyons · Jan 15, 2019

Inquired about an update since its been 2 days since the Leopard and scooters went in and the population has taken a decline since then. Hoping a few more days and the problem will be at bay. Ill keep it updated but the Leopard settled in super quick and has supposedly been picking away at them.