mandarin for flatworm control

gannetnz · 08/27/2009, 01:27 AM

Hi all ive done alot of research and have found out that the green mandarin Synchiropus picturatus MAY eat flatworms,
but i havnt been able to find out if the blue mandarin Pterosynchiropus splendidus will also do the same job at having a good snack on the lil pests.

only reason i ask is i like the look of the blue over the green lol.

i also understand that a 6line wrasse will eat them, but not to keen on a wrase in my tank.

tank is a 2ft cube so 55g with a 50L sump and a deltec mce600.

atm there isnt enough pods in the tank, but i can get the pod population up enough before i get one.

other fish in the tank is a pair of black clowns, and a pair of bangais

thanks in advance.

sanababit · 08/27/2009, 02:11 AM

first get your pod population going and then get the fish

sana

gannetnz · 08/27/2009, 02:13 AM

Yup thats the plan, ive been wanting one for a year or so, and wont get one till the pods are up and going, only reason my pods are a tad low atm is the tank broke last week so are now in a new tank

terryagi · 08/27/2009, 07:50 AM

Here is a related thread I had going just for some more information.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1692521

gannetnz · 08/27/2009, 02:32 PM

thanks very much for that, i did search but i must of missed that one

ReefingMadness · 08/27/2009, 02:38 PM

I had a 40 breeder a year and a half ago, that had flatworms. I had great success at keeping them at bay with a Yellow Coris Wrasse ( Halichoeres Chrysus ). It didn't wipe them out, but it kept them from wiping the tank out. After a long battle I ended up shutting the tank down.

snorvich · 08/27/2009, 03:04 PM

Mandarins most likely will not eat them. But if you like mandarins, be sure you have sufficient copepods.

entropygain · 08/27/2009, 06:41 PM

1/10 chance the mandarin will eat them.
No luck for me.

Flatworm exit & quarantine is the only thing thats worked for me.

finsurgeon · 08/27/2009, 07:35 PM

I had a serious flat worm invasion, and none of my 3 mandarins ever even noticed it. 2 targets and one green. A melanurus wrasse ate them all, though. It's my opinion that your new mandarin will not touch your flat worms, so get the kind you want.

waldomas · 08/27/2009, 07:43 PM

Neither one of two mandarins ate my flatworms. My sixline put a serious hurtin' on them tho. I think I would try a yellow corris instead for sixlines are known jumpers. After mine jumped, I started to see a return of the flatworms. I plan on getting a corri wrasse soon.

JC2005 · 08/28/2009, 05:04 PM

I just got one of these chelidonuras varians also known as Head Shield nudibranch. According to everything I've read, flat worms is all they eat.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/...198&pcatid=2198

mako199 · 08/28/2009, 05:27 PM

All I know is I had the harmless white flatworms on my glass all the time until I added a blue Mandarin now I dont see any.

mark54321 · 08/29/2009, 08:23 AM

I have spotted mandarin and she doesn't eat any flatworms

CLINTOS · 08/29/2009, 09:40 AM

I have a 90G with 2 chromis's and a blue mandarin my 90G has no flat worms even know I know I've introduced them by taking a few coral's every once in awhile from my infested 20G that has 1 chromis

I noticed the chromis was eating them quite good when I had 2 chromis's in the 20G but when I have 1 in there they stayed somewhat in control as long as you don't feed the chromis but a few times a week and just blowing around the flatworm's

I'll be getting a second chromis as soon as the store gets them in for my 20G I know that 2 will control them easily imo

maybe it has something to do with competition for the chromis's?

plancton · 08/29/2009, 11:33 AM

Flatworm exit is your best bet. Just use it when there´s few flatworm in the tank. Otherwise be ready to have so much watter changes right away.

They are easy to erradicate with flatworm exit, but since they´re toxic once they die, then you have to be very careful when there´s so many of them.

jason18 · 08/29/2009, 12:45 PM

I picked up 2 spotted mandarins and they don't seem to be eating any..
Anyone try prazipro??

waldomas · 08/29/2009, 07:16 PM

Really, the only bad thing about having them is that they eat copapods. I tend to see a decline in the pod population when they proliferate. They may rarely irritate a coral but generally don't seem to bother them.

trexer · 08/29/2009, 09:52 PM

Flatworm exit is the way to go. You should be able to get past this fairly easy. Good luck in resolving your problem.

abrian · 08/30/2009, 07:51 AM

My green spot mandarin doesnt touch my flatworm population. I added a melanurus wrasse a bit over a week ago and I am noticing fewer worms visible on my glass but havent actually witnessed it eating any. The flatworms dont bother any of my corals, it is purely an asthetics issue of not wanting to see them on my glass for me.

08/27/2009, 01:27 AM	#1
gannetnz Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 27	mandarin for flatworm control Hi all ive done alot of research and have found out that the green mandarin Synchiropus picturatus MAY eat flatworms, but i havnt been able to find out if the blue mandarin Pterosynchiropus splendidus will also do the same job at having a good snack on the lil pests. only reason i ask is i like the look of the blue over the green lol. i also understand that a 6line wrasse will eat them, but not to keen on a wrase in my tank. tank is a 2ft cube so 55g with a 50L sump and a deltec mce600. atm there isnt enough pods in the tank, but i can get the pod population up enough before i get one. other fish in the tank is a pair of black clowns, and a pair of bangais thanks in advance.

08/27/2009, 02:11 AM	#2
sanababit Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Uranus Posts: 3,094	first get your pod population going and then get the fish sana __________________ Senior Member of the "Hardly any Water Changes, Temp Swinging, T5ing, No Qtining, Frag Exchanging for Fish Food Current Tank Info: 90RR inwall, Octopuss Skimmer, 2 MP40 wQD, 1 MP10 WQD, 2 Radions G4 Pro, Apex Doser, Apex Controller, 400w heater, 30 Gal Sump, Biopellets, Carbon, Gfo, Macroalgae

08/27/2009, 02:38 PM	#6
ReefingMadness Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Benton, MO Posts: 413	I had a 40 breeder a year and a half ago, that had flatworms. I had great success at keeping them at bay with a Yellow Coris Wrasse ( Halichoeres Chrysus ). It didn't wipe them out, but it kept them from wiping the tank out. After a long battle I ended up shutting the tank down. __________________ Ain't no fun when the rabbit has the gun. Current Tank Info: Oceanic BioCube 29, 40 lbs. LR, 20 lbs. LS, Maxi-Jet 1200 return pump, Radion xR30w Gen. 3, MP10, and ReefLink

08/27/2009, 03:04 PM	#7
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Mandarins most likely will not eat them. But if you like mandarins, be sure you have sufficient copepods. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

08/27/2009, 06:41 PM	#8
entropygain Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Diego Posts: 283	1/10 chance the mandarin will eat them. No luck for me. Flatworm exit & quarantine is the only thing thats worked for me. __________________ ...remind me to go diving more often Current Tank Info: 140 gal LPS/Softie reef

08/27/2009, 02:13 AM	#3
gannetnz Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 27	Yup thats the plan, ive been wanting one for a year or so, and wont get one till the pods are up and going, only reason my pods are a tad low atm is the tank broke last week so are now in a new tank

08/27/2009, 07:50 AM	#4
terryagi Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 143	Here is a related thread I had going just for some more information. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1692521

08/27/2009, 02:32 PM	#5
gannetnz Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 27	thanks very much for that, i did search but i must of missed that one

08/27/2009, 07:35 PM	#9
finsurgeon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Austin TX Posts: 258	I had a serious flat worm invasion, and none of my 3 mandarins ever even noticed it. 2 targets and one green. A melanurus wrasse ate them all, though. It's my opinion that your new mandarin will not touch your flat worms, so get the kind you want.

08/27/2009, 07:43 PM	#10
waldomas Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: south central Pa. Posts: 761	Neither one of two mandarins ate my flatworms. My sixline put a serious hurtin' on them tho. I think I would try a yellow corris instead for sixlines are known jumpers. After mine jumped, I started to see a return of the flatworms. I plan on getting a corri wrasse soon.

08/28/2009, 05:04 PM	#11
JC2005 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Miami, Fl Posts: 107	I just got one of these chelidonuras varians also known as Head Shield nudibranch. According to everything I've read, flat worms is all they eat. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/...198&pcatid=2198

08/28/2009, 05:27 PM	#12
mako199 Tankless! Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cary, IL Posts: 806	All I know is I had the harmless white flatworms on my glass all the time until I added a blue Mandarin now I dont see any. __________________ Mike _____________ Click the Homepage link for my (just another) 120g in wall thread. Current Tank Info: 40g Lizard tank

08/29/2009, 08:23 AM	#13
mark54321 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: chicago Posts: 2,040	I have spotted mandarin and she doesn't eat any flatworms __________________ ############## ______MARK_______ ##############

08/29/2009, 09:40 AM	#14
CLINTOS Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: windsor,ontario Canada Posts: 859	I have a 90G with 2 chromis's and a blue mandarin my 90G has no flat worms even know I know I've introduced them by taking a few coral's every once in awhile from my infested 20G that has 1 chromis I noticed the chromis was eating them quite good when I had 2 chromis's in the 20G but when I have 1 in there they stayed somewhat in control as long as you don't feed the chromis but a few times a week and just blowing around the flatworm's I'll be getting a second chromis as soon as the store gets them in for my 20G I know that 2 will control them easily imo maybe it has something to do with competition for the chromis's?

08/29/2009, 11:33 AM	#15
plancton Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mexico Posts: 1,866	Flatworm exit is your best bet. Just use it when there´s few flatworm in the tank. Otherwise be ready to have so much watter changes right away. They are easy to erradicate with flatworm exit, but since they´re toxic once they die, then you have to be very careful when there´s so many of them. __________________ Hansel, he´s so hot right now...

08/29/2009, 12:45 PM	#16
jason18 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Island N.Y Posts: 159	I picked up 2 spotted mandarins and they don't seem to be eating any.. Anyone try prazipro??

08/29/2009, 07:16 PM	#17
waldomas Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: south central Pa. Posts: 761	Really, the only bad thing about having them is that they eat copapods. I tend to see a decline in the pod population when they proliferate. They may rarely irritate a coral but generally don't seem to bother them.

08/29/2009, 09:52 PM	#18
trexer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: PA Posts: 55	Flatworm exit is the way to go. You should be able to get past this fairly easy. Good luck in resolving your problem.

08/30/2009, 07:51 AM	#19
abrian Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 188	My green spot mandarin doesnt touch my flatworm population. I added a melanurus wrasse a bit over a week ago and I am noticing fewer worms visible on my glass but havent actually witnessed it eating any. The flatworms dont bother any of my corals, it is purely an asthetics issue of not wanting to see them on my glass for me.