Help confirm flatworm ID suspect Convolutriloba

karlandtanya · 08/12/2016, 10:40 AM

Google image search led me to suspect this is a flatworm.

This is the most authoritative post I've found on Convolutriloba.
http://www.reefs.org/forums/post1446132.html#p1446132

If that's what this is, it seems there's nothing to worry about; folks seem to think they're ugly but harmless

Here's a picture of the little dude stuck to the glass.

The tank is 60 gal with a wet/dry filter and a recently built DIY protein skimmer (pump air & water into 5 feet of 6" pvc. not fancy but it works).
Before the skimmer I had uncountable pods (look like cyclops, but so tiny hard to see). They would come out a couple hours after the lights went off; I think the skimmer has stripped almost all of them all out.
I guess too many pods is the same as too much any other food?

It's a new tank about 3 months old. So far just live rock, snails and hermits, and a star polyp. Nitrates & Phosphates undetectable, and the star polyp is growing.

Anyhow, thanks very much to anyone who knows if this is what I think it is.

PsychoticBeauty · 08/12/2016, 11:15 AM

It just looks like the clear flatworm outlined in the link below IMO. (Amphiscolops)

While they may be harmless, I don't want a flatworm of any sort in my tank. Diversity is nice & all, but there are some things you can do without.

http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhik...iscolops.shtml

karlandtanya · 08/12/2016, 11:40 AM

Well, I was close, but still not quite right.
That little booger-on-the-glass looks exactly like the ones in the photos you linked.

From the pix in the link it looks like they can take over & look not so pretty.
Maybe running the skimmer flat out is the best thing. The pods can just go down the drain (or hide in their pile of rubble or whatever they do).
Probably what was feeding the worms anyhow.

Thanks for the ID!

08/12/2016, 10:40 AM	#1
karlandtanya Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 18	Help confirm flatworm ID suspect Convolutriloba Google image search led me to suspect this is a flatworm. This is the most authoritative post I've found on Convolutriloba. http://www.reefs.org/forums/post1446132.html#p1446132 If that's what this is, it seems there's nothing to worry about; folks seem to think they're ugly but harmless Here's a picture of the little dude stuck to the glass. The tank is 60 gal with a wet/dry filter and a recently built DIY protein skimmer (pump air & water into 5 feet of 6" pvc. not fancy but it works). Before the skimmer I had uncountable pods (look like cyclops, but so tiny hard to see). They would come out a couple hours after the lights went off; I think the skimmer has stripped almost all of them all out. I guess too many pods is the same as too much any other food? It's a new tank about 3 months old. So far just live rock, snails and hermits, and a star polyp. Nitrates & Phosphates undetectable, and the star polyp is growing. Anyhow, thanks very much to anyone who knows if this is what I think it is.

08/12/2016, 11:15 AM	#2
PsychoticBeauty Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Gotham City Posts: 123	It just looks like the clear flatworm outlined in the link below IMO. (Amphiscolops) While they may be harmless, I don't want a flatworm of any sort in my tank. Diversity is nice & all, but there are some things you can do without. http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhik...iscolops.shtml Last edited by PsychoticBeauty; 08/12/2016 at 11:45 AM.

08/12/2016, 11:40 AM	#3
karlandtanya Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 18	Thanks--it definitely looks like Amphiscolops Well, I was close, but still not quite right. That little booger-on-the-glass looks exactly like the ones in the photos you linked. From the pix in the link it looks like they can take over & look not so pretty. Maybe running the skimmer flat out is the best thing. The pods can just go down the drain (or hide in their pile of rubble or whatever they do). Probably what was feeding the worms anyhow. Thanks for the ID!