ID on giant flatworm

coral_lagoon · 07/26/2009, 02:33 PM

I always check on my reef at night. To see what kind of organisms lurk. Lastnight I saw this guy. I peeled him off the rock and now he is in my sump. Does anyone know what kind of flatworm this is? The thing is pretty big and has two stumpy antennas on top of his head.. Thanks

EMV7904 · 07/26/2009, 02:47 PM

Looks like it MIGHT be a stomatella? (sorry about spelling) It might be a type of snail that has no shell.

Just a guess from the pic.

luther1200 · 07/26/2009, 02:52 PM

Maybe it some kind of Nudi? But I have seen pic of the giant flatworms, and they look similar to that.

Elysia · 07/26/2009, 06:19 PM

The predatory polyclad flatworms do not have the rhinophores that seaslugs have. Can you post some additional photos of this creature?

coral_lagoon · 07/26/2009, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Elysia
The predatory polyclad flatworms do not have the rhinophores that seaslugs have. Can you post some additional photos of this creature?

You think its some sort of sea slug?

EMV7904 · 07/26/2009, 06:57 PM

I'm no ID expert, but I don't think this is a flatworm at all. Not only does it not look like one, but you'd see them during the day as well as at night and you'd see more than just one.

Peter Eichler · 07/26/2009, 08:01 PM

Really need a better photo, if it is in fact a polyclad flatworm it's best to take it out as they're rarely beneficial.

RRaider · 07/26/2009, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EMV7904
I'm no ID expert, but I don't think this is a flatworm at all. Not only does it not look like one, but you'd see them during the day as well as at night and you'd see more than just one.

Not true at all. I had one large predatory flatworm who had to be in my tank for months undetected. He lived in the holes in the rocks and I only found him when he attacked a snail. I think I killed him by injecting boiling water into the hole in the rock where he retreated but he could possibly still be in my tank.

Elysia · 07/27/2009, 01:17 PM

Yes, I think that this could be something other than a flatworm. Its not that your photo isn't good, but we just need to see more detail of the animal in question, and possibly from some additional angles. You never know what it is that will give the ID of an animal away. It looks as though the animal has rhinophores, which would suggest a seaslug. If it is truly issolated in your sump, then there is little reason to take draconian measures before the animal is identified.

rendogg · 07/27/2009, 05:04 PM

Not to say it isn't a slug or nudi but, many Polyclad flatworms have protuberances on their heads similar to rhinophores on slugs and nudis, don't be fooled by its looks.

briangg57 · 07/27/2009, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EMV7904
Looks like it MIGHT be a stomatella? (sorry about spelling) It might be a type of snail that has no shell.

Just a guess from the pic.

x1 He looks like the one I had. not the greatest picture but if it a stomatella, he's a good guy. I haven't seen mine in a while. I hope I still have him. Stomatella snails move pretty fast "for a snail'

Elysia · 07/28/2009, 12:09 PM

I'm sorry, I should have been clearer. The predatory flatworms often seen in tanks do not tend to have noticable tentacles in the pictures posted here.

Flatworms do have dorsal pseudotentacles, which are often simple folds in the animal's margin, although in some these pseduotentacles are located farther back in the animal's "neck" region. Thanks rendogg for making me check on that further.

Still, a close up image of the animal would be of greater assistance in identifying it.

coral_lagoon · 07/28/2009, 03:41 PM

Ok heres a zoomed pic of that worm. Hope this helps..

rendogg · 07/28/2009, 04:55 PM

Great pic! Looks like a nudibranch of some sort.

Cbravo212 · 07/28/2009, 04:58 PM

Can you smooth back the skin on his back to reveal a white shell. With the two antennas, sort of looks like a scotus. If so, good score, if not....

briangg57 · 07/28/2009, 10:28 PM

Not a stomatella, X1 on the nudi

pagojoe · 07/28/2009, 10:55 PM

You won't find a shell on that one. As some of the others have suggested it's a nudibranch. It's one of the sponge eaters, so you don't have to worry about it eating anything that's decorative. It likely won't live very long unless you are accidentally growing it's food sponge in your tank. Leave it there and enjoy it while you can.

http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=dendfuma

Cheers,

Don

rendogg · 07/29/2009, 11:20 AM

Excellent ID pagojoe! I figured it was a Doris of some type.

Elysia · 07/29/2009, 11:39 AM

PS -- it was the feathery gills on the back that gave it away as a nudi! Thanks Don. And thanks Coral for the detail of the slug. Don't know if I will ever tire of seeing them.

coral_lagoon · 07/29/2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pagojoe
You won't find a shell on that one. As some of the others have suggested it's a nudibranch. It's one of the sponge eaters, so you don't have to worry about it eating anything that's decorative. It likely won't live very long unless you are accidentally growing it's food sponge in your tank. Leave it there and enjoy it while you can.

http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=dendfuma

Cheers,

Don

Nice find Don. I have tons of live sponges on my Tampa Bay liverock. Hes defitnetly going to thrive and make it in my system. Thanks pal..

pagojoe · 07/29/2009, 11:06 PM

No problem, C_L. Elysia is learning fast, she's gonna know everything I know soon, in addition to a lot of stuff I DON'T know, LOL. Keep up the good work!

Cheers,

Don

Elysia · 07/30/2009, 11:08 AM

And here I thought we could trust Don, but if he makes statements like that....

I'm just advocating good treatment of slugs and Scutus!

07/26/2009, 02:33 PM	#1
coral_lagoon Pushrod Powered Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Down The Corkscrew , CA Posts: 1,263	ID on giant flatworm I always check on my reef at night. To see what kind of organisms lurk. Lastnight I saw this guy. I peeled him off the rock and now he is in my sump. Does anyone know what kind of flatworm this is? The thing is pretty big and has two stumpy antennas on top of his head.. Thanks

07/26/2009, 02:52 PM	#3
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	Maybe it some kind of Nudi? But I have seen pic of the giant flatworms, and they look similar to that. __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

07/26/2009, 08:01 PM	#7
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	Really need a better photo, if it is in fact a polyclad flatworm it's best to take it out as they're rarely beneficial. __________________ April 2015 TOTM

07/28/2009, 04:58 PM	#15
Cbravo212 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tidewater Area, VA Posts: 264	Can you smooth back the skin on his back to reveal a white shell. With the two antennas, sort of looks like a scotus. If so, good score, if not.... __________________ -- Mike "If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking." - General George Patton Jr Current Tank Info: 38gal, 10 gal sump, 4 gal refugium

07/28/2009, 10:28 PM	#16
briangg57 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 634	Not a stomatella, X1 on the nudi __________________ Ain't like goin down to the pond, cetching bluegills and tommy cats. Current Tank Info: 75 gal.,20 gal. sump with wet-dry, also run carbon,75 to 100lbs live rock. 3&1/2 inch sand bed, 390 Watts PC. lighting and loving it!!!

07/26/2009, 02:47 PM	#2
EMV7904 Moved On Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: US Posts: 203	Looks like it MIGHT be a stomatella? (sorry about spelling) It might be a type of snail that has no shell. Just a guess from the pic.

07/26/2009, 06:19 PM	#4
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,718	The predatory polyclad flatworms do not have the rhinophores that seaslugs have. Can you post some additional photos of this creature?

07/26/2009, 06:57 PM	#6
EMV7904 Moved On Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: US Posts: 203	I'm no ID expert, but I don't think this is a flatworm at all. Not only does it not look like one, but you'd see them during the day as well as at night and you'd see more than just one.

07/27/2009, 01:17 PM	#9
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,718	Yes, I think that this could be something other than a flatworm. Its not that your photo isn't good, but we just need to see more detail of the animal in question, and possibly from some additional angles. You never know what it is that will give the ID of an animal away. It looks as though the animal has rhinophores, which would suggest a seaslug. If it is truly issolated in your sump, then there is little reason to take draconian measures before the animal is identified.

07/27/2009, 05:04 PM	#10
rendogg Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Abbotsford, B.C. Posts: 578	Not to say it isn't a slug or nudi but, many Polyclad flatworms have protuberances on their heads similar to rhinophores on slugs and nudis, don't be fooled by its looks.

07/28/2009, 12:09 PM	#12
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,718	I'm sorry, I should have been clearer. The predatory flatworms often seen in tanks do not tend to have noticable tentacles in the pictures posted here. Flatworms do have dorsal pseudotentacles, which are often simple folds in the animal's margin, although in some these pseduotentacles are located farther back in the animal's "neck" region. Thanks rendogg for making me check on that further. Still, a close up image of the animal would be of greater assistance in identifying it.

07/28/2009, 03:41 PM	#13
coral_lagoon Pushrod Powered Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Down The Corkscrew , CA Posts: 1,263	Ok heres a zoomed pic of that worm. Hope this helps..

07/28/2009, 04:55 PM	#14
rendogg Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Abbotsford, B.C. Posts: 578	Great pic! Looks like a nudibranch of some sort.

07/28/2009, 10:55 PM	#17
pagojoe Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 2,761	You won't find a shell on that one. As some of the others have suggested it's a nudibranch. It's one of the sponge eaters, so you don't have to worry about it eating anything that's decorative. It likely won't live very long unless you are accidentally growing it's food sponge in your tank. Leave it there and enjoy it while you can. http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=dendfuma Cheers, Don

07/29/2009, 11:20 AM	#18
rendogg Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Abbotsford, B.C. Posts: 578	Excellent ID pagojoe! I figured it was a Doris of some type.

07/29/2009, 11:39 AM	#19
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,718	PS -- it was the feathery gills on the back that gave it away as a nudi! Thanks Don. And thanks Coral for the detail of the slug. Don't know if I will ever tire of seeing them.

07/29/2009, 11:06 PM	#21
pagojoe Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 2,761	No problem, C_L. Elysia is learning fast, she's gonna know everything I know soon, in addition to a lot of stuff I DON'T know, LOL. Keep up the good work! Cheers, Don

07/30/2009, 11:08 AM	#22
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,718	And here I thought we could trust Don, but if he makes statements like that.... I'm just advocating good treatment of slugs and Scutus!