flat worm eater

zackdastack · 09/08/2009, 02:29 PM

i just purchased one of these bad bears( blue velvet nudibranch) to fight a flat worm investation. I know that they only eat flatworms but how soon should i see a dif.? Also any other comments on keeping one are quite welcome.
THANKS IN ADVANCE

addonnis242 · 09/08/2009, 07:19 PM

I tried the same thing when I had flat worms. It all depends on how bad the infestation is, and believe me if you see fifty there are two hundred more you don't see. For me the velvet nudi did very little and the six line wrasse did even less. In the end I used the flat worm treatment from Blue Life and was flat worm free in two days. The treatment had NO effect on any of my fish or corals, if I had to do it again I'd use the Blue Life treatment first.

Good Luck

Zestay · 09/08/2009, 07:51 PM

most people say 6 lines. but each fish is hit or miss.

zackdastack · 09/09/2009, 08:38 AM

is the blue life treatment the same as the flat worm exit?

Juruense · 09/09/2009, 08:41 AM

I used the Blue Life it had zero effect even in monster doses but it did make me $28 poorer...

My six line and mandarin ate them all however.

flamron · 09/09/2009, 08:44 AM

I've got a christmas wrasse on order. I will let you know how it goes. I should have it tomorrow or Friday.

addonnis242 · 09/09/2009, 03:49 PM

Yes the Blue Life treatment is very similar to the Salifert flat worm exit. I think both work, I just decided on the Blue Life treatment. I was nervous at first, but it really didn't harm anything but the flat worms. Just be sure to siphon out the flat worms as they die due to the toxins they release. The toxins could be an issue if you left the dead ones in the tank.

Tadashi · 09/13/2009, 08:26 AM

There are some flatworms that develop a resistance to the medications. I have used Salifert and it killed 90% of all the flatworms. Subsequent treatments (up to 3x dose) will kill some more but I have a core of flatworms that seem to be unaffected.

I may try Blue Life next to see if trying both will get them all.

spscoral101 · 09/13/2009, 08:52 AM

Melax works great as the dip for flatworms. Leopard and Radiant are great reef habitants to control flatworms.

sedor · 09/13/2009, 09:05 AM

After you treat the tank try and get in there and manually remove as many as possible as well...

Tadashi · 09/13/2009, 02:30 PM

I have a 14-gal so limited in what fish I can put in there. I have nothing but two peppermint shrimp and a few snails.

Tracey2 · 09/13/2009, 02:37 PM

Would the Blue Life harm an anemone?

addonnis242 · 09/13/2009, 02:38 PM

I had an anemone, sps, amd lps corals in my tank when I used it. Nothing seemed bothered by it other than the flatworms. JME though.

Tracey2 · 09/13/2009, 02:43 PM

Thanks, do flatworms eventually run their course or do you have to do something to get rid of them? Do they harm corals?

Tadashi · 09/13/2009, 02:51 PM

Some say they may go away on their own or at best keep their population in check. However, unless you have some type of natural control they can grow out of hand. Usually this is a wrasse (6-line and some others may get them), mandarins, and velvert nudibrach. They can be difficult to starve out of the system without starving the other livestock.

I do not think they directly harm corals. Some have said they can cover the coral and starve it. I had SPS and pretty high flow so that may have prevented them.

Not sure how they will interact with my nano. So I am a bit worried.

Tracey2 · 09/13/2009, 03:13 PM

Thanks

lancecobb1 · 09/13/2009, 05:52 PM

I put a nudi in my tank and they were gone in 2 weeks! I had a ton of flatworms! Never saw the nudi after I put it in the tank but the flatworms disapeared!

laurarca · 09/13/2009, 07:37 PM

If you can take the corals out, I use Lugols iodine solution dip...then to keep the others in check, my mandarins have a field day. The problem with nudis is that yes, they do work, but their sole diet is the flatworms and once they have exhausted the intake, they will starve. My mandarins are 2 years old and also eat frozen brine shrimp.

Tadashi · 09/13/2009, 07:59 PM

So what would your recommendation be for a 14-gal Nano? I suppose I could put a mandarin in but then I would have to feed the tank pods every week or day unless I am lucky to get it to eat frozen brine.

laurarca · 09/13/2009, 08:11 PM

How well established is your 14g? You might have enough pods built up...I have a total of 4 mandarins and they all eat frozen foods :-) You could also ask at your LFS to feed them frozen brine in front of you...

Tadashi · 09/14/2009, 07:36 PM

The tank is 3 months old, but... I added 1000+ pods from livecopepods.com (3 different species) plus an IPSF pod kit. My thinking was partially to get the pods up and running to eat some of the nutrients before the flatworms could. Unfortunately, the LFS around here are like fish death camps. All the mandarins have been on the verge of death so I have been hesitant to get one since it is not a 100% change they will eat the worms. I suppose I could trade it in if it does not eat the worms.

09/08/2009, 02:29 PM	#1
zackdastack Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: bethel Posts: 249	flat worm eater i just purchased one of these bad bears( blue velvet nudibranch) to fight a flat worm investation. I know that they only eat flatworms but how soon should i see a dif.? Also any other comments on keeping one are quite welcome. THANKS IN ADVANCE

09/09/2009, 08:44 AM	#6
flamron Professional Stick Gluer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 2,216	I've got a christmas wrasse on order. I will let you know how it goes. I should have it tomorrow or Friday. __________________ Ronnie 60g cube - Ghost Overflow - ATI 8 bulb dimmable sunpower - Apex - MP10s - Synergy sump

09/13/2009, 08:26 AM	#8
Tadashi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Ft. Hood, TX, USA Posts: 2,252	There are some flatworms that develop a resistance to the medications. I have used Salifert and it killed 90% of all the flatworms. Subsequent treatments (up to 3x dose) will kill some more but I have a core of flatworms that seem to be unaffected. I may try Blue Life next to see if trying both will get them all. __________________ Honey, put down the bleach and step away from the tank. I promise we will spend more quality time together. Current Tank Info: 14-gal Oceanic BioCube (see homepage link for current status)

09/13/2009, 09:05 AM	#10
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	After you treat the tank try and get in there and manually remove as many as possible as well... __________________ Ryan

09/13/2009, 02:30 PM	#11
Tadashi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Ft. Hood, TX, USA Posts: 2,252	I have a 14-gal so limited in what fish I can put in there. I have nothing but two peppermint shrimp and a few snails. __________________ Honey, put down the bleach and step away from the tank. I promise we will spend more quality time together. Current Tank Info: 14-gal Oceanic BioCube (see homepage link for current status)

09/08/2009, 07:19 PM	#2
addonnis242 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 177	I tried the same thing when I had flat worms. It all depends on how bad the infestation is, and believe me if you see fifty there are two hundred more you don't see. For me the velvet nudi did very little and the six line wrasse did even less. In the end I used the flat worm treatment from Blue Life and was flat worm free in two days. The treatment had NO effect on any of my fish or corals, if I had to do it again I'd use the Blue Life treatment first. Good Luck

09/08/2009, 07:51 PM	#3
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	most people say 6 lines. but each fish is hit or miss.

09/09/2009, 08:38 AM	#4
zackdastack Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: bethel Posts: 249	is the blue life treatment the same as the flat worm exit?

09/09/2009, 08:41 AM	#5
Juruense Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1,138	I used the Blue Life it had zero effect even in monster doses but it did make me $28 poorer... My six line and mandarin ate them all however.

09/09/2009, 03:49 PM	#7
addonnis242 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 177	Yes the Blue Life treatment is very similar to the Salifert flat worm exit. I think both work, I just decided on the Blue Life treatment. I was nervous at first, but it really didn't harm anything but the flat worms. Just be sure to siphon out the flat worms as they die due to the toxins they release. The toxins could be an issue if you left the dead ones in the tank.

09/13/2009, 08:52 AM	#9
spscoral101 Moved On Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 17	Melax works great as the dip for flatworms. Leopard and Radiant are great reef habitants to control flatworms.

09/13/2009, 02:37 PM	#12
Tracey2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 860	Would the Blue Life harm an anemone?

09/13/2009, 02:38 PM	#13
addonnis242 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 177	I had an anemone, sps, amd lps corals in my tank when I used it. Nothing seemed bothered by it other than the flatworms. JME though.

09/13/2009, 02:43 PM	#14
Tracey2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 860	Thanks, do flatworms eventually run their course or do you have to do something to get rid of them? Do they harm corals?

09/13/2009, 02:51 PM	#15
Tadashi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Ft. Hood, TX, USA Posts: 2,252	Some say they may go away on their own or at best keep their population in check. However, unless you have some type of natural control they can grow out of hand. Usually this is a wrasse (6-line and some others may get them), mandarins, and velvert nudibrach. They can be difficult to starve out of the system without starving the other livestock. I do not think they directly harm corals. Some have said they can cover the coral and starve it. I had SPS and pretty high flow so that may have prevented them. Not sure how they will interact with my nano. So I am a bit worried. __________________ Honey, put down the bleach and step away from the tank. I promise we will spend more quality time together. Current Tank Info: 14-gal Oceanic BioCube (see homepage link for current status)

09/13/2009, 03:13 PM	#16
Tracey2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 860	Thanks

09/13/2009, 05:52 PM	#17
lancecobb1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 53	I put a nudi in my tank and they were gone in 2 weeks! I had a ton of flatworms! Never saw the nudi after I put it in the tank but the flatworms disapeared!

09/13/2009, 07:37 PM	#18
laurarca Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 98	If you can take the corals out, I use Lugols iodine solution dip...then to keep the others in check, my mandarins have a field day. The problem with nudis is that yes, they do work, but their sole diet is the flatworms and once they have exhausted the intake, they will starve. My mandarins are 2 years old and also eat frozen brine shrimp.

09/13/2009, 07:59 PM	#19
Tadashi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Ft. Hood, TX, USA Posts: 2,252	So what would your recommendation be for a 14-gal Nano? I suppose I could put a mandarin in but then I would have to feed the tank pods every week or day unless I am lucky to get it to eat frozen brine. __________________ Honey, put down the bleach and step away from the tank. I promise we will spend more quality time together. Current Tank Info: 14-gal Oceanic BioCube (see homepage link for current status)

09/13/2009, 08:11 PM	#20
laurarca Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 98	How well established is your 14g? You might have enough pods built up...I have a total of 4 mandarins and they all eat frozen foods :-) You could also ask at your LFS to feed them frozen brine in front of you...

09/14/2009, 07:36 PM	#21
Tadashi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Ft. Hood, TX, USA Posts: 2,252	The tank is 3 months old, but... I added 1000+ pods from livecopepods.com (3 different species) plus an IPSF pod kit. My thinking was partially to get the pods up and running to eat some of the nutrients before the flatworms could. Unfortunately, the LFS around here are like fish death camps. All the mandarins have been on the verge of death so I have been hesitant to get one since it is not a 100% change they will eat the worms. I suppose I could trade it in if it does not eat the worms. __________________ Honey, put down the bleach and step away from the tank. I promise we will spend more quality time together. Current Tank Info: 14-gal Oceanic BioCube (see homepage link for current status)