Anyone know what this is???

jerrym21 · 03/11/2007, 07:32 AM

I have had these things on my mushrooms for about 2 years. They don't seem to bother anything but I'm just wondering what they are. They do move around on their own and are not attached.

dmack · 03/11/2007, 07:37 AM

Im no expert, but they look like flat worms to me.

Sugar Magnolia · 03/11/2007, 07:37 AM

Those are flatworms.

jerrym21 · 03/11/2007, 07:40 AM

Should I try to get rid of them or leave them alone? They have been there for quite a long time. Should I be concerned?

SCR · 03/11/2007, 07:47 AM

Check out the Six Line Wrasse, they are knowed to eat flatworms.
I put a Copperband Butterfly in but haven't notice him eating any.

Frick-n-Frags · 03/11/2007, 08:15 AM

I remember the very first time I had some FW's. They were on the stalk of a Caulastrea and they came out to catch some rays every day. I thought they were cool. They eventually fizzled out like most flushes of little critters did.

However, unbeknownst to me, my tanks (hi-flow BB) were an absolutely horrible environment for red FW's. If you have a substrate and calm flow in areas, watchout. they can multiply to dangerous proportions.

If you have a small status quo population that doesn't really change, they are not an infestation and they are not a problem.

but you probably just need to make periodic mental note of the overall size of the population to make sure it isn't creeping up on you. If it is, then you probably need to siphon them for a week or two and treat the tank.

the sooner, the better if you see an increase

greenbean36191 · 03/11/2007, 07:01 PM

They're commensal flatworms that are often found on red mushrooms. Usually they're identified as Waminoa sp., but AFAIK that's nothing more than a guess. They aren't the dreaded red flatworms that breed like crazy. They should stay on the mushrooms and won't cause any problems.

03/11/2007, 07:32 AM	#1
jerrym21 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 347	Anyone know what this is??? I have had these things on my mushrooms for about 2 years. They don't seem to bother anything but I'm just wondering what they are. They do move around on their own and are not attached.

03/11/2007, 07:37 AM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Those are flatworms. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

03/11/2007, 08:15 AM	#6
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	I remember the very first time I had some FW's. They were on the stalk of a Caulastrea and they came out to catch some rays every day. I thought they were cool. They eventually fizzled out like most flushes of little critters did. However, unbeknownst to me, my tanks (hi-flow BB) were an absolutely horrible environment for red FW's. If you have a substrate and calm flow in areas, watchout. they can multiply to dangerous proportions. If you have a small status quo population that doesn't really change, they are not an infestation and they are not a problem. but you probably just need to make periodic mental note of the overall size of the population to make sure it isn't creeping up on you. If it is, then you probably need to siphon them for a week or two and treat the tank. the sooner, the better if you see an increase __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

03/11/2007, 07:01 PM	#7
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	They're commensal flatworms that are often found on red mushrooms. Usually they're identified as Waminoa sp., but AFAIK that's nothing more than a guess. They aren't the dreaded red flatworms that breed like crazy. They should stay on the mushrooms and won't cause any problems. __________________ Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up

03/11/2007, 07:37 AM	#2
dmack Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Baltimore Posts: 464	Im no expert, but they look like flat worms to me.

03/11/2007, 07:40 AM	#4
jerrym21 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 347	Should I try to get rid of them or leave them alone? They have been there for quite a long time. Should I be concerned?

03/11/2007, 07:47 AM	#5
SCR Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Central, Fl Posts: 708	Check out the Six Line Wrasse, they are knowed to eat flatworms. I put a Copperband Butterfly in but haven't notice him eating any.