ID w/out a pic

snulma1 · 06/06/2007, 10:07 PM

So I always chuckled when someone wanted an ID on something from their tank, but had no pic.....but now its happened to me.

I tried to take a photo but they are so small and the camera won't even focus on them since they are on the front glass. So I guess i'll do my best to describe them

I found these the other day, they seem like slugs, brown in color, about the size of a mid-sized copepod and their tail is notched like a V. I looked at Melev's ID page and nothing looked like it. Anyone have any ideas?

SeanT · 06/06/2007, 10:08 PM

The V shaped tail and brown color shot my brain to Flatworms.

SeanT · 06/06/2007, 10:13 PM

I hope they aren't, but do they look like these at all?

snulma1 · 06/07/2007, 05:27 AM

Nah, they don't look lik those. Thats what I thought first too.

I should also add they don't inch along when they move, they slide kina like snails

cowboyswife · 06/07/2007, 06:15 AM

Theyre flatworms. My husband had them, and I took some in a cup of water to a reputable LFS and the owner checked them out with a microscope to give me a positive ID.

snulma1 · 06/07/2007, 06:47 AM

do you have a pic? I'd hate to treat my tank for something then find it out it wasn't what it was.

cowboyswife · 06/07/2007, 06:56 AM

Here is the pic from the scope. HTH.

Shooter7 · 06/07/2007, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Theyre flatworms. My husband had them

Yikes

Hope his doctor cleared them up for him.

I vote flatworms as well. Have seen them before and looked exactly as how you described.

This might help:

http://www.melevsreef.com/flatworms.html

cowboyswife · 06/07/2007, 07:02 AM

When used correctly, flatworm exit works great. Some wrasses will eat them too.

killagoby · 06/07/2007, 07:07 AM

Just watch with FlatwormExit. When they die in mass quantities they will posion your tank. You need to syphon them out as they die with that method. Try to do some larger water changes every week and cut down on feedings. You will slowly see them diminish. I've had them, and the second option got rid of most of them.

snulma1 · 06/07/2007, 07:18 AM

I've looked at your pics, and I don't think thats them, the color is not as spotted on mine, plus the shape is more elongated.

I don't have much in my tank now, as I'm laying fallow after a case of Ich took my clowns. All thats in there is a branching frogspawn, a piece of GSP, a Skunk cleaner shrimp, an emerald crab, some nass snails, astrea snails, and blue legged hermits.

The things I see are on the glass, so I don't know if any are on the rocks, is there a way to treat the tank now that its fallow?

cowboyswife · 06/07/2007, 07:21 AM

They dont look spotted with the naked eye, and the one in the pic doesnt look elongated because he was moving when she was checking him out with the scope. I wish I had other pics to help you, but I dont

cowboyswife · 06/07/2007, 07:29 AM

Do they look like any on this page?

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fltwmid.htm

snulma1 · 06/07/2007, 07:46 AM

The closest thing on that page @ WWM was the copepod eating flatworm, which would make sense since they are always on the glass with my large population of pods.

Paintbug · 06/07/2007, 08:20 AM

those are called Acoelomorph flatworms, or Acoel flatworms for short. they are generally harmless, but mass populations can smother corals, and block the light from them. heres a link with some good pics of them (at the bottom)
http://home2.pacific.net.ph/%7Esweet...itchworms.html

snulma1 · 06/07/2007, 09:13 AM

So is there anything I should do to prevent them from growing in numbers?

Paintbug · 06/07/2007, 07:23 PM

they usually starve off in time. Flatworm Exit will work on them sometimes.

bobparker · 06/07/2007, 07:39 PM

good link paintbug, thanx

06/06/2007, 10:07 PM	#1
snulma1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,281	ID w/out a pic So I always chuckled when someone wanted an ID on something from their tank, but had no pic.....but now its happened to me. I tried to take a photo but they are so small and the camera won't even focus on them since they are on the front glass. So I guess i'll do my best to describe them I found these the other day, they seem like slugs, brown in color, about the size of a mid-sized copepod and their tail is notched like a V. I looked at Melev's ID page and nothing looked like it. Anyone have any ideas?

06/06/2007, 10:08 PM	#2
SeanT Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Wilmington, North Carolina Posts: 13,860	The V shaped tail and brown color shot my brain to Flatworms. __________________ My tank was cool. Current Tank Info: Barebottom (the tank not me...at least not at the moment).

06/06/2007, 10:13 PM	#3
SeanT Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Wilmington, North Carolina Posts: 13,860	I hope they aren't, but do they look like these at all? __________________ My tank was cool. Current Tank Info: Barebottom (the tank not me...at least not at the moment).

06/07/2007, 06:15 AM	#5
cowboyswife Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Deltona FL Posts: 2,187	Theyre flatworms. My husband had them, and I took some in a cup of water to a reputable LFS and the owner checked them out with a microscope to give me a positive ID. __________________ "The voice of the sea speaks to the soul." - Kate Chopin ~Becca Current Tank Info: Out of the hobby for the time being. But Im sticking around anyway!

06/07/2007, 06:56 AM	#7
cowboyswife Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Deltona FL Posts: 2,187	Here is the pic from the scope. HTH. __________________ "The voice of the sea speaks to the soul." - Kate Chopin ~Becca Current Tank Info: Out of the hobby for the time being. But Im sticking around anyway!

06/07/2007, 05:27 AM	#4
snulma1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,281	Nah, they don't look lik those. Thats what I thought first too. I should also add they don't inch along when they move, they slide kina like snails

06/07/2007, 06:47 AM	#6
snulma1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,281	do you have a pic? I'd hate to treat my tank for something then find it out it wasn't what it was.

06/07/2007, 07:02 AM	#9
cowboyswife Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Deltona FL Posts: 2,187	When used correctly, flatworm exit works great. Some wrasses will eat them too. __________________ "The voice of the sea speaks to the soul." - Kate Chopin ~Becca Current Tank Info: Out of the hobby for the time being. But Im sticking around anyway!

06/07/2007, 07:07 AM	#10
killagoby Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Monroe, NJ Posts: 2,150	Just watch with FlatwormExit. When they die in mass quantities they will posion your tank. You need to syphon them out as they die with that method. Try to do some larger water changes every week and cut down on feedings. You will slowly see them diminish. I've had them, and the second option got rid of most of them. __________________ How much money did you spend on that rock again?

06/07/2007, 07:18 AM	#11
snulma1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,281	I've looked at your pics, and I don't think thats them, the color is not as spotted on mine, plus the shape is more elongated. I don't have much in my tank now, as I'm laying fallow after a case of Ich took my clowns. All thats in there is a branching frogspawn, a piece of GSP, a Skunk cleaner shrimp, an emerald crab, some nass snails, astrea snails, and blue legged hermits. The things I see are on the glass, so I don't know if any are on the rocks, is there a way to treat the tank now that its fallow?

06/07/2007, 07:21 AM	#12
cowboyswife Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Deltona FL Posts: 2,187	They dont look spotted with the naked eye, and the one in the pic doesnt look elongated because he was moving when she was checking him out with the scope. I wish I had other pics to help you, but I dont __________________ "The voice of the sea speaks to the soul." - Kate Chopin ~Becca Current Tank Info: Out of the hobby for the time being. But Im sticking around anyway!

06/07/2007, 07:29 AM	#13
cowboyswife Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Deltona FL Posts: 2,187	Do they look like any on this page? http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fltwmid.htm __________________ "The voice of the sea speaks to the soul." - Kate Chopin ~Becca Current Tank Info: Out of the hobby for the time being. But Im sticking around anyway!

06/07/2007, 07:46 AM	#14
snulma1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,281	The closest thing on that page @ WWM was the copepod eating flatworm, which would make sense since they are always on the glass with my large population of pods.

06/07/2007, 08:20 AM	#15
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	those are called Acoelomorph flatworms, or Acoel flatworms for short. they are generally harmless, but mass populations can smother corals, and block the light from them. heres a link with some good pics of them (at the bottom) http://home2.pacific.net.ph/%7Esweet...itchworms.html __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

06/07/2007, 09:13 AM	#16
snulma1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,281	So is there anything I should do to prevent them from growing in numbers?

06/07/2007, 07:23 PM	#17
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	they usually starve off in time. Flatworm Exit will work on them sometimes. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

06/07/2007, 07:39 PM	#18
bobparker Independent thinker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: fletcher, n.c. Posts: 273	good link paintbug, thanx __________________ libertarian at large Current Tank Info: 65 gallon acrylic with external over flow. bubble magnus 125 5kimmer, hydor return pups and pc lighting....it works for me