Need advice, I got the bug...

homegrownREEFER · 11/29/2011, 05:08 PM

So I just spent the last hour or so syphoning out flatworms into my filter sock before changing it out. I've had them since I started but lately seems like theres just more and more...

They are no bigger than this letter "I" and they look a lot like this, but only that they are clear.

I was watching them for a little while and they seem to be feeding on my pods.

I'd like to get rid of them as it seems they do nothing for my tank but feed on my pods. Anyway I can get rid of them other than using flatworm exit? Any fish I can put in to eat them? I just want to get it under control before they get out of hand since it seems that their population is increasing.

jon99 · 11/30/2011, 03:42 PM

They usually eventually go away on their own or atleast decrease to where they'll be negligable. They sort of come in waves and when conditions are just right their numbers will increase, then after a while die off. Becareful if you use Flatworm exit. The dead flatworms realease toxins into the water. If there is enough of them it could effect your other livestock. Some wrasses and mandarines may eat them, but I think it's sort of hit and miss. And you have to be preparred when the flatworms are all eatne up so the fish won't starrve.

According to Melev, your siphone and filter sock sounds like the way to go...
http://www.melevsreef.com/flatworms.html

homegrownREEFER · 11/30/2011, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jon99

They usually eventually go away on their own or atleast decrease to where they'll be negligable. They sort of come in waves and when conditions are just right their numbers will increase, then after a while die off. Becareful if you use Flatworm exit. The dead flatworms realease toxins into the water. If there is enough of them it could effect your other livestock. Some wrasses and mandarines may eat them, but I think it's sort of hit and miss. And you have to be preparred when the flatworms are all eatne up so the fish won't starrve.

According to Melev, your siphone and filter sock sounds like the way to go...
http://www.melevsreef.com/flatworms.html

Thanks Jon, I'm trying not to use FE, if I do it would be a last resort. Was thinking about getting a wrasse but not sure which one yet. I have a pretty strong pod population in there and the refugium and I don't want these damn Flatworms to eat it all up. I guess i'll stick to syphoning for now and pick a Wrasse to throw in there to see if it will help.

jon99 · 11/30/2011, 07:38 PM

Maybe go with a 6-line? They're not too pricey and have great personalities. Easy to find too. Not sure if any particular species would be more likely to eat the flat worms.

Bens_Reef · 11/30/2011, 07:46 PM

i recently added a six line to my tank for this reason and he seems to be doing the trick, i see him eating alot of stuff in the tank so havent fed and pellets or anything yet. alot less flatworms now too. hes only been in my DT maybe a week

homegrownREEFER · 12/01/2011, 10:02 AM

Thanks for the suggestion guys. I'm going to give a Wrasse a try and see if it will help. I like the Six Line, but what do yous think of a Mystery Wrasse? I really like the look of them. Think the Mystery will pick at the flatworms? How about all the other little life thats beneficial, will it eat that as well?

SecretiveFish · 12/01/2011, 10:14 AM

Do you have shrimp? The mystery wrasse will most likely eat them, and FYI six line wrasses have a reputation for becoming nasty. Yes, the mystery wrasse will pick off the other beneficial life as well as munch on your clean up crew.

What are your other tank inhabitants? Make sure the wrasse is compatible and make sure your tank is covered.

homegrownREEFER · 12/01/2011, 10:28 AM

I have 2 Skunk Shrimp but they are pretty big and a few Snail that are pretty large as well. The wrasse would eat them? The other things I have that are smaller are Bristleworms, Collonista Snails, Micro Brittles, Peanut Worm, Vermatid Snails, few different types of tube worms, feather dusters, basically the usual hitchickers on live rock. The only thing is that these flatworms are getting annoying. I wanted to get a Mystery since I love its appearance and I heard they weren't as aggresive as other Wrasses.

85galsalty · 12/01/2011, 11:36 AM

We added a six line, after successfully treating with FE, to grab up any remaining flatworms. He did the trick and quickly became one of my favorites. Very active with an outgoing personality. They love all meaty "bugs" and will also eat pods. They are avid hunters with voracious appetites. 2 peppermint shrimp disappeared shortly after his introduction, and he did get very aggressive with a Kole Tang that was added a year later. So much so that we spent 5 hours trying to catch him and ultimately tore down the entire tank, rock by rock, trying to catch him. He know resides in the sump.

jon99 · 12/01/2011, 12:14 PM

I had no idea sixlines were so aggressive. They're usually listed as reef safe.

SecretiveFish · 12/01/2011, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homegrownREEFER

I have 2 Skunk Shrimp but they are pretty big and a few Snail that are pretty large as well. The wrasse would eat them? ....

Most likely yes (there are no guarantees in this hobby!). The wrasse would probably get them when they molt and would pick at the snails while they are out eventually killing them. You might get lucky though. Search for any threads like "my shrimp disappeared!!" and most likely there was a non-fairy or non-flasher wrasse in the tank who ate the shrimp.

homegrownREEFER · 12/01/2011, 01:19 PM

Aww shucks, so I am guessing that any Wrasse I put in will potentially snack on my shrimp or snails... Well thanks for the heads up, probably saved me loads of time and questions as to why my shrimp and snails dissapeared.. Anything else anyone can think of that I can try?

jon99 · 12/01/2011, 02:03 PM

I think a mandarine might eat those buggers and they leave your snails and shrimp alone as far as I know.

homegrownREEFER · 12/01/2011, 08:57 PM

I haven't heard of mandarins eating flatworms? Also I would need an amazing population of pods but these flatworms keep snacking on them. Any other suggestions?

Musing.Dog · 12/02/2011, 12:33 AM

According to Melev's site, the little clear flatworms aren't anything to be worried about. That page also lists some fish that eat flatworms. Whatever eats flatworms probably eats copepods too though.

11/29/2011, 05:08 PM	#1
homegrownREEFER Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 171	Need advice, I got the bug... So I just spent the last hour or so syphoning out flatworms into my filter sock before changing it out. I've had them since I started but lately seems like theres just more and more... They are no bigger than this letter "I" and they look a lot like this, but only that they are clear. I was watching them for a little while and they seem to be feeding on my pods. I'd like to get rid of them as it seems they do nothing for my tank but feed on my pods. Anyway I can get rid of them other than using flatworm exit? Any fish I can put in to eat them? I just want to get it under control before they get out of hand since it seems that their population is increasing.

11/30/2011, 07:46 PM	#5
Bens_Reef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 324	i recently added a six line to my tank for this reason and he seems to be doing the trick, i see him eating alot of stuff in the tank so havent fed and pellets or anything yet. alot less flatworms now too. hes only been in my DT maybe a week __________________ Briareum sp., Zoanthus sp., Caulastrea furcata, Protopalythoa sp., Capnella sp., Galaxea spp., Anthelia sp., Euphyllia paranchora 6-Line Wrasse Current Tank Info: 40g Reef/20g Sump/Fuge, 80# LR and 120 Watt LED 460nm 14k PH-8.3, NO3-10-15, PO4-0, dKH-7, Ca-500, Mg-1440, SG-1.026, 77.2-78.2 F

12/01/2011, 11:36 AM	#9
85galsalty Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 140	We added a six line, after successfully treating with FE, to grab up any remaining flatworms. He did the trick and quickly became one of my favorites. Very active with an outgoing personality. They love all meaty "bugs" and will also eat pods. They are avid hunters with voracious appetites. 2 peppermint shrimp disappeared shortly after his introduction, and he did get very aggressive with a Kole Tang that was added a year later. So much so that we spent 5 hours trying to catch him and ultimately tore down the entire tank, rock by rock, trying to catch him. He know resides in the sump. __________________ "Just add water" Current Tank Info: 100gal mixed reef w/sump & 75 gal mixed reef w/ sump. Foxface Rabbit, Royal Gramma, False Percula Clown, Kole Tang, Regal Tang, Yellow Tang. Various Inverts.

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11/30/2011, 03:42 PM	#2
jon99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atl Ga Posts: 817	They usually eventually go away on their own or atleast decrease to where they'll be negligable. They sort of come in waves and when conditions are just right their numbers will increase, then after a while die off. Becareful if you use Flatworm exit. The dead flatworms realease toxins into the water. If there is enough of them it could effect your other livestock. Some wrasses and mandarines may eat them, but I think it's sort of hit and miss. And you have to be preparred when the flatworms are all eatne up so the fish won't starrve. According to Melev, your siphone and filter sock sounds like the way to go... http://www.melevsreef.com/flatworms.html

11/30/2011, 07:38 PM	#4
jon99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atl Ga Posts: 817	Maybe go with a 6-line? They're not too pricey and have great personalities. Easy to find too. Not sure if any particular species would be more likely to eat the flat worms.

12/01/2011, 10:02 AM	#6
homegrownREEFER Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 171	Thanks for the suggestion guys. I'm going to give a Wrasse a try and see if it will help. I like the Six Line, but what do yous think of a Mystery Wrasse? I really like the look of them. Think the Mystery will pick at the flatworms? How about all the other little life thats beneficial, will it eat that as well?

12/01/2011, 10:14 AM	#7
SecretiveFish Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: PNW Posts: 713	Do you have shrimp? The mystery wrasse will most likely eat them, and FYI six line wrasses have a reputation for becoming nasty. Yes, the mystery wrasse will pick off the other beneficial life as well as munch on your clean up crew. What are your other tank inhabitants? Make sure the wrasse is compatible and make sure your tank is covered.

12/01/2011, 10:28 AM	#8
homegrownREEFER Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 171	I have 2 Skunk Shrimp but they are pretty big and a few Snail that are pretty large as well. The wrasse would eat them? The other things I have that are smaller are Bristleworms, Collonista Snails, Micro Brittles, Peanut Worm, Vermatid Snails, few different types of tube worms, feather dusters, basically the usual hitchickers on live rock. The only thing is that these flatworms are getting annoying. I wanted to get a Mystery since I love its appearance and I heard they weren't as aggresive as other Wrasses.

12/01/2011, 12:14 PM	#10
jon99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atl Ga Posts: 817	I had no idea sixlines were so aggressive. They're usually listed as reef safe.

12/01/2011, 01:19 PM	#12
homegrownREEFER Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 171	Aww shucks, so I am guessing that any Wrasse I put in will potentially snack on my shrimp or snails... Well thanks for the heads up, probably saved me loads of time and questions as to why my shrimp and snails dissapeared.. Anything else anyone can think of that I can try?

12/01/2011, 02:03 PM	#13
jon99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atl Ga Posts: 817	I think a mandarine might eat those buggers and they leave your snails and shrimp alone as far as I know.

12/01/2011, 08:57 PM	#14
homegrownREEFER Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 171	I haven't heard of mandarins eating flatworms? Also I would need an amazing population of pods but these flatworms keep snacking on them. Any other suggestions?

12/02/2011, 12:33 AM	#15
Musing.Dog Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Arizona, US Posts: 231	According to Melev's site, the little clear flatworms aren't anything to be worried about. That page also lists some fish that eat flatworms. Whatever eats flatworms probably eats copepods too though.