What is this?

lbannie · 04/06/2020, 10:17 AM

Quite a few of these on my glass, they stay in one spot, but will move if you disturb them

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deaclauderdale · 04/06/2020, 10:23 AM

Flatworms.

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Four drachma · 04/06/2020, 11:01 AM

Yep , flat worms!! Ugh, they reproduce like crazy!

Word of advice, be careful if you use flatworm exit, it works but won’t kill the eggs, so repetitive treatment is necessary to get rid of them. Also, it’ll also kill your corals and snails, shrimp, crabs-inverts, if you’re not careful.

Good luck!

lbannie · 04/06/2020, 11:19 AM

Great. Somehow they were in my temporary tank and I must’ve picked some up when I transferred them to this one

I just read that 6 line wrasses eat them? Anything else eat them?
Will they harm fish?

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AlSimmons · 04/06/2020, 11:27 AM

Your best bet IMO is to get some airline tubing and siphon them out one by one. You could try something like a 6-line wrasse, but these fish can be quite aggressive and it could become more trouble than it's worth.

Four drachma · 04/06/2020, 11:38 AM

They won’t hurt your fish. Some six line will eat them others won’t.

They’re attracted to the algae on the glass, so maybe let in grow a little and siphon them out daily. But I’m sure there’ll be some on corals you miss.

They also like chaeto, so if you have any, dip it too. They get everywhere.

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billdogg · 04/06/2020, 01:02 PM

Although FWE can work, I prefer the more natural method. A pair of Blue Star Leopard Wrasses took care of mine in a matter of days. They are also some of the more stunning fish we have the privilege of keeping.

biecacka · 04/06/2020, 01:19 PM

Your wrasses are beautiful bill!

Corey

lbannie · 04/06/2020, 01:32 PM

I got all the ones off the glass, I used a razor blade and scraped slowly till they went onto that.
Only about 20. I’ll keep looking for them.
It’s a brand new tank, so there’s no algae. I do see them now in my temporary tank that was holding my coral and 1 fish.

hopefully it doesn’t get worse!
I will look into that wrasse

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ThRoewer · 04/06/2020, 05:13 PM

Red Planaria.
It seems some dragonets eat them. I got the Planaria in the sump tanks of my 100 gallon tank but not a single one in the main tank where I have a pair of regular Mandarins.

And this is how it looks when it gets really bad:

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billdogg · 04/07/2020, 12:33 PM

FWIW - a Leopard wrasse is a horrible idea in anything other that a very well established system. They love to hunt for little stuff, and in a new tank there just won't be much.

lbannie · 04/08/2020, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

FWIW - a Leopard wrasse is a horrible idea in anything other that a very well established system. They love to hunt for little stuff, and in a new tank there just won't be much.

There’s only a few on my glass...I’m taking them out whenever I see one so hopefully it doesn’t become an issue.

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ThRoewer · 04/08/2020, 02:23 PM

I suspect clownfish, if sufficiently hungry, eat them as well.

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DaisyDuke · 04/08/2020, 03:05 PM

Get it out before it multiplies.

lbannie · 04/10/2020, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaisyDuke

Get it out before it multiplies.

I’m taking them out as soon as I see them. Yesterday I only saw 5 so hopefully I’m gaining on it!!
I’m so glad I asked...I thought they might be something good!

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lbannie · 04/10/2020, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThRoewer

I suspect clownfish, if sufficiently hungry, eat them as well.

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I don’t have clowns...I’ve had them in my previous tanks and they get mean!! My last 2 always tried to bite me!! Sold those buggers with the old tank

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outssider · 04/10/2020, 03:27 PM

6 line wrasse will work but some say it will become aggressive ...mine wasn't

lbannie · 04/10/2020, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outssider

6 line wrasse will work but some say it will become aggressive ...mine wasn't

I’ve read that. I’ll look into them

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deaclauderdale · 04/10/2020, 05:31 PM

Blue velvet nudi works great. I’ve used them in the past and flatworms are their primary diet. Be advised, they will die when the food source runs.

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cody6766 · 04/11/2020, 07:51 AM

It's hard to tell for sure if it's red or more clear. I've had clear flat worms in many tanks that never reproduced in any large numbers. You could see a few in the tank if you looked around, but nothing worth messing with.

The reds, however, reproduce in plague proportions. I ended up with a bad case of them in one tank several years ago. A yellow coris wrasse took care of everything in the display tank. They eventually died out in the sump, but I don't know why. The reds definitely need intervention in some way or form.

ThRoewer · 04/11/2020, 08:21 AM

Clear/white flatworms are generally considered beneficial.
The red ones are somewhat between a nuisance and a pest.
And then there are those that sit on mushrooms which might be benign or parasites.
And finally there are those clearly parasitic ones that munch on corals.

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ThRoewer · 04/11/2020, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outssider

6 line wrasse will work but some say it will become aggressive ...mine wasn't

Sixline wrasses are best kept with larger fish. Fish in their size class may get bullied, especially if they are seen as competitors for food.
Keeping the sixlines in pairs or harems helps to curb some of the general aggression, but not the aggression against food competitors.
They are actually my favorite wrasses because they are pretty and very smart.

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Four drachma · 04/12/2020, 10:49 AM

Ever wonder how flatworms multiply so quickly? All the spots are eggs!

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Four drachma · 04/13/2020, 05:56 AM

Here’s the entire flat worm. This is the rust brown flatworm, identified by the orange spot on its back. Anyway, all the specks are eggs. I took this pic using my microscope, it’s a great tool to have, and very interesting to check out things living in our aquariums.

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OrionN · 04/13/2020, 07:14 AM

That flat worm is not the red flat worm that plagues many tanks. I would not worry about it. Something will eat it and you won’t see it or it progeny other than rarely.

04/06/2020, 10:17 AM	#1
lbannie Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 129	What is this? Quite a few of these on my glass, they stay in one spot, but will move if you disturb them Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04/06/2020, 10:23 AM	#2
deaclauderdale Lover of Fishies Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 613	Flatworms. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 70 Gal Cadlights (2) Radion G2's Bubble Magnus Curve5 Apex brain trust! Current Tank Info: Cadlights 70 reef tank, 2 Gen 2 Radions, BM Curve7 Skimmer

04/06/2020, 11:01 AM	#3
Four drachma Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 134	What is this? Yep , flat worms!! Ugh, they reproduce like crazy! Word of advice, be careful if you use flatworm exit, it works but won’t kill the eggs, so repetitive treatment is necessary to get rid of them. Also, it’ll also kill your corals and snails, shrimp, crabs-inverts, if you’re not careful. Good luck!

04/06/2020, 01:02 PM	#7
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	Although FWE can work, I prefer the more natural method. A pair of Blue Star Leopard Wrasses took care of mine in a matter of days. They are also some of the more stunning fish we have the privilege of keeping. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

04/06/2020, 05:13 PM	#10
ThRoewer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 9,555	Red Planaria. It seems some dragonets eat them. I got the Planaria in the sump tanks of my 100 gallon tank but not a single one in the main tank where I have a pair of regular Mandarins. And this is how it looks when it gets really bad: Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk __________________ Pairs: 4 percula, 3 P. kauderni, 3 D. excisus, 1 ea of P. diacanthus, S. splendidus, C. altivelis O. rosenblatti, D. janssi, S. yasha & a Gramma loreto trio 3 P. diacanthus. 2 C. starcki Current Tank Info: 200 gal 4 tank system (40x28x24 + 40B + 40B sump tank + 20g refugium) + 30x18x18 mixed reef + 20g East Pacific biotop + 20g FW +...

04/06/2020, 11:19 AM	#4
lbannie Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 129	Great. Somehow they were in my temporary tank and I must’ve picked some up when I transferred them to this one I just read that 6 line wrasses eat them? Anything else eat them? Will they harm fish? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04/06/2020, 11:27 AM	#5
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	Your best bet IMO is to get some airline tubing and siphon them out one by one. You could try something like a 6-line wrasse, but these fish can be quite aggressive and it could become more trouble than it's worth.

04/06/2020, 11:38 AM	#6
Four drachma Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 134	They won’t hurt your fish. Some six line will eat them others won’t. They’re attracted to the algae on the glass, so maybe let in grow a little and siphon them out daily. But I’m sure there’ll be some on corals you miss. They also like chaeto, so if you have any, dip it too. They get everywhere. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04/06/2020, 01:19 PM	#8
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Your wrasses are beautiful bill! Corey

04/06/2020, 01:32 PM	#9
lbannie Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 129	I got all the ones off the glass, I used a razor blade and scraped slowly till they went onto that. Only about 20. I’ll keep looking for them. It’s a brand new tank, so there’s no algae. I do see them now in my temporary tank that was holding my coral and 1 fish. hopefully it doesn’t get worse! I will look into that wrasse Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04/07/2020, 12:33 PM	#11
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	FWIW - a Leopard wrasse is a horrible idea in anything other that a very well established system. They love to hunt for little stuff, and in a new tank there just won't be much. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

04/08/2020, 02:23 PM	#13
ThRoewer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 9,555	I suspect clownfish, if sufficiently hungry, eat them as well. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk __________________ Pairs: 4 percula, 3 P. kauderni, 3 D. excisus, 1 ea of P. diacanthus, S. splendidus, C. altivelis O. rosenblatti, D. janssi, S. yasha & a Gramma loreto trio 3 P. diacanthus. 2 C. starcki Current Tank Info: 200 gal 4 tank system (40x28x24 + 40B + 40B sump tank + 20g refugium) + 30x18x18 mixed reef + 20g East Pacific biotop + 20g FW +...

04/08/2020, 03:05 PM	#14
DaisyDuke Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 11	Get it out before it multiplies.

04/10/2020, 03:27 PM	#17
outssider Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Reseda, Ca. Posts: 1,717	6 line wrasse will work but some say it will become aggressive ...mine wasn't __________________ Please don't feed the bears because the bears will become dependent on free handouts and forget how to take care of themselves …... Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Mixed reef mostly sps

04/10/2020, 05:31 PM	#19
deaclauderdale Lover of Fishies Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 613	Blue velvet nudi works great. I’ve used them in the past and flatworms are their primary diet. Be advised, they will die when the food source runs. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 70 Gal Cadlights (2) Radion G2's Bubble Magnus Curve5 Apex brain trust! Current Tank Info: Cadlights 70 reef tank, 2 Gen 2 Radions, BM Curve7 Skimmer

04/11/2020, 07:51 AM	#20
cody6766 Super Best Friends! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,772	It's hard to tell for sure if it's red or more clear. I've had clear flat worms in many tanks that never reproduced in any large numbers. You could see a few in the tank if you looked around, but nothing worth messing with. The reds, however, reproduce in plague proportions. I ended up with a bad case of them in one tank several years ago. A yellow coris wrasse took care of everything in the display tank. They eventually died out in the sump, but I don't know why. The reds definitely need intervention in some way or form. __________________ "The moral is the chosen, not the forced; the understood, not the obeyed. The moral is the rational, and reason accepts no commandments." - John Galt Current Tank Info: Cadlights 60G Arisan II mixed reef with 2x MP40s and 24" ATI

04/11/2020, 08:21 AM	#21
ThRoewer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 9,555	Clear/white flatworms are generally considered beneficial. The red ones are somewhat between a nuisance and a pest. And then there are those that sit on mushrooms which might be benign or parasites. And finally there are those clearly parasitic ones that munch on corals. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk __________________ Pairs: 4 percula, 3 P. kauderni, 3 D. excisus, 1 ea of P. diacanthus, S. splendidus, C. altivelis O. rosenblatti, D. janssi, S. yasha & a Gramma loreto trio 3 P. diacanthus. 2 C. starcki Current Tank Info: 200 gal 4 tank system (40x28x24 + 40B + 40B sump tank + 20g refugium) + 30x18x18 mixed reef + 20g East Pacific biotop + 20g FW +...

04/12/2020, 10:49 AM	#23
Four drachma Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 134	Ever wonder how flatworms multiply so quickly? All the spots are eggs! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04/13/2020, 05:56 AM	#24
Four drachma Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 134	Here’s the entire flat worm. This is the rust brown flatworm, identified by the orange spot on its back. Anyway, all the specks are eggs. I took this pic using my microscope, it’s a great tool to have, and very interesting to check out things living in our aquariums. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04/13/2020, 07:14 AM	#25
OrionN Moved on Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Coastal Texas Posts: 16,000	That flat worm is not the red flat worm that plagues many tanks. I would not worry about it. Something will eat it and you won’t see it or it progeny other than rarely. __________________ Minh My homepage is my album here at Reef Central Current Tank Info: Reboot 320 anemones reef. Angels: Yellow Chest Regal(2), Flame (2). Copperband But. Tangs: Yellow, Purple. Wrasse: about 20 wrasses various species. Anemones: Giantea X4 (Breen, Blue, Purple and Multicolors), Haddoni X1 Red, Magnifica X1 Purpletip