Flatworm identification. !HELP!

FishNDip · 05/25/2017, 10:02 PM

Hey guess. Found this flatworm in my tank. Is it a snail eater? Do you think there are anymore in my tank? Perhaps I need flatworm exit? Or if there's anymore I can put a snail in my tank for 3 weeks to see if it gets eaten by a hidden killer....

I left on vocation one time for 3 weeks and when I came back all 3 of my snails had died...Could this be the reason?
This means war!

FishNDip · 05/25/2017, 10:03 PM

Here's a link.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/p...3522?icm=false

Sugar Magnolia · 05/26/2017, 06:19 AM

Yes, that's a polyclad flatworm. They eat snails and mollusks.

FishNDip · 05/28/2017, 12:47 AM

Well dang it what should I do? Add a snail to see if there's anymore? Or add flatworm exit first?

Sugar Magnolia · 05/28/2017, 06:44 AM

Flatworm exit is meant to be used on the small brown or red flatworms, not these big guys. Since they're nocturnal your best bet is to check in the tank during the night.

Nick_Northern · 05/28/2017, 11:33 AM

I have pulled two of these out of my tank, the first time I caught one in the act eating a trochus and netted it out, the second was a little trickier I left a piece of frozen prawn in a shotglass just before lights out then came down a couple of hours later and it was eating it, it spooked and slid across the sandbed luckily for me right into an empty hermit shell which I then netted out. They are suprisingly quick and can dissapear into very small spaces.

I would not add any more snails while this is in the tank, just set some bait and come down after lights out with a red torch and you should spot if there are any more. They are fairly fragile so be careful not to rip it or leave any parts behind as it could grow back into another worm, also not that you would want to but don't touch it, I believe they secrete fairly powerful toxins but could be species dependant.

Good luck!

FishNDip · 05/29/2017, 02:26 PM

Thanks for the info guys! Should I use a bottle for a trap nick? Think my shrimp would eat anything I put it. I have seaweed, pellets and frozen mysis I could put in a bottle. What do they eat? Do you think there are more in my tank>?< How do they reproduce?

asapilot · 12/19/2017, 09:17 PM

I just came on here looking for an ID and it looks like I found one on my first try!

Found this guy in my sump filter sock tonight. He's probably harmless down there, but he still needs to go. Better safe that sorry.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ob...VgSwHgkt2PjtAl

05/25/2017, 10:02 PM	#1
FishNDip Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Long Beach Posts: 337	Flatworm identification. !HELP! Hey guess. Found this flatworm in my tank. Is it a snail eater? Do you think there are anymore in my tank? Perhaps I need flatworm exit? Or if there's anymore I can put a snail in my tank for 3 weeks to see if it gets eaten by a hidden killer.... I left on vocation one time for 3 weeks and when I came back all 3 of my snails had died...Could this be the reason? This means war!

05/26/2017, 06:19 AM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Yes, that's a polyclad flatworm. They eat snails and mollusks. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

05/28/2017, 06:44 AM	#5
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Flatworm exit is meant to be used on the small brown or red flatworms, not these big guys. Since they're nocturnal your best bet is to check in the tank during the night. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

12/19/2017, 09:17 PM	#8
asapilot Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 69	I just came on here looking for an ID and it looks like I found one on my first try! Found this guy in my sump filter sock tonight. He's probably harmless down there, but he still needs to go. Better safe that sorry. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ob...VgSwHgkt2PjtAl __________________ -- Andrew Current Tank Info: 115g, 55g, 45g corner, 7g bowfront, 20g SPS prop tank

05/25/2017, 10:03 PM	#2
FishNDip Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Long Beach Posts: 337	Here's a link. https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/p...3522?icm=false

05/28/2017, 12:47 AM	#4
FishNDip Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Long Beach Posts: 337	Well dang it what should I do? Add a snail to see if there's anymore? Or add flatworm exit first?

05/28/2017, 11:33 AM	#6
Nick_Northern Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Redditch, United Kingdom Posts: 261	I have pulled two of these out of my tank, the first time I caught one in the act eating a trochus and netted it out, the second was a little trickier I left a piece of frozen prawn in a shotglass just before lights out then came down a couple of hours later and it was eating it, it spooked and slid across the sandbed luckily for me right into an empty hermit shell which I then netted out. They are suprisingly quick and can dissapear into very small spaces. I would not add any more snails while this is in the tank, just set some bait and come down after lights out with a red torch and you should spot if there are any more. They are fairly fragile so be careful not to rip it or leave any parts behind as it could grow back into another worm, also not that you would want to but don't touch it, I believe they secrete fairly powerful toxins but could be species dependant. Good luck!

05/29/2017, 02:26 PM	#7
FishNDip Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Long Beach Posts: 337	Thanks for the info guys! Should I use a bottle for a trap nick? Think my shrimp would eat anything I put it. I have seaweed, pellets and frozen mysis I could put in a bottle. What do they eat? Do you think there are more in my tank>?< How do they reproduce?