Critter ID Help

[prettyhappyreef]

Hello,

I think these might be acoel flatworm, I am not sure if that is correct. I am wondering if I should be concerned about these tiny guys.

 

[fishguy242]

hi, welcome to the reef... :)
definitely a flattie, not sure on species.
@Eagle_Steve @Sharkbait19 @NowGlazeIT ??

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Never seen them under the scope like this. The tail doesn’t have that middle point that the planeras have.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Welcome to R2R.
Let’s see what others think.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Hi, welcome to Reef2Reef!
I’m not entirely sure on the exact species, but it is certainly a flatworm. Where in the tank did you find this? Depending on what it was attached to or eating could give indication as to whether it is harmful or not. If it were me, I’d assume it was harmful either way just to not risk it multiplying and causing damage to corals.

 

[prettyhappyreef]

I found it on some macro algae.

They are barely visible to the naked eye, tiny dots almost as large as a copepod so I had to use a cheap microscope to get a look at them. The pictures are some of them magnified about 100-125x

The melenarus wrasse and yellow coris wrasse don't seem to be picking at the macro algae where I found them, but I don't know if that is because they are so small or because they are not tasty.

I haven't had dealings with flatworms yet, so I really have no experience in this area.

 

[Reffetsevla]

I found it on some macro algae.

They are barely visible to the naked eye, tiny dots almost as large as a copepod so I had to use a cheap microscope to get a look at them. The pictures are some of them magnified about 100-125x

The melenarus wrasse and yellow coris wrasse don't seem to be picking at the macro algae where I found them, but I don't know if that is because they are so small or because they are not tasty.

I haven't had dealings with flatworms yet, so I really have no experience in this area.

Following, recently found teeny tiny flatworms I suspect snuck in on my chaeto. Do you have non-microspopic pic?

 

[prettyhappyreef]

I do not, as they are very small so they don’t really show up. They are just black dots that move a bit, a little smaller than the copepod dots. They are much smaller than the amphipods.

 

[Reffetsevla]

I do not, as they are very small so they don’t really show up. They are just black dots that move a bit, a little smaller than the copepod dots. They are much smaller than the amphipods.

This is what mine look like. After starting a thread it seems the consensus is they are not AEFW's and are just a part of a reef. If they get in excess, they will start to cause receding flesh on the corals from the base up, you should be able to see them.

A few Wrasses eat them, six line, yellow coris, couple others I can't recall. I've actually noticed my clowns are picking them off the walls now too, so for now I'm not getting a wrasse, although I do eventually want one or two in the bigger tank. Cheers!

 

[prettyhappyreef]

Those look pretty big compared to what I have, but maybe mine are getting eaten by the melenarus wrasse and yellow coris wrasse before they get big.

 

[Reffetsevla]

Those look pretty big compared to what I have, but maybe mine are getting eaten by the melenarus wrasse and yellow coris wrasse before they get big.

That is absolutely possible. Those are two Wrasses I was considering to help control mine lol