Flatworm ID

[EnterName]

Hi everyone,

I just found this Flatworm in my tank and need help identifying it so I know how urgently I need to start treatment with Flatworm eXit.

I already have some harmless Acoel flatworms in my tank that I remove manually, but if this new flatworm isn't completely harmless, a proper chemical treatment will probably be unavoidable. It came out while the lights were off and is the only one of its kind I've found so far, sitting at the bottom of the front glass. My corals look fine, and I can't see any flatworms on them, but I'll keep checking.

Note: If you're using the app, you'll need to open this page in a web browser or the videos won't load. This is a known issue, and the R2R staff is working on it.

(Phone recording using macro lens)

(Another phone recording using macro lens)

(Microscopy at 100x magnification in dark-field)​

As you can see, it's mostly green/brownish in color with tiny red spots. The "tail" is quite irregular, and I can't quite describe its shape. I assume this flatworm reproduces by "budding" and is currently growing a new flatworm on its tail.

Given the color, I was worried I'd found a Red Planaria flatworm (Convolutriloba retrogemma), but the head and tail sections look very different.

 

[EnterName]

Bump.

I started treatment yesterday and found a few more. The vast majority were Acoel flatworms though. Fish show absolutely no signs of distress, corals are "ok". However, I cleaned the power heads the other day resulting in a significant increase in flow which the corals might need to get used to again first so I can't attribute it to any side effects of the treatment.

I added more videos here (Page 7, Post #127): https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/microscopy-thread.1138845/post-14464850

The flatworm has red pigments and some green symbiotic algae in it's tissue. It also reproduces by budding off flatworms from it's posterior lobes which fit Convolutriloba flatworms, but I have not found pictures of a similar specimen in that genus yet.