Flatworm infesting Aussie torch

SuperHaze57 · May 29, 2018

Has anyone ever had flat worms infest a Aussie torch before or any other coral?

Haggisman14 · May 29, 2018

Got any pics? I had polyclads on my torch...

Here's a reference of the polyclads on my torch:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/flat-worms-whats-on-my-torch.371228/

Here's how I killed most of them:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/prazipro-time-to-kill-polyclads.373884/

SuperHaze57 · May 29, 2018

Haggisman14 said:
Got any pics? I had polyclads on my torch...

Here's a reference of the polyclads on my torch:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/flat-worms-whats-on-my-torch.371228/

Here's how I killed most of them:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/prazipro-time-to-kill-polyclads.373884/

I was in panic mode and didn’t think of taking any pics. I removed it and dipped it and at least a dozen came out of the torch. I’ll check out those links. At first I thought it was fighting with the pink tip torch so I moved it. I started seeing some of the green tips in the sand. I thought my royal grama was doing it. That fish had ate one of those worms or what ever they were a few days prior and died a couple days later. I noticed what I thought to be flat worms on the tank glass one at a time which I removed each time. When I started seeing the tips in the sand and the torch not opening much I examined it with the mag glass noticed them inside the coral that’s when I removed it and dipped it.

SuperHaze57 · May 29, 2018

I also dipped my pink tip torch, hammer and candy cane. My wall hammer and frog spawns are all fine but I’m keeping a close eye out for any more of these little dirt bags! I hope my black Aussie torch pulls through as it was spendy.

Anthony Kochevar · May 29, 2018

Flatworm Exit works great by the way and should kill what is in the tank so they don't come back.

SuperHaze57 · May 29, 2018

Anthony Kochevar said:
Flatworm Exit works great by the way and should kill what is in the tank so they don't come back.

I’ll look into that

Robink · May 29, 2018

I had no luck with Flat Worm Exit. Melanarus wrasse or yellow coris wrasse would take care of any pests.

SuperHaze57 · May 29, 2018

Torch looking much better today

SuperHaze57 · May 30, 2018

Haggisman14 said:
Got any pics? I had polyclads on my torch...

Here's a reference of the polyclads on my torch:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/flat-worms-whats-on-my-torch.371228/

Here's how I killed most of them:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/prazipro-time-to-kill-polyclads.373884/

I got home yesterday and found another on on the glass. This time I took a couple pics

Bigbaby · Jul 23, 2018

SuperHaze57 said:
I got home yesterday and found another on on the glass. This time I took a couple pics

Im having issues on my gold torch. Torch was not opening up as much and i thought it might have been the heat wave but i noticed them yesterday so i dipped in coral rx to find close to 10 fall off of it. Torch is now opening up a bit more but i did notice a bunch of eggs on the base. Do you have any recommendations as to how to get rid of the eggs?

reef lover · Jul 23, 2018

Manual removal dont think the prazipro will kill the eggs....

Gareth elliott · Jul 23, 2018

Flatworms are also killed with bayer dips.

Besides manually removing the eggs.
In case you miss any.

Dip on a schedule,
Flatworms take 21 days to breed, lay, hatch. If you dip every 7 days, have a chance to break the breeding cycle.

I would dip each coral though not just the one your seeing them on currently.

Haggisman14 · Jul 23, 2018

I just noticed my hammers (that were previously left alone) now have these polyclads/flatworms at their base. This is extremely frustrating.

If all Euphillia's are taken out of the tank, will these polyclads end up dying? Do they specifically ONLY feed on euphillia??

Gareth elliott · Jul 23, 2018

Haggisman14 said:
I just noticed my hammers (that were previously left alone) now have these polyclads/flatworms at their base. This is extremely frustrating.

If all Euphillia's are taken out of the tank, will these polyclads end up dying? Do they specifically ONLY feed on euphillia??

If those are the only corals you are seeing them feed on, it is possible that the variety you have are euphyllia specialist.

And removing the food source would eventually cause starvation. Would keep the afflicted corals quarantined for at least 42 days since last seen worm on them before returning to the dt. The prazipro method stated by reeflover might be an easier solution on them, since lps do not handle repeated dips as well as say sps. Just watch the dosage closely.

Would run gac in the display and the qt the whole time to pick up any toxins if any afe produced by the dying flatworms.

Haggisman14 · Jul 23, 2018

I had actually done the prazipro dip in the past. I treated the whole tank (ended up killing off 2 sps frags that I had, and then after I though I erradicated them, I saw them back on the one torch again. At that point I took him out, gave him a really good dip in prazipro, and even checked the skeleton, and scrapped off what looked like some eggs. Everything then seemed fine for about a month...but now they're back!

Really crappy thing is, I currently don't have a QT tank, so I'm going to have to try and remove them manually. I guess no more euphyllia for this guy...at least not anytime soon.

SuperHaze57 · Jul 23, 2018

I’m still battling these little suckers. My pink tip torch closed up so I dipped it. I lost count at 35. Dipped the Aussie torch again also and it only had 5. Frogspawns 0. I wish I knew where they came from to begin with. It’s been a real pain.

Bigbaby · Jul 23, 2018

Gareth elliott said:
Flatworms are also killed with bayer dips.

Besides manually removing the eggs.
In case you miss any.

Dip on a schedule,
Flatworms take 21 days to breed, lay, hatch. If you dip every 7 days, have a chance to break the breeding cycle.

I would dip each coral though not just the one your seeing them on currently.

I am checking visually every chance I get for any signs of them. The only ones I noticed were the ones on the gold torch which I managed to remove by dipping in CoralRx. I'll dip again every 7 days as you said and see if that helps. I just want to go at it with a toothbrush and see if that'll remove the eggs to reduce the amount that'll hatch within the 7 day period, but I'd hate to have the eggs spread to other parts of the DT if I miss any when cleaning.

Bayareareefer18 · Nov 28, 2018

Currently having three same issue with an aussie torch. Has not been as expanded as usual and observed the same looking worm. I took it out and dipped in coralRX. Took some time to see some of the worms coming out of the skeleton.

Haven't see any on any of my other euphyllia or the large black torch right next to this one

How did it turn out for you

jy808 · Aug 24, 2020

Bigbaby said:
Im having issues on my gold torch. Torch was not opening up as much and i thought it might have been the heat wave but i noticed them yesterday so i dipped in coral rx to find close to 10 fall off of it. Torch is now opening up a bit more but i did notice a bunch of eggs on the base. Do you have any recommendations as to how to get rid of the eggs?

hey mate did your gold torch end up surviving? I have a similar situation where i found close to 15 flat works in my gold torch. hoping for the best!

Bigbaby · Aug 24, 2020

jy808 said:
hey mate did your gold torch end up surviving? I have a similar situation where i found close to 15 flat works in my gold torch. hoping for the best!

Hey! It did survive the worms. I initially brushed the eggs off using a soft toothbrush while giving it a dip in coralRx @ 1/2 strength. Then waited a few days before doing another 1/2 strength dip. Quick dips under a minute to lessen stress. Its a long and potentially painstaking process, but theyre hardier than we credit them. Best of luck to you!