Flatworms

[jake760]

I have 2 reef tanks one is newer but both have these small brown flatworms in them. I notice them on the glass and on the rock work. I have flatworm exit but don’t want to have any adverse effects. What would be the best way to get rid of them or are they harmless and I don’t need to worry about them? Thank you

 

[Baldyreef]

how old/big is the tank?
wrasses like yellow coris, melanarus, six line, and leopard wrasses are flatworm eaters as well as dragonets and even peppermint shrimp

 

[jake760]

One is a Fluval evo 13.5 that’s been up for almost a year and this one is a 25 lagoon that’s been up for a couple months

 

[Baldyreef]

One is a Fluval evo 13.5 that’s been up for almost a year and this one is a 25 lagoon that’s been up for a couple months

a six line could be a flatworm eater for the 25 lagoon temporarily, or peppermint shrimp for both, if you go peppermint shrimp route make sure it isn't the look alike camelback shrimp

 

[jake760]

a six line could be a flatworm eater for the 25 lagoon temporarily, or peppermint shrimp for both, if you go peppermint shrimp route make sure it isn't the look alike camelback shrimp

Yeah maybe I could go with a temporary six line. Any experience with flatworm exit?

 

[Baldyreef]

Yeah maybe I could go with a temporary six line. Any experience with flatworm exit?

its worked pretty good for me with no side effects on fish/coral or inverts, although I must say if you use flatworm exit it does kill them all pretty fast and depending on the severity of your infestation all of them dying at once will release a lot of toxins (they emit toxins upon death) so I would run carbon 15-30 minutes after the medication (only if there is a large infestation)

 

[exnisstech]

I've used flat worm exit a few times with no ill effects. Last time in a 40g I accidentally overdosed and even killed bristle worms. The few easy coral and fish seemed fine.

 

[jake760]

Got it sounds like I’ll use flatworm exit in my newer tank that doesn’t have many corals and throw a small bag of carbon in there. I’m assuming a pretty big water change a few days later correct? Did you guys have to dose multiple times since it doesn’t kill the eggs?

 

[EnterName]

Those are probably Heterochaerus sp. (the 5th post on page 5 for app users) flatworms. They can get annoying when growing in numbers, but they don't harm your corals, fish, or any inverts.

If you are trying Salifert's flatworm eXit read the instructions carefully. Don't overdose, and perform much more water change then instructed. Note that it's not unlikely a few of these flatworms will survive the treatment and the eggs won't be affected as well, so it's possible you either won't get rid of them at all this way, or you will have to perform multiple treatments. While I'm not sure Heterochaerus flatworms will release toxins like Convolutriloba would during treatment, I can highly recommend getting this pharmaceutical and potential toxins out of your tank ASAP after treatment as it may harm other organisms.

 

[carri10]

Unless you notice some harm, I would leave well alone. I've had some that looked similar, they faded away over time.