Flatworms

[dmh41532]

I was out of town for five days, we had some one tend to the tank during that time. I came home and shortly after turning the lights on, noticed flat worms on the front pane of glass. I also noticed a thick mat if algae on the overflow. I'm guess he fed too much which led to the flat worm explosion? If so, will reduced feedings and increased water changes do the trick?

 

[twilliard]

Do you have a picture of the flatworm ?
Its hard to starve these things out as they love light

I have solutions :-)

 

[dmh41532]

Hope this photo helps.

 

[twilliard]

Red planaria
There are a few solutions to this.
Have you tried FWE?
if so with no results pm me

 

[metrokat]

I have solutions :)

Do share

 

[twilliard]

Do share

Please pm me :-)

 

[metrokat]

I was hoping you would share so that hobbyists can benefit. Glad you're on this forum, for sharing ideas and helping people with your knowledge. There really is no need for secrecy.

 

[D maul]

You can put a filter sock on a hose and siphon out as many as you can see and put the water back in the tank. Then use flatworm exit to take the rest out but read the direction and follow them it works.

 

[hybridazn]

The best way to get them out is manual removal. Take airline tubing and put the other end in a filter sock and put it in your sump so as you siphon them out the flatworms stay in the sock and the water goes back in the system.

I also heard a good idea to try. A couple hours before your lights come on shine a light into the tank and have it focus on one spot in the tank. The flatworms are photosynthetic so they will go to the light. They will cram into the lighted spot so you can siphon them out in one spot. It might not get all of them but it will get a lot.

If that isn't fast enough you can always get a melunarus wrasse

 

[twilliard]

I was hoping you would share so that hobbyists can benefit. Glad you're on this forum, for sharing ideas and helping people with your knowledge. There really is no need for secrecy.

Its no secret at all thanks, that's what I do is help.
I say to pm me because treatment varies tank by tank.
I already posted tons of information to be public.
Please don't underestimate me and my abilities to control pests.
I tried good luck :-)

 

[dmh41532]

I haven't tried flatworm exit, yet. That being said I'm going to a fish store tomorrow, I'm sure the store has it. Can I use it with corals/inverts?

 

[twilliard]

I haven't tried flatworm exit, yet. That being said I'm going to a fish store tomorrow, I'm sure the store has it. Can I use it with corals/inverts?

FWE will work to a point.
If you get frustrated just pm me
FWE is not a cure all for these guys

 

[aslmx]

Melanarus wrasse, you'll never see them again

 

[Diesel]

^^^ Melanarus, yellow coris, sixline (but a pita later) mystery, leopard all good wrasses against these FW.
Also mandarins as the regular green or ruby red scooters will also go after these pest and you'll never seen them again.
I tried FWE in two occasions a few years back in a frag tank but the poison that the dead FW will produce are a killer on Acro's.
If you use it do several treatments and lots of WC and run activated carbon to remove that toxic stuff.

 

[dmh41532]

I don't really have room in my tank for another fish. Plus my quarantine tank is full, and wouldn't be available for a new fish for two more weeks.

 

[Tankster]

my mini-brittle stars didn't like either the fwe or the toxins released by the dying flatworms.

 

[aslmx]

Just my opinion, If I didn't have room for another fish , personally I would trade one out. I can not be without my melanarus. Be careful with the flatworm exit. Good luck I've been in your situation before.

 

[dmh41532]

I think my local store trades fish, so that's something I'm considering, that is if they indeed trade fish in. Based on what I've read, I am not going to use flatworm exit. I've got too many inverts, I'd never get them out.