Help i think I have flatworms. Dead torch

[jayteerq]

There doesn’t seem to be much information on the web about IDing and treating. I’m super nervous as I don’t know what to do! I did spot 2 big 1” sized flatworms on my glass that I removed. Now today I spot a dead torch and what seems like a few flat worms on the base. Could use some advice right now! Thanks!

 

[jayteerq]

Dipped all my euphyllia. 11 pieces and this was the outcome. My questions are…

1. Will consistent dipping treatment eradicate completely or will I always have to be on the lookout for flat worms?

2. How many days apart should I dip?

3. How long should I continue the dip process to ensure I catch all hatched eggs?

 

[Subsea]

How does dipping individual rocks remove pest in the rest of the system?

Honestly, I don’t see your flat worms. Try white light picture. Also, 1” would be extraordinary large for a red Planaria flatworm.

 

[jayteerq]

How does dipping individual rocks remove pest in the rest of the system?

Honestly, I don’t see your flat worms. Try white light picture. Also, 1” would be extraordinary large for a red Planaria flatworm.

Not sure how you don’t see them lol. It’s pretty clear in the pictures

 

[kyreefville]

Have you considered springeri damsel or other flat worm eating crew.

 

[jayteerq]

Have you considered springeri damsel or other flat worm eating crew.

I have 2 wrasse that are apparently blind lol.

 

[Subsea]

Not sure how you don’t see them lol. It’s pretty clear in the pictures

If you can, circle tie flat worms.

 

[ThisIsTheWay]

Dipped all my euphyllia. 11 pieces and this was the outcome. My questions are…

1. Will consistent dipping treatment eradicate completely or will I always have to be on the lookout for flat worms?

2. How many days apart should I dip?

3. How long should I continue the dip process to ensure I catch all hatched eggs?

I believe I've seen these referred to as polyclad flatworms or euphyllia eating flatworms. Dipping all your euphyllia is a good move.

1. Yes, but they do lay eggs so if you can scrape those off as well that will help (see link below for pics).
2. I am not sure since I have not personally dealt with these. I would search the forum for the above flatworm names and see what others have done.
3. At least a few weeks if not longer. I saw a thread where someone did it for 8 weeks I think and they didn't come back after that.

Here's a semi-recent thread with pictures of eggs for reference:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/beating-euphyllia-eating-flatworms.967166/
Hopefully someone who's more of an expert can chime in, but in the mean time this should help get you moving in the right direction.

Best of luck!

 

[jayteerq]

Dipped all my euphyllia. 11 pieces and this was the outcome. My questions are…

1. Will consistent dipping treatment eradicate completely or will I always have to be on the lookout for flat worms?

2. How many days apart should I dip?

3. How long should I continue the dip process to ensure I catch all hatched eggs?

I believe I've seen these referred to as polyclad flatworms or euphyllia eating flatworms. Dipping all your euphyllia is a good move.

1. Yes, but they do lay eggs so if you can scrape those off as well that will help (see link below for pics).
2. I am not sure since I have not personally dealt with these. I would search the forum for the above flatworm names and see what others have done.
3. At least a few weeks if not longer. I saw a thread where someone did it for 8 weeks I think and they didn't come back after that.

Here's a semi-recent thread with pictures of eggs for reference:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/beating-euphyllia-eating-flatworms.967166/
Hopefully someone who's more of an expert can chime in, but in the mean time this should help get you moving in the right direction.

Best of luck!

Thank you! Sounds like I’ll start dipping every few days. There’s a torch coral that was really nice and hanging on by a limb. Barely alive. Part of me wants to save it, but it’s full of eggs so I’m debating just throwing it away

 

[Pat's Reef]

There doesn’t seem to be much information on the web about IDing and treating. I’m super nervous as I don’t know what to do! I did spot 2 big 1” sized flatworms on my glass that I removed. Now today I spot a dead torch and what seems like a few flat worms on the base. Could use some advice right now! Thanks!

I’m not sure that’s a flatworm 100%. Ghost flatworms get that big, but have the classic twin tails. They also don’t eat coral. Natural controls include wrasse, arrow crabs and boxer shrimp, but all may be hard on smaller crustaceans. Flatworm Exit is a chemical solution, but follow all directions closely.

 

[Zyk5280b]

Not a debate. 100% euphyllia eating flatworms. From what I've seen, wrasses don't really like them, I've even tried feeding my Melenarus and Timor - didn't care for it. Dipping and scraping the eggs. After that checking @ night seems to be the best time to catch them moving on the torch itself and you can blow them off or scrape them off and net them.

Also unfortunately yes, tossing lost causes as often it only takes a mild tank swing for the torch to flip to bjd due to the amount of stress.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

this is such a bummer. do you know how you got them? im always worried my dips with new corals wont get everything

 

[bluemon]

this is such a bummer. do you know how you got them? im always worried my dips with new corals wont get everything

They will come in with euphyllia.

Dips are not 100% as eggs don’t get killed.

Hence why some people have coral QT.

Also OP you can try flatworm exit

 

[jayteerq]

this is such a bummer. do you know how you got them? im always worried my dips with new corals wont get everything

It’s possible I got eggs on a coral which doesn’t die when dipping.

 

[VintageReefer]

If you can, circle tie flat worms.

They are on this dead torch branch and in what appears to be a child’s medicine measuring cup and they do look rather large

 

[VintageReefer]

You can try treating the tank with flatworm exit. Buy enough to do multiple rounds of treatment over the next few weeks. I would say twice a week for several weeks in order to get any newly hatched worms, before they have a chance to make new eggs.

 

[KrisReef]

Put one in a little KCL and watch it melt, or not.

If it dies, you can use the same KCL process for AEFW, drain the tank, spray KCL, wait a few, and then rinse and refill? It would be a pain but folks have reported successful eradication with worms that are very difficult to see. These should be a piece of cake, GL