Large White Flatworm?

atruex

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The other morning, this caught my eye. First of all, I did not know conch's could stick to the glass like this? Then second, I saw what looks to be a white flatworm of sorts. I have been having some intermittent coral issues, but my nitrates and phosphates have been higher and I have so far attributed my losses to that.
Does anyone know what this is? Searching online has provided mixed results between harmless/enemy
PXL_20221013_150519745.jpg
 

vetteguy53081

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The other morning, this caught my eye. First of all, I did not know conch's could stick to the glass like this? Then second, I saw what looks to be a white flatworm of sorts. I have been having some intermittent coral issues, but my nitrates and phosphates have been higher and I have so far attributed my losses to that.
Does anyone know what this is? Searching online has provided mixed results between harmless/enemy
PXL_20221013_150519745.jpg
This is a polyclad flatworm and not a danger but can be trouble in numbers as they will smother the base of coral and block the essential lighting coral need for production of zooxanthellae which are the sugars coral use for color and growth.
Net out or siphon it out with a 3/8" tubing and discard. If several- siphon or add a wrasse such as Yellow coris, lunare or melanurus which will eat them
Lastly - for next 14 days, look for signs of eggs which are tiny and will need to be scraped off outside of tank.
 
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atruex

atruex

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This is a polyclad flatworm and not a danger but can be trouble in numbers as they will smother the base of coral and block the essential lighting coral need for production of zooxanthellae which are the sugars coral use for color and growth.
Net out or siphon it out with a 3/8" tubing and discard. If several- siphon or add a wrasse such as Yellow coris, lunare or melanurus which will eat them
Lastly - for next 14 days, look for signs of eggs which are tiny and will need to be scraped off outside of tank.
Thank you for the reply! I do have a mystery wrasse, not sure if he'd take care of this or not.. Perhaps I should get another.

As far as the eggs go, do you know what they look like when hatched? I am not sure if it could be related, but last night I shined my flashlight into the tank and saw hundreds of what I can only describe as "little ball with small tail". They were free swimming, my cleaner shrimp was having a great time grabbing as many as he could. They also seemed attracted to the light on my phone. I attempted a video, but it did not pick them up. I do stock with pods, but these looked a little different to me.
 

vetteguy53081

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Thank you for the reply! I do have a mystery wrasse, not sure if he'd take care of this or not.. Perhaps I should get another.

As far as the eggs go, do you know what they look like when hatched? I am not sure if it could be related, but last night I shined my flashlight into the tank and saw hundreds of what I can only describe as "little ball with small tail". They were free swimming, my cleaner shrimp was having a great time grabbing as many as he could. They also seemed attracted to the light on my phone. I attempted a video, but it did not pick them up. I do stock with pods, but these looked a little different to me.
Mystery wrasse - likely not

Eggs:

1665766330642.png
1665766347687.png
 

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