Pest detection

[demetri]

A couple days ago I noticed these flat worms on one of my torch corals and I ended up dipping it. No signs of any more on that one.

Tonight I looked at this torch coral and saw the same type of flatworm. Please tell me if these are safe flatworms or bad ones and what my next steps should be.

I currently have a yellow 3 spot wrasse in my tank who seems to predate on copepods amphipods and supposed to also eat flatworms.

Pls help out

 

[IPT]

No pictures attached....at least I don't see any.

 

[demetri]

No pictures attached....at least I don't see any.

Sorry I forgot to attach. Here

 

[IPT]

I am unaware of any "good" flatworms, but I had White bugs on my SPS for almost a year before I realized it :0.

I'm sure others will chime in, but if i were me I'd start a dipping regimen and look for eggs. Have you added anything new lately? Are the corals still opening and looking healthy?

I did find this online and I would say (unfortunately) #1 seems to match what you posted pretty well..

The specific flatworms found on torch corals are usually Euphyllia-eating flatworms (often abbreviated as EEFWs or Amakusaplana species) or Polyclad flatworms. These translucent or beige-colored pests target corals in the Euphyllia family (torches, hammers, and frogspawns), causing tissue recession and polyp retraction.
The flatworms typically found on torch corals fall into a few distinct categories, ranging from targeted coral-eaters to opportunistic hitchhikers:

1. Euphyllia-Eating Flatworms (EEFWs)

• What they are: Small, highly camouflaged worms that range in color from transparent to beige, white, or skin-toned.
• The Damage: They are relentless predators that target the flesh of the torch coral, specifically along the base and healthy tissue bands. Left unchecked, they will cause localized tissue death, expose the skeleton, and can eventually kill the coral.
• Identifying Signs: Watch for patchy tissue, retracted polyps, and small, clear-to-white clusters of eggs laid on the skeleton or the base of the coral.

2. Polyclad Flatworms

• What they are: A more menacing, larger predatory flatworm.
• The Damage: These are voracious hunters that will actively devour the coral's flesh, doing significant damage over a very short period.
• Identifying Signs: They are usually much larger than EEFWs and often have distinctive markings, colors, or visible patterns.

3. Red Planaria (Acoel Flatworms)

• What they are: Common, tiny, rust-red flatworms that blanket aquarium glass and rocks.
• The Damage: While not always specialized Euphyllia eaters, large infestations can irritate corals, block their light, and cause polyp retraction by crawling all over them.

How to Manage Them

• Corals Dips: A freshwater dip or a standard coral dip (such as Coral Rx or Bayer Complete Insect Killer) will shock the flatworms and cause them to fall off the coral.
• Manual Removal: If you spot them, you can gently use a turkey baster to blast them off the tentacles.
• Natural Predators: Certain natural wrasses (like the Six-Line, Yellow Coris, or Silver-Bellied Wrasse) are highly effective at hunting down and eating these flatworms.

For a visual guide on how to spot these camouflaged pests and the exact dipping process used to safely clear them from a torch coral.