Polyclad flat worm removal

Rob Top1 · Mar 9, 2015

Anyone have s trick or tip on removing a 2" long by 1" wide polyclad? Last time I encountered one I suffered an exposure to the neurotoxin tetrodoroxin that they carry.
God wasn't ready for me that day, but with a toxin that, and I quote
"Can cause death with in 30 minutes" I don't want to play around. My exposure was to the water the previous worm was transported in so I could ID it for friend. My exposure was mild but my symptoms were INTENSE.
SO any one build a trap or tool for removal or have some tips, other than wear gloves and a face shield

kacrocorals581 · Mar 10, 2015

polyclad flatworm is a loose term for a wide verity of flatworms that being said there not all extremely toxic or cause death in 30 min granted some people reaction vary just like bee stings the most toxic ones are often the most vibrant color ones do you have a picture of it?

Rob Top1 · Mar 10, 2015

I do understand that polyclad is a loose term, family name if I recall biology class. I am assuming its toxic asnit looks identical to the one I had a sever reaction to. Not taking a chance with a POSSIBLITY of being exposed to tetrodotoxin again. I'll take exposure to a paly, foxface and lionfish before that again (other things I've experienced)
The worm is nocturnal, atypical oval shape, very flat mattle edge and a translucent greyish white. I'll try for a pic

Rob Top1 · Mar 10, 2015

Or is polyclad the genus? Ugh now I need to look that up

Tahoe61 · Mar 10, 2015

You can use snails as bait in a trap but you're going to have to wait and watch, seems to me a Polyclad can back out of any opening. If you use snail and repeat the procedure you might be able to get the Polyclad to return consistently.

-Logzor · Mar 10, 2015

Sneak down to your tank every night when it's pitch black, if you're lucky you'll find them surfing along the glass, where they can't easily escape into the rockwork. Scoop them up with a 12oz coke bottle cut in half. This is how I caught mine a few years ago.

kacrocorals581 · Mar 10, 2015

Rob Top1 said:
I do understand that polyclad is a loose term, family name if I recall biology class. I am assuming its toxic asnit looks identical to the one I had a sever reaction to. Not taking a chance with a POSSIBLITY of being exposed to tetrodotoxin again. I'll take exposure to a paly, foxface and lionfish before that again (other things I've experienced)
The worm is nocturnal, atypical oval shape, very flat mattle edge and a translucent greyish white. I'll try for a pic

even for you to be exposed the first time you would of had to had a entry point cut put your finger in your mouth eyes nose something ,and there close to 30 groups in that family genus ,I've handle many with no I'll effects , but if you don't trust gloves when its moving get it to crawl into a cup or something like that

Rob Top1 · Mar 10, 2015

kacrocorals581 said:
even for you to be exposed the first time you would of had to had a entry point cut put your finger in your mouth eyes nose something ,and there close to 30 groups in that family genus ,I've handle many with no I'll effects , but if you don't trust gloves when its moving get it to crawl into a cup or something like that

Yes I do know how my exposure happened. A small cut on my hand and the transport water.
Appreciate the input on removal