Flatworm Experts help

[BonesReef]

hey guys,

Was looking at one of my fish systems today and noticed alot of flat worms. This break out happened over the past 3 days or so, but I did not add any new items which confused me.

Anyways, my main concern is that they are not going to hurt my fish. This is a fish only system. The tank is about 75 gallons, and the sump is 40 gallons. Take a look at these pics and let me know if I need to take action, or if I can leave them be.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii123/BonesReef/DSCN0610.jpg
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii123/BonesReef/DSCN0612.jpg
Thank you!!!!

B

[TriggerFreak]

use flatworm exit...it works well...just keep a batch of activated carbon on hand and get as much worms as possible b4 you treat!

[BonesReef]

So are they toxic to my fish? there is no coral, I know they can kill that, but can they kill fish?

[TriggerFreak]

the toxins from the worms are what hurt the fish that is why...you take as many out as possible and put activated carbon in 30-45 mins after you treat the tank

[bkoppes]

Be careful!!! I do not believe it will hurt your fish to leave it be. I killed a tang, clown and blue spot jawfish when I used Flatworm exit. Just FYI. And I did a large water change and had plenty of activated carbon going when the flatworms started to die

[Tutmos]

Those aren't acro eating flatworms, not that it really matters. Those are the standard planaria that everyone seems to get. Don't treat it with anything, in particular in a fish only system don't worry about it. Just siphon out what you can while doing normal water changes and see what happens over a few months. They aren't parasitic to your fish so don't over react.

[TriggerFreak]

Those aren't acro eating flatworms, not that it really matters. Those are the standard planaria that everyone seems to get. Don't treat it with anything, in particular in a fish only system don't worry about it. Just siphon out what you can while doing normal water changes and see what happens over a few months. They aren't parasitic to your fish so don't over react.

you make a good point!

[BonesReef]

Thanks soooooo much guys!!! I was worried about them...but I'll do what I can to remove as many as possible and do a nice size water change. And I will also add more carbon to the system.

Any other information I should know. Please do share.

[brendondreher]

They come and go. Most likely you've had them for a while but the numbers have been so small you haven't seen them.

[RaysReef]

If they are that annoying which for me it would be, its a hit or miss but a couple of 6line wrasse might do the trick

[jwedll]

i have had such hit or miss with any kind of fish. I actually bought a melanarus wrasse because the guy I bought it from swore up and down that it ate all his flatworms. Now that it is in my tank he doesn t touch them. I think it is because it has grown accustomed to frozen food now. There is one thing that I have found to eat flatworms and only flatworms. That is a Blue Velvet Nudibranch. Depending on the size of the tank and the amount of infestation you may want more then one. I have a 125 and I tried one which would have survived and ate for years but it went through a maxijet. The downside or upside depending on how you look at it is that they only eat flatworms and nothing else so if and when your flatworm problem disappears, the nudi will starve. The one I had cleaned up a five inch sqaure spotless in 10 hrs then it sat for 10hrs. It looked as if it had to sit and digest all the toxin between feeding.

This is just my limited exp with these animals.....

[RaysReef]

I actually starve my 6line, now it eats pods and small critters in my tank. Luckily for me I do not have FW issues.

[jwedll]

do you have any other fish in your tank ray?

[RaysReef]

Right now, in my frag tank I have a mandarin and 6line. In the stock tank I got 2 purple firefish paired, 1 desjardini, 6line.

Hopefully when I get my DT setup, I'll get some more :goldfish:

[hypertech]

Get a piece of hard airline tubing, stick it on regular tubing and put the other end in a filter bag. Start a siphon between your top tank and sump and suck up as many as you can.

If they continue to come back, do the FWE at 3-5x the recommended dose. You don't want any of them getting an immunity by following the directions with slightly increased dosings. Super flateworms would be super bad.

My SPS had an adverse affect to the FWE but I don't think it was the chemical itself rather than the toxins from the flatworms dying. I'd be really surprised about it harming a fish, but I suppose if there were enough flatworms anything is possible. Keep carbon and a water change on hand.

Personally, I would nuke them to oblivion now. If you wait, they might go away or they could coat every surface in your tank. The solution is so easy, its a no brainer IMHO to eradicate them.

[kensilvey]

Yellow Tailed Damsel fish will eat Planaria flat worms also.

[David Grigor]

In a fish only, nuking them probably the easiest to do.

For maintenance: a coris , sixline, or melanarus will likely keep them in check.

[BonesReef]

These flat worms are in my broodstock tank...which has over $6,000 in clownfish. I would prefer not to treat/ outside of sucking them out with an airline tube, that is if they are not toxic to my fish. So I guess the bottom line is:

are they toxic to my fish? :)


thanks sooooooo much for all the help guys!

[David Grigor]

Yes they are toxic and there is always some amount of risk. Most times you hear of incidents it's becuase they didn't follow the instructions carefully. Provide plenty of airation during the process is also highly recommended.

I'd work on sucking them several times out over a good weeks time before dosing.

[wes]

I agree with DG. If they're not too much of an issue, just do the ol' airline trick. they suck up quite easily. The only real danger I see them posing in your system is a sudden die off of a large population. This can happen even if you don't treat them with FWE. FWIW, skimming wet can also help, though I'm not sure why. maybe it helps remove them at their planktonic stage, if they have one.

Anyway, suck them up and out. Easy and safe. Remaining ones will pose little to no threat to fish.

[kjdeut]

If they are that annoying which for me it would be, its a hit or miss but a couple of 6line wrasse might do the trick

6 line took care of the flatworms in my tank, and I had them all over.

Ken

[BonesReef]

Thanks guys!!!!! Keep any and all thoughts coming.