Acoel Flatworm

[Limbo]

I appear to have Acoel Flatworms. They are transparent and look just like the ones on Chucks hitch hiker page.

Is it agreed that these are harmless algae eaters?

Does anyone know if they just eat micro or will they also eat macro?

I really hope they are harmless because manual extraction will be almost impossible. They are almost impossible to see unless on the glass

 

[graveyardworm]

I think the aceol flatworms are the red ones correct. Is this what you have? Yes they are harmless. However they contain a potent toxin which gets released when they die so if enough die at once you could have some serious problems. They do reproduce quickly when first established and can cover corals, rock, and everything else. The best way to control them IMO is through manual removal. I siphon them out to keep their population down, after awhile something happens and they either disappear altogether or there numbers increase very slowly. This is my experience anyway, and I've read of similar experiences.

 

[greenbean36191]

There are lots of acoels other than Convolutriloba. I don't know how well their diets are studied as a group, but I think consensus is that most are micrograzers or scavengers, while some obviously feed on very small inverts. I would assume they're safe, and as long as they aren't Convolutriloba I wouldn't worry about them.

 

[Limbo]

I don't think they are Convolutriloba because they are completely pigmentless (if that's a word). Maybe without pigment is a better phrase They are almost completely clear white, with a tiny, tiny yellow spot in the middle, which I assume is some form of organ.

Will be interesting to see if I get a pop explosion.

 

[graveyardworm]

The white ones are harmless and dont generally reach the numbers that the red ones do. My experience with the white ones is they are there one day and gone the next without any intervention.

 

[Limbo]

Thanks guys.