Do I need to worry about these flatworms?

[paulthomas]

I understand these flatworms are pretty harmless unless they release toxin due to a massive die-off.

Last week I tried Flatworm Exit and killed a boat load of them. Now they're back in full force. Should I do another Exit treatment or try to control them via fish (wrasses, damsels, etc.)? At the moment, there's nothing in the tank but live rock, margaritas, hermits, a handful of emerald crabs, brittle stars, pods, etc.

Thanks,
Paul

 

[LeslieH]

Even if you had thousands I doubt these little acoels carry enough toxins - if at all -to poison a tank. They are micro-grazers. If you can keep the glass & hard surfaces fairly clean that will help keep the population size down.

 

[mndfreeze]

Blue Velvet Nudibranch will munch on em, but only on flatworms. Meaning once they are gone or near gone it will starve to death. Buy or borrow one but make sure it goes back to a good home when its done.

Assuming you decide on a biological method. I went this route due to my tank being a 14G nano, all the fish choices were incompatible with everything else in some way shape or form.

 

[paulthomas]

Even if you had thousands I doubt these little acoels carry enough toxins - if at all -to poison a tank. They are micro-grazers. If you can keep the glass & hard surfaces fairly clean that will help keep the population size down.

That was my concern; that I'd have a massive die off. I'll forget about another round of FWE. I feel better now. Thanks, Leslie.

 

[paulthomas]

Blue Velvet Nudibranch will munch on em, but only on flatworms. Meaning once they are gone or near gone it will starve to death. Buy or borrow one but make sure it goes back to a good home when its done.

Assuming you decide on a biological method. I went this route due to my tank being a 14G nano, all the fish choices were incompatible with everything else in some way shape or form.

Thanks, brudda. I'll give, say a melanarus wrasse, a try in the future. I had a yellow tail damsel in there that picked them off the glass. So I know that there's a good chance fish will help control their population.

 

[sean2sean]

what are these flatworms called?