Flat worms

[BigBlue187]

I think I have flat worms. My lights just came on and I noticed some very small redish slug looking things on my glass. I didn't see any on my corals. I'm guessing that they are flat worms. How do I get rid of them?

 

[EQCM2B]

For me the only thing that helped was the Flat Worm Exit by Salifert. I tried the six line wrasse and the mandarin but niether one of those worked for me. Some people do have luck with the fish way but it just did not work for me. I had to use the FWE about four times before I got rid of all of my flatworms. Just be aware of the warnings to have carbon ready to soak up the toxins released by the flatworms when they die if you use the FWE. Carbon, a good water change and a little fish net to get as many of the flatworms out as they die to help reduce the toxins before they are released into the water. Some people have also had luck siphoning them out, but again it just did not work for me. HTH
Steve

 

[Coralfreak]

Flatworm exit is your best bet, if you dont have very many, you shouldnt have to worry to much about toxins, but still follow the directions. Id do it soon, before they spread.

Allen

 

[RobynT]

I had red bugs for a short period last year. I didn't know anything about them or notice them at first but when I did, I freaked! I went to the LFS and was all prepared to buy the flat worm exit but I really didn't want to put chemical in my tank and so I tried the "hand" method, with a turkey baster first. It took me a few weeks of making sure I got every one out that I saw but I was able to solve my problem and haven't seen once since. Now obviously this is not going to work on a major infestation, but if you just noticed them, maybe you can get them out manually as I did. Mine really liked certain corals and my orange starfish and weren't on everything. They sucked up pretty easy. Just my 2cents.

 

[BigBlue187]

Well all I can se is about 10 of them at the most and they are all on my glass. I will try to suck them out but if that don't work where can I buy that flat worm exit?

 

[waverz]

I have a brand new box sitting over here....

 

[BigBlue187]

Good ol' Jermey, I should have known you would have some laying around. I just got done sucking them out with a turkey baster.

 

[ZLTFUL]

The general rule of thumb with flatworms though, is take however many you see or think you have and multiply it by 10.

Not trying to be a pessimist but those pesky buggers suck.

 

[Coralfreak]

The general rule of thumb with flatworms though, is take however many you see or think you have and multiply it by 10.

I would agree and they can multiply fast. I actually used 4X the recommended dosage in a tank full of SPS, with no ill effects on anything other than the flatworms, they were dead and gone within minutes. I did run carbon and performed a 20% waterchange after. The problem usually doesn't come from the FWE, its from the toxins released by the flatworms when they die, if you get them before they are in larger numbers, you should be ok.

 

[waverz]

I've dosed for these guys a bunch of times, last time i just used the whole bottle in my 75 gallon. I just noticed i have a few red ones in my fuge, guess it's time to dose again.


At one point i remember my 75 was turning red because they were so many, i didnt even know what they were at teh time, i thought they were algae.

 

[BigBlue187]

Well maybe I will have to get some of this FWE and start doseing.

 

[waverz]

If you order some order extra. It's always good to have it on hand. Maybe we can get lee to order it for us being he is ordering salt.

 

[BigBlue187]

Sounds like a good idea.

 

[calebjk]

i know a guy that had a lot of flat worms, and he used an airline tube to suck out what he could, and also a yellow damsel because they eat them. i also heard that Hung at SOM used this same technique with great success, and since i've heard that i've noticed 1 or 2 yellow damsels in many of his tanks.