Flatworm???? FWE didn't Kill It! PICTURES

[saltman123]

I have had these little critters on my glass for a few months now. I have always thought they were flatworms and that I needed to do a Flatworm Exit (FWE) treatement.

Before doing the treatement I decided to go ahead and siphon a few off the glass and put them in a little water and give them a high dose of FWE.

THE RESULT????? They Didn't Die!

They hang on the glass and are never near any of my softies, zoos, etc. I don't have any hard corals so am not sure if they would be hanging out there. They stay on the glass and seem to like the flow, and are always higher up on the glass.

ARE THESE FLATWORMS??? Anyone know? If you look at your glass super close you may find some since I've even seen them in stores.

 

[cdangel0]

Look like sponges to me. Do they crawl around or just stay stationery?

 

[greenbean36191]

Yes they're flatworms, but they aren't Convolutriloba which is the red flatworm people tend to worry about.

 

[saltman123]

They walk around a lot.

So if they are flatworms, should I be killing them?

If so, HOW??? Flatworm Exit didn't seem to phase these guys.

Siphon them all out?

 

[CeeGee]

I don't think those are the type of flatworms that cause problems.

 

[saltman123]

So what is the best thing to do?

Try to siphon as many as I can out? Leave them and pretend they are not there and just pass my magnet cleaner right over them?

Anyone know from experience with this type?

 

[reeformadness]

I hear blue velvet nudibranchs eat flatworms. Beautiful nudi.

 

[chaseracing]

Harpoon!

Super glue a needle to the end something (I use my scraper handle) and harpoon them out. Works well and you can then use this tool for other nuisance issues that might come up in the future.

-=E=-

 

[saltman123]

I've heard the Nudi's eat them....but my tank is so teeny. Someone also suggested a 6-line wrasse.

I also like the idea of a needle and harpooning them out Have you ever done this? They are definitely not easy to get off because they seem to stick right on.

Guess i'll need to try something.

Anyone else have anything to add?

 

[jdieck]

Do not worry, they are harmless film algae and bacterial film eaters. That is why they remain on the glass.
If you are worried about them a wrasse will make a meal out of them in less than a day.

 

[saltman123]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9137959#post9137959 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jdieck
Do not worry, they are harmless film algae and bacterial film eaters. That is why they remain on the glass.
If you are worried about them a wrasse will make a meal out of them in less than a day.

I hope you are right If that is the case I would let them be. They definitely don't seem to bother anything else other than the glass algae.

Maybe a little Wrasse IS the answer....hmm

 

[ultra spikey]

nice...i have a bunch of these things too...i thought they were bad for my tank...but i guess not

 

[aquarius77]

I suck them out of my sump, same as most was fearing the worst with FWE on standby. Never see them in the display (sixline wrasse) and like yours, mine are always on the glass and up high. Good to hear they are something that is not harmfull.

 

[dougiee]

There are not harmful but if let untreated they will multiply very quick and may over run your tank. IME

Get a sixline or the varience nudi if you want to get rid of them.

 

[saltman123]

I'm going to try to suction as many of them out as I possibly can.

I have a 12 gallon reef tank with no fish yet...so I don't want to get a wrasse just yet. Hopefully I can build something that will let you suck them out easier, they stick like crazy!!!

Seems like MOST people swear these are Horrible and just as bad as the red dot kind. They seem to be a pain, but only on the glass so might not be as bad? I'm going on a spree this weekend to get a ton out.

 

[anomie]

I've had these flatworms as well. I don't have a sixline, but I have noticed that their populations vary depending on my copepods population. When there is any explosion of pods and I see them all over the glass, then I see these flatworms. When the pods die down then I see less of the flatworms.

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9139170#post9139170 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltman123
I'm going to try to suction as many of them out as I possibly can.

The best tool for syphoning them out is to use a glass dropper tip connected to a small diameter hose (just enough to be able to insert the droper into the hose.
The tip of the dropper is small enough that it exerts a strong pin point of suction while at the same time syphons a lot less water than with a larger diameter hose.

 

[saltman123]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9141140#post9141140 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jdieck
The best tool for syphoning them out is to use a glass dropper tip connected to a small diameter hose (just enough to be able to insert the droper into the hose.
The tip of the dropper is small enough that it exerts a strong pin point of suction while at the same time syphons a lot less water than with a larger diameter hose.

I pieced something similar together a while back when I tried to siphon a handful of them out. You are right, the small tube pulls little water and allows you to get them off with easy by the force of the small opening.

I am hoping to come up with something even more efficient so I can start siphoning till they are gone daily.

A tip for those reading, to get a siphon going simply put the tube opening in front of a power head and it starts the siphon easily.

 

[useskaforevil]

the only problem ive heard with these kind is that they can multiply quickly, run out of food, and have a huge die off that sends nutrients way up.

 

[saltman123]

So does anyone know the scientific name for this? Wonder why nobody seems to talk about them or have ID pictures of them online.