Flatworms at LFS

[aerius007]

I dont know if this post is a violation, if so no problem deleting it mods. Having said that, I was at a LFS yesterday, Coral Reef, and overheard a customer talking to the owner about flatworms. The owner told the customer that he sees them in his tank from time to time but doesnt do anything because he "only sees a couple from time to time and they have never been a problem." Needless to say I didnt buy anything, the last thing I want is flatworms.


Just a heads up, I'm not trying to sabotage anybody and have nothing against the store, I just think its a careless and irresponsible to sell corals from a tank with "only a few flatworms from time to time."

 

[Superstretch18]

If I had to guess, I'd say that most stores, both online and retail, could say the same thing with regards to flatworms. It's really not possible to 100% eliminate flatworms in a store environment where livestock is going in and out all the time. Same way that you wouldn't expect a store to 100% eliminate aiptasia.

Honestly, I'd be more worried if the LFS was trying to be dishonest and said that they never saw any flatworms. If they generally offer good advice and healthy livestock, I wouldn't see this as a deal breaker...

 

[laskopyre]

It's part of the business I guess. Most LFS will have some form of baddy in their systems that we don't want in ours. I've seen fireworms, flatworms, bubble algae, asterina stars, cyano just to name a few. It's one of those things due to wild caught corals, live rock, and lack of cleaning. An LFS has to make money, so they have to turn livestock out pretty fast. They don't have the same quarantine/cleaning process that most of us do. Got to take the good with the bad sometimes.

 

[serpentman]

Honestly, I would venture to guess that every retailer, wholesaler and online vendor has some level of pests in their system. Its really too hard to constantly turn over inventory and not have something slip in. And in the case of FWs, it only takes one.

As long as you take the proper preventative measures though, it shouldn't be of concern. I make sure to dip all new arrivals. Also another good idea is to remove the base the coral is mounted on as this is where most hitchhikers like hide.

 

[Tswifty]

^^^ +1

It's really not worth the store's time to dip and QT all arrivals... as that adds cost and time till the product can be sold. I don't blame LFS's for doing so, but it just goes to show you why a dipping regiment and a short QT (if possible) is great practice.

After talking to Marc, I switched from using Tropic Marin Pro to Revive Coral Cleaner a few months ago... haven't seen any unwanted pests show up since. Also wrasses in the Halichoeres genus (Christmas, Melanurus, Radiant) are great for added pest control, and will go nuts picking over anything new that gets dropped in the tank.

Here's Marc's page on his dipping/QT process:

http://www.melevsreef.com/pest_control.html

 

[laskopyre]

+1 on the Wrasse and dips. I have a Halichoeres maculipinna (caribbean clown wrasse) that is constantly picking the rocks for pods and anything else that might be there. It goes to any new things I put in the tank and cleans them out.

 

[MeVsTheWorld]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15032779#post15032779 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty
^^^ +1

Also wrasses in the Halichoeres genus (Christmas, Melanurus, Radiant) are great for added pest control, and will go nuts picking over anything new that gets dropped in the tank.

Here's Marc's page on his dipping/QT process:

http://www.melevsreef.com/pest_control.html

My sixline is always on the prowl, especially when I add something new. He's all over it, kinda neat..

 

[Dude]

I would almost bet that alot of pet stores use fish to eradicate flatworms. A real cheap fish is a 6 line wrasse.

 

[bkzlpapo]

I'm dealing with the problem right now in our coral tank. It's a bi@ch everyday vacuuming as much as I can. I do honestly tell my customers about the problem and I do a dip for them before I send it on its way to its new owner.

 

[chuggy]

wheres your store?