Flatworms? Wh

[MADJABJOE]

Can some one tell me why flatworms are problematic, what they look like and best way to get rid of them. I have seen little (as in less then a mm) slug like creature on my fuge glass is that a flatworm?

 

[Percula9]

Can you post a pic?

 

[Rockhead21564]

Flatworms are like a flat reddish piece of rice. The problem with them is that they multiple so quickly that they cover and smother everything else. the eradication is difficult because they give off a toxin they can and will wipe out a tank, all inhabitants. I have had to remove everything, all LR, LS, corals, inverts, and fish, then freshwater dip it all to get rid of them. Then I still used flatworm exit for 6 months, every two weeks, then a year later they came back. I maintain that tank for a customer and I KNOW that nothing new went in. so you see they are terrible

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

As rockhead said, they can grow in magnificent populations, and when they die they release toxins. So, use irradication methods to kill them all off is risky. Luckily most of the flatworms that you see in the hobby are detrivores and indicators of the excess detritus in the aquarium. The more flatworms you see, the more maintenance you need to be doing in order to get all the detritus out. In short, I wouldn't worry about them. The population will wax and wan as their food source depletes.

 

[DetectiveTofu]

I recently had a red (planaria sp.?) flatworm population boom in my 35 gallon. I took some airline tubing and siphoned all that I could see. I siphoned out at least 200 the first time, easily. The rest of the week, I took some airline tubing and just continued to siphon what I see. It works wonders. I don't have many now compared to what I had before.

I am not sure if it works, but one person recommended to put a flashlight on top of your tank (light shining into the tank) at night time. They said this may attract the flatworms to the lit area, making siphoning them out easier. I've never tried it, so I don't know if it works. FWIW, I also read that they can be photosynthetic.