Flatworms!!!

[The Marmot]

I seem to have been infested recently, I've added a few things over the last week, so I'm not sure where they came from...so far I have not found any in the sand, but I have found about 10 on the glass...anything I can do to stop them this early?

 

[lilleahseafreak]

flat worm exit is the only treatment i know of

by the way i still have some ones flatworm exit from a meeting a few months back, it was given to me to treat a candycane purchased from the same member. i am sorry i have kept it so long but i forgot who needed it back. *blushes
i have brought it to every meeting hoping whoever loaned it would come asking for it.

if ya want it back i'll bring it to the May meeting.


(ps sorry for highjaking your threat for that. good luck w/the flatworms)

 

[The Marmot]

no prob...ive gotten about 5 out so far with a pipette...think i may go get soem treatment though...does anone know if Youreef had any?

 

[fragaholic]

yes, he has salifert flatworm exit in the case by the register.

 

[The Marmot]

k, thanks...i may need to run out there..pulled out about 8 now, but im pretty sure that this manual removal is pointless, something tells me if iv'e found 10 on the glass , then theres a few hundred in the sand...

 

[The Marmot]

will any nano safe fish eat these things? six line or the likes?

 

[lilleahseafreak]

i have heard of a few kinds of wrasses that eat them, not 6lines though....and i heard that they are kinda flatworm only so when the worms are gone the fish go hungry (kinda like mandrian gobies and their pods)

i could be wrong *shrugs

 

[duec22]

not for sure...some will some wont, just like the mandrin.

 

[Reefugee]

If I was a premium member (hint hint to premium members), I would do a search of this forum for "flatworm." There was a very long thread about it.

If you are going to use FWE - make sure you have some carbon. Also - triple the recommended dose.

Minh

 

[yoshiod9]

or you could use this (http://www.reefcentral.com/search.php?s=&menu=11) and do a search. not as nice looking as the rc search engine, but it does the job.
-danny

 

[Pico1]

yellow tail damsels and 6-line wrasse will eat them

 

[The Marmot]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7103428#post7103428 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by yoshiod9
or you could use this (http://www.reefcentral.com/search.php?s=&menu=11) and do a search. not as nice looking as the rc search engine, but it does the job.
-danny

thanks for the link, didnt know that was around...found a very long thread regarding the use of FWE and Interceptor from last year...reading it now....

 

[The Marmot]

OK, read it. So it seems people had mixed results. Has anyone had good long term results from using FWE? I've already bought some, and carbon, so the expense is behind me. Is there any other big problem with using FWE. I should mention that I plan on changing at least 50% of the water immediatly after the treatment, and I'll run carbon all night with a Aqua Clear 150 i've got.

 

[Reefugee]

I have used FWE exit quite a few time with no long term negative effect. There are those on this forum who strongly are against FWE. BTW - you may need to do two or three treatment to get rid of the worms. 50% water change is a little excessive - unless you have a major infestation. I would probably only do 20% at most.

Minh

 

[The Marmot]

Well the tank is an 8 gallon tall, with a 3 gallon HOB sump. I do 4 gallon weekly changes as regular maintenance. I didn't think that another gallon or so would make too big a difference. Am I changing too much water already?

 

[The Marmot]

OK, so I haven't done the treatment yet, mostly cause I'm lazy, but partly because I seemed to have removed all the "visible" worms. There are none, on the glass, in the sand, nowhere...I know they're there but, they are not to be found. So my question is, how do I tell when the FWE is taking effect? Do the worms come scurrying out into the open as they die? or do the just sit where they are and rot? I want to be able to see the effects so I know when to start running the carbon...also is it possible that my pods or mysis arer eating the FW's? Help ! please!

 

[Reefugee]

Marmot -

In my experience, you usually have to treat the tank several times to ensure all flatworms are gone. I usually dose my tank three times - with one day inbetween. On the first dose, I will do a water change and run carbon. One second dose, I also do a water change and run carbon. On the third dose, I just leave it in. The doses are done one day apart. So far - it has worked for me.

Minh