flatworms

[MBasile]

just went out to chicago aquatics in orland and was gunnu pick up a clam and some acros but noticed there was a bunch of these reddish things all over the tank they called flatworms. i figured i would see what you guys have to say about these things before i introduce some in my tank. bad/ good, what do they do?

Thanks!
--Matt

 

[hansnfrans]

I am not sure how "bad" they are, but you could buy a sixline wrasse to take care of 'em.

 

[md fishes]

If you buy something from them put it in FWE or some other type of flatworm killing formula. TRUST ME you don't want these things in your tank b/c they are a total pain in the a$$.

 

[md fishes]

BTW, FWE=Flat worm exit

 

[md fishes]

hansnfrans

Do sixline wrasses really do the trick on flatworms. have you had experience with that?

Are wrasses jumpers? I have an open top on my tank.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Mine jumped. I woudn't let those things (FWs) near my tank! I've seen tanks infested by them.

 

[menard]

Red planaria are harmless feed on micro algae only , just too damm ugly for my taste. To get rid of this pest add some wrasses belong to this family( Halichoeres),like Radiant,( Pseudocheilinus ) Six line wrasse or (Dragonets) spotted mandarin. Works every time

 

[masson]

I had a 6 line wrasse, but he only picked at pods in the tank and never even looked at the flat worms. But he was only there like 8 days before he went carpet surfing.

 

[mbunaman]

I agree with Menard my old tank had them and the Spotted Mandarin did the trick and now the little guy is in my new tank but now he loves pods.

 

[Pufferpunk]

I don't see how a Mandarin could eat an infestation of those ugly things.

 

[MBasile]

dipping a colony or a clam in the FWE wont hurt it at all?

if not ill just get some of that stuff.

thanks! maybe pick up a mandarin too.

 

[hansnfrans]

md fishes- I've talked to many people who swear by a sixline wrasse for flatworm control, but as menard mentioned, many other wrasses will do the trick. I personally don't have experience w/ flatworm eradication by means of a sixline wrasse. I do however have experience w/ the mandarins takin' out the flatworms. But either of these types of fish should work just fine.

 

[hansnfrans]

Sorry for goin' a little OT here, but, I am about to pick up a sixline wrasse and have never heard of them jumping before. Are they just as bad (jumpers) as the rest of the wrasses?? Can anyone recommend a reefsafe wrasse that looks good and won't jump?

 

[jcm1229]

I have a Bastard Royal Gramma in my tank. He eats the occasional flatworms in my tank - but he also is so territorial, he'll kill any new fish I try to add. I’m trying to remove him from my tank â€"œ but I know my flatworm eliminator will go as well!

 

[techigirl78]

hansnfrans - All wrasses are jumpers. If it is a decent size, I would put some egg crate on the top of the tank.