help, flat worm problem

[TNTREEF]

I have a bunch of brown flat worms with red at one end. They are getting to be an eye sore. They don't hurt any thing they just eat alge, but there numbers are growing fast. What kind of critter will eat them?

Thanks.

 

[FunGuy]

6 line wrasse seems to keep my tanks in check

 

[TNTREEF]

I've had a few of those wrasses but they end up mean and they also turned on my shrimp. Any other fish or critters? What about a leapord wrasse?

 

[schrun209]

I had a severe case a few years back, Salifert's flat worm exit took care of the problem. It literally killed thousands of them, IT WAS BAD. You just have to follow the direction on the box.

 

[A Canfield]

I've read if you use flatworm exit, you should be prepared to do a water change because of the toxins that can be released upon the death of these guys.
Any comment on that.............?
I was thinking of using it, but that kind of scares me

 

[schrun209]

I don't quite remember how many times or what % of a water change you have to do, but YES it does require a few water changes during the treatment process. I was too somewhat hesitant to try it out but the problem I had with the worms was so severe I had to. I followed the directions pretty closely and my tank made it with out any losses, at least none that I notice. BTW you also have to make sure you siphon out the dead floating worms shortly after the treatment. At the time of treatment I only had fish, softies, and LPS in my tank, I don't know what kind of effects it may have on SPS.

 

[Reefugee]

Before using FWE - try to siphon as many out as possible. Also - for rocks that can easily removed, you can always fresh water dip them first to get as many FW off as possible.

I have used FWE a few times with no known adverse effect. The key in using FWE exit is to triple of dose. Also - follow the direction and do water changes and run carbon. The amount of water changes will depend on how much FW you have. If you have tons - then you may want to do a LARGE water change. I had to use two or three treatments to get rid of the FW. In some cases, you don't get rid of all of them, and they return months later, but you just dose it again.


Minh

 

[Unarce]

If you do the FWE treatment, house your starfish separately during that 1-2 week period. Just to be safe

 

[funman1]

When ever I see one FW in my tank I dose just like the box says.
The follow with carbon and large water change.

This works very well because I never let the numbers get too high so when I does there aren't that many and I don't worry about the toxin release cause there's so few.

Shoot at the first one you see, don't wait till next week or month, when you see Hundreds

 

[Avalanche Wolf]

Are these the snail looking things with a very small like sheild of a shell on their heads ?

I saw those in the tank for the first time after i got my moonlights setup and there were a bunch of them. I just start pulling them when ever I see then until i know if they are good or bad.

 

[funman1]

Those are good, they are black Stomatellas, they look like they have half a shell.
I have quite a few in my tank.

Flat worms are VERY flat, and usually a red color. You may mistake them for coraline spots if you don't look really close.

 

[matttaylor]

I had flatworms for a while and my sally lightfoot crabs and 6 line wrasse took care of them. I had literally hundreds if not thousands of them, and within about 2 weeks they were all gone. I'm still not sure if the sally's did them in or the six line, but they are all gone.

 

[mkent]

I also used to have flatworms and used the flatworm exit - killed them fast. After siphoning out what I could and netting more I did a 20% water change and had no problems - even for my starfish. I then got a 6 line wrasse - who has turned out to be a very nice tank mate and haven;t seen a flatworm since (fingers crossed - over a year now)

 

[dots]

You may want to look into levamisole (pig heartworm med) as a means of dipping your pieces. John uses it to dip his prior and believe it is effective for AEFW, nudis, redbugs....but don't quote me. There have been some threads on it, and you MAY be able to pick it up at a feed store, if not online with a script.

Its something I am looking for as a dip for new pieces but havn't gotten off my butt to find a source locally.

With that, you may be able to pull your corals and nuke the tank with Flat Worm Exit with a major dose, but I have heard recently it is not completly effective based on type and severity of infestation, hopefully I am incorrect on this.

Please share whatever information and solution you ultimatly find.

Good luck!!!!

hmmm.....vet posting above me........time for some clinical trials I think.........