herbivore flatworm?

[phaerimm]

this has been reproducing on my hair algea that is taking root on the back glass of my tank... they look like flatworms, but they do not seem to be on anything else other than algea....

any ideas ? links for my to study?

ps. i have had a realy big reproduction of stomatella snails...

 

[LeslieH]

Those are acoel flatworms. They belong to a group of flatworms in a different classification than the polyclads. Some are micro-predators on microscopic crustaceans & other organisms while the rest seem to be micro algae eaters.

 

[LeslieH]

Did I mention they're pretty much impossible for anyone but a specialist with a well equipped lab to identify to genus or species? :- D

 

[phaerimm]

should i try to get rid of them? are they ''reefsafe''?

 

[LeslieH]

Reefsafe in the sense they will not damage any valued livestock -- yes. It's possible that under the right conditions the acoel population will increase enough to become a visual nuisance & if it suddenly crashes it may cause a parameter spike. If you periodically clean the algae & the associated flatworms off your glass it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[phaerimm]

thank you Leslie! :spin3: