Huge flatworm! OK or not?

[pixburg-reefer]

Hey paul,

I had one of these several years ago and mine would attack my LPS corals, mostly my torch corals and would basically start to feed away at each polyp until the tentacles would retract and finally die. The species that I had was completely flat, and was about 3 inches long, and completely clear/see through. I think it came in with a suffering torch coral that I had bought during that time period. I would get rid of it just to be pro-active for possible issues....

Kelly

 

[Paul_PSU]

Kelly,
Thanks for the info. The one I saw sounds almost like yours except it had the dots. I am leery of medicating the tank right now. I had been having issue after issue for several months and everything is finally starting to take off in my tank. I check the clams and every coral at lest twice a day to see if he made it up the rocks or not. I have not seen it since that day. idk what else my options are.

Paul

 

[pixburg-reefer]

Some times medicating the tank isn't the best course of action. Actually i'm not even sure what an impact the flatworm exit would have on the larger flatworms--Even though their internal body system is the same as the smaller relative that flatworm exit was designed for, I don't know how the larger flatworms would react to the same treatment.

Anyways, if you see any coral or if any clam starts to look unhealthy or if any coral isn't extending like it normally would for an extended period of time, it could be the impact from the flatworm. If they look healthy then it may be unnecessary to check them consistently through out the day. But if you do happen to see the worm again, make sure you have some good tubing available to suck it out with a siphon... it's pretty hard to remove them any other way. I'm not sure if they have a light preference, mine would stay in the open, pretty much all day at the base of the tissue of any Euphyllia species, I just couldn't see him because he was clear and blended in with the branches of the coral.

My species looked really similar to the freshwater Dendrocoelum lacteum.

Just look closer than usual I suppose...

Kelly

 

[Paul_PSU]

Good to hear. I was thinking along those same lines. I was just going to "keep an eye" on everything. If I started to see several or my coral were looking bad, I might worry. Do you think a six line or another wrasse might eat them?

Thanks again..

Paul

 

[vr697getta]

http://melevsreef.com/id/flatworm.html
info on what eats flatworms

 

[pixburg-reefer]

naw....i did have a six line and it did keep most of the "worm" problems in check. But I mean they only get a few inches long themselves, and the polyclad worm probably won't be harmed by a 6-line even because of comparable size. But, even if you did get a wrasse perhaps it would even simply harass the worm and starve it out. I guess the most worrisome part is that it could start asexually reproducing... then you might have a larger problem on your hands than just this one worm. I would mostly keep an eye on the clams and LPS if you have any... i don't really think the SPS are at risk.

Kelly

 

[Paul_PSU]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13997394#post13997394 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vr697getta
http://melevsreef.com/id/flatworm.html
info on what eats flatworms

Thanks. I was looking at that also. I have been thinking about adding a six line and a mandarin even before I saw the worm so I may get one or both. Even if they don't eat the worms, I got a fish or two I wanted.

 

[vr697getta]

Leopard Wrasse looks sweet but i heard they are hard to keep or can be hard to keep. plus they are BIG $$$

 

[Paul_PSU]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13999391#post13999391 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vr697getta
Leopard Wrasse looks sweet but i heard they are hard to keep or can be hard to keep. plus they are BIG $$$

I was looking at those too. Actually I was looking at about 20 different ones and trying to choose. The leopard isn't that much money.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1378+339&pcatid=339

The Blue Star Leopard Wrasse looks pretty cool. I was leaning toward the six-line since it was smaller. I figured the larger wrasses would decimate my pod population and then I would have trouble feeding them. I guess I could always add the live pods from Reef Nutrition.

decisions decisions......

:hmm3:

 

[vr697getta]

yeah at most lfs they are over 100 bucks. i though about getting one but i know my angel would beat the crap out of it. they are a sweet fish though. let me know i would love to check it out. you know i would see your tank with the lights actually on. LOL