Natural flatworm control

[ssavader]

My 125 gallon tank has a moderate flatworm burden. I have treated the tank twice with Flatworm Exit, which works well on day one, but by day 3, the tank is once again infested. The more resistant flatworms obviously survive the treatment and then reproduce. Will Halichoeres wrasses eat flatworms? If not, what will?

 

[Borchers]

Yes. A Melanurus Wrasse will eat flat worms as well a Coris Wrasse will help. I have a Melanurus in my tank and he does a great job. They can get big mines about 5 inches long but fat and happy.

 

[Mcluett]

^plus it is nice to watch them swim around the tank hunting for the worms.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Much love for the melanurus here. Mine keeps me flatworm free. Beautiful fish!

 

[edwin-orellana]

This guy keeps my tank flatworm free + I also dip every coral I get

(Melanarus/ Hoeven's wrasse)

 

[Moort82]

Mandarins and scooter dragonets are also very good if your tank can support them, as are leopards wrasse.

 

[small alien]

Yellow "coris" wrasse did the job for me and is a very beautiful fish.

 

[Wolverine]

Yes. A Melanurus Wrasse mayeat flat worms as well a Coris Wrasse may help. I have a Melanurus in my tank and he does a great job. They can get big mines about 5 inches long but fat and happy.

ftfy.

I've seen both fish (as well as all the others mentioned above) fail spectacularly to eat flatworms many times.
If you have a fish on that list that you want, get it, and if it eats the FW, that's a bonus for you. If you can't find one you otherwise want, you risk being stuck with a fish you didn't want that's not eating your flatworms.
The nudibranchs weren't better to control them, but then there's the potential starvation issue if they control them too well.

 

[Moort82]

If you have a fish on that list that you want, get it, and if it eats the FW, that's a bonus for you. If you can't find one you otherwise want, you risk being stuck with a fish you didn't want that's not eating your flatworms.

Couldn't agree more. Eating FW is a bonus

 

[Bernie21]

Much love for the melanurus here. Mine keeps me flatworm free. Beautiful fish!

+1

Have one, best reef fish for exactly that sort of thing. He knocked out all my bristle worms. I had tons, many way bigger than him.

 

[flfireman1]

All of these will eat flatworms and are very peaceful fish towards other tank inhabitants. Are all members of the Halichoeres family and I have them all in the same aquarium.
Dusky wrasse

Gray Headed Wrasse

Radiant wrasse

Melanurus or Hoevens Wrasse

 

[ssavader]

Thanks for the great advice.

 

[jazzman7838]

Pseudojuloides wrasses will eat them too

 

[omar7000]

my six line wrasse swims around looking for food...will he eat them?

 

[Wolverine]

my six line wrasse swims around looking for food...will he eat them?

Maybe