Need a predator for flatworms...

[Mandragen]

Anyone know if there is one?

 

[evsalty]

For regular flat worms there are many types of wrasses that do very wll at keeping them down to unnoticeable levels. I have a 6 line and a possum wrasse that both hunt for food all day long and had a pink streaked wrasse that did the same. The coris wrasses are said to be very good as well.

 

[Mandragen]

ok I have a springers dottyback, i figured that it might not get a long with a wrass but it is a 120g tank with really low bioload. what do you think?

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Melanarus or coris wrasse. The six line is hit or miss. Mine doesn't touch flatworms.

 

[MagikSurfman]

ive heard Blue Velvet Nudibranch's eat fw dont know of anyone who uses them though.

 

[Arkayology]

Certain nudis will hunt for them... but then you will have to get rid of it before it starves.

 

[Mandragen]

yeah I'm not playin with nudis, even though they are pretty cool. I'm thinkin' the Melanrus

 

[James77]

When I was looking into fish for my flatworm problem, almost every fish listed had the asterik added that they are hit or miss.

If they are no in plague proportions, I would consider flatworm exit. It is harmless to everything, assuming there are not enough FW dying to cause a problem and you follow the directions.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

pred for what species of flatworm?

(there are hundreds!)

 

[Mandragen]

There are flatworms large and small, but think they are pretty much the same clear sp.? There are some on the rocks, glass, frogspawn, and other soft corals. They tend to show the color of their attached surface and do no seem to have an ill affect on anything, yet.

They are starting to become an area of concern because they are growing in numbers. I am trying to prevent plague proportions as it doesn't seem that there is anything to keep the numbers down. I know of flatworm exit but at this point think that if they were to all die at once it would be a problem, I feel that there are that many.

I'm aware that every individual organism is hit or miss, as is the same with other animals I have worked with reguardless of sp. I'm just looking for one where it is possible and known to be on the menue.

 

[abrian]

I had great luck with a melanurus (sp) and recommend them for FW control, plus they are beautiful, active, and peaceful.

 

[Mandragen]

awesome news, thanks...

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

first step

first step

identify the flatworms

 

[Mandragen]

I'll see if I can snag you some pictures tonight

 

[Mandragen]

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

great pic

great pic


read this

 

[Mandragen]

thanks that was an excellent article and I will keep it in the files for others. I guess it appears that I have the harmless and the predator kind, don't think I have the coral kind but could be wrong.

I only have two small fish so I imagine the influx of the flatworms are due to the number of pods. im sure it will calm down when I even out the fish load. might get a wrasse also

 

[mistaflicksta]

For regular flat worms there are many types of wrasses that do very wll at keeping them down to unnoticeable levels. I have a 6 line and a possum wrasse that both hunt for food all day long and had a pink streaked wrasse that did the same. The coris wrasses are said to be very good as well.

did you have both of the those wrasses at the same time? If so How long did ou have them together?

 

[rocride]

Melanarus Wrasse

awesome worker,peaceful and a nice looking fish

 

[Mandragen]

when I placed my order they did not have the Melanarus in stock. So, I went with it's close cousin Vrolik's, in QT at the moment. The fish looks absolutely beautiful and is picking at the glass in the QT. I would say that we have a winner, but to early to know for sure!