Pic of parasite (?) in my zoas

[gwenvet]

I did a freshwater + lugols iodine dip today on my zoas, because ever since they went in the tank last spring they have been slowly disappearing and more often closed than open. I took what came off in the dip over to my husbands office and used one of the microscopes to look for things. I thought I would find some critter with legs, but wasn't expecting this.

Does it look like a flatworm to you? Someone suggested a protozoa. It was moving and was about 0.9mm long. Is it bad? Should I treat with something? Do you think this is the cause of my zoas dying? So many questions!

BTW, I tried to do my homework and read all the applicable stickies, but many of the links are not working.

 

[Jared J]

Looks like a flatworm. Lugol's is a good dip. You may want to keep an eye out on other corals and be ready to dip them as well.

 

[Dale Gribble]

I hate tank worms.

They look horrible.

 

[gwenvet]

I have had someone say that flatworms do not eat corals. Is that correct? Should I treat with flatworm exit or are they ok to have in the tank?

 

[Jared J]

Flatworms do eat corals and no you do not want them in your tank.

 

[Keiki Moana]

Get rid of those flat worms! Sooner the better because when they die they release a lot of toxins...

 

[Pufferpunk]

I do not believe flatworms to be parasites, nor do I think they eat corals. Smother them & make your tank look ugly? Yes.

 

[Theomi]

Some flatworms (species) would actually be good for the tank but the problem is that they reproduce like rabbits ie. in a very little time there will be millions and it´s not pretty....

 

[robert452]

shouldn't be killing your zoas unless there are too many and they aren't allowing them to get light