Red Flatworms, ahhhhh!

[Mishap]

Hi all,

I have a horrible horrible outbreak of red flatworms in my 24g Cardiff. I siphon as many out as I can with each waterchange (Every other day), but they come back in force overnight.

Livestock in the tank consists of (2) Tiger Tail Seahorses, (2) Target Mandarins, (2) peppermint shrimp, and the misc. cleanup crew.

I always try to go about treating for things the natural way, rather than with a chemical or powder, so the idea of Flatworm Exit scares the bejeezus out of me. The target mandarins don't go after them AT ALL, however both readily accept the PE mysis I feed the horses.

Is there any other way of combatting these little red flatworms? I've read the black velvet nudibranch is a predator of them, but have had no luck finding one in the past few months.

Thanks so much,
Matt

 

[tooshay]

I just couldn't get rid of the flatworms in my seahorse tank (Tried mandarin and 6 line wrasse). I finally put the seahorses in a 10 gallon tank, treated with flatworm exit, did a water change and put the horses back in the tank. It only took a few hours to have my beautiful tank back!!

 

[theDeedo]

will flatworms mess with softies? I got what looks to be about 6 flat little creatures on a big mushroom in my tank....but I thought they only went after sps

 

[tooshay]

Most flatworms are harmelss, just unsightly in the tank. The kind that eat SPS are clear and virtually invisible when they are on the coral.

 

[luvabunny]

A Melanurus wrasse took care of my red flatworm problem in my seahorse tank, but they are fast moving fish. In a tank your size, I would temporarily relocate the seahorses, let him do his job, and be ready to rehome him when he is done.

 

[Peka]

I bought an aiptasia eating filefish for my 90 gallon erectus tank to get rid of some aiptaisias...... he didn't eat any but he ate all of the flatworms.... It's not a guarantee but it's an idea. It is a very docile fish and gets along with the horses well. Now that the flatworms are gone, he eats mysis out of the dish with the horses.

I agree with not wanting to use chemicals... I have tried black nudibranches several times. no matter how big your tank or how much you cover the power heads, they will find there way into them.....

 

[asianer]

I actually had no negative effects using FlatwormXit on my tank, but the flatworms can be toxic after they die so it's important to siphon them out immediately after dosing.