Wet_Fretboards
New member
Every day I notice this stuff around my zoa frag. The hermits quickly gobble it up if they happen by it. Just wondering what it is? Excrement?
What's this around my zoas?
- Thread starter Wet_Fretboards
- Start date
Wet_Fretboards
New member
So apparently it's flatworms.... ****...
TampaSnooker
Active member
Yep. They tend to congregate around slimy corals - zoas, shrooms, LPS where they feed off of the mucus. Otherwise they aren't a problem until they start to get thick enough to shade the corals. As long as there aren't a ton, Salifert's flatworm exit works great. Dose @ a drop per gallon and do a partial water change in a couple hours while adding fresh carbon. The drug is safe; the toxins in the flatworms is NOT.
Alternatively, a few predators include: spotted mandarin gobies, yellow coris or 6 line wrasses (most heliocoris species), springeri or yellowtail damsels, or if you can find them the black nudis with thin blue stripes (sorry - don 't know their name)
Alternatively, a few predators include: spotted mandarin gobies, yellow coris or 6 line wrasses (most heliocoris species), springeri or yellowtail damsels, or if you can find them the black nudis with thin blue stripes (sorry - don 't know their name)
TampaSnooker
Active member
BTW - what kind of hermits are eating them?
Wet_Fretboards
New member
Ordered the salifert ( I was reading about it as you guys were replying.) The crabs aren't eating them, apparently, as the crabs sift the sand around them, they run and hide, then come back...
TampaSnooker
Active member
If that is the only area that is infested, I would not worry about the toxins the dying ones release. I've treated much denser infestations without issue. Just be prepared for up to 50% water change and have fresh carbon ready just in case something reacts to the toxins. Otherwise, 20% a few hours later should suffice.
Wet_Fretboards
New member
Yeah, I'm certain they came in on that frag.
TampaSnooker
Active member
If you have enough med after the first treatment, consider another dose in 10-14 days to kill off any that hatch from eggs. Now that you recognize them, it's easy to know if you need to re-treat.
FWE also kills zoa nudis quickly in a concentrated bath. Good to remember if you ever come across those fun buggers.
FWE also kills zoa nudis quickly in a concentrated bath. Good to remember if you ever come across those fun buggers.
Wet_Fretboards
New member
I'll keep that in mind! Thanks!
TampaSnooker
Active member
I agree but I've seen a few tanks where they go bananas, so I tend to treat them early if I see them. I've also seen tanks run beautifully for years with a few whose numbers stay in check.
JuliusJames
ReefB4H**s
Flatworms. I had many a while back and had to manually siphon them out. I finally got an adorn wrasse and he wiped them all to extinction. Now I use revive everytime I introduce corals in my tank.
