Wrasses that eat flatworms

Any of the smaller Halichoeres species (melanurus, iridis, chrysus, etc) or any of the Pseudocheilinus wrasses fit that bill. However, the Pseudocheilinus species are known to be bullies and ones I typically avoid.

Also note, there's always exceptions in that some of those species won't eat flatworms. Typically they do, but there's no guarantees.
 
What about Halichoeres leucurus? Or the yellow corks wrasse?

Also guess I should ask if there any other fish that eat them besides wrasses?
 
Melanuras worked for me but he did grow big enough to eat my ornamental shrimp.


My green target mandarin will eat the red planaria also.
 
The Gray Head Wrasse (Halichoeres leucurus) would work, but that's a slightly larger Halichoeres species and therefore will be a bit more a risk for any inverts (crabs, snails, feather dusters).

As previously stated, a Yellow Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) would be suitable. That, and Halichoeres iridis (Radiant Wrasse) are really your safest choices.
 
Here's the problem, I don't keep your typical reef fish, my reef has scorpionfish and lionfish in it so that's why the bigger the better in this case. I would love it if something other than a wrasse ate them but I have a feeling it's only the smaller fish like mandarins as stated by chinch bug. If I got a wrasse it would have to be at least 5" already to avoid being eaten, and even then it's definitely a possibility. So what would be the biggest wrasse that can fit in a 90 and will have the est chance of being a flatworm eater
 
you could try any thalassoma, such as lunare or banana wrasse. i have never had flatworms, but mine eats everything. pods, those little asymmetrical starfish, my entire CUC. so it may be worth a shot. they are awesome fish, but get about a foot and grow fast!
 
I got a 6 line to eat my flatworms and it hasn't touched one in a month...

Go with a more aggressive wrasse like the eightline or lunare, if you can find one big enough
 
Im assuming with those kinds of fish in your display you dont have a reef? Why not use one of the chemical products such as flatworm exit?

I think the bigger the wrasse the less of a chance that they will eat flatworms.

Good luck.
 
I once got flatworms and my LFS recommended I get a melanurus. I did but it unfortunately did not have a taste for the flatworms. I ended up using flatworm exit to rid my tank of the worms.
 
It is a reef, I just prefer a different kind of fish.

I've heard mixed things about flatworm exit, mostly from the lfs so I don't really trust it. In my reef I have softies, lps, clams, and anemones... Would it do damage to any of them? It doesn't actually kill the worms right?
 
Both my blue mandrin and solar wrasses ate flatworm. I was starting to have a good size break out of the flatworms. The mandrin was making a dent in it and once I added the solar wrasses, they wiped them out. Haven't seen a flatworm in months.
 
I think you would have a good chance with a lunare wrasse. I had one in my last tank. Anything that moved and was small enough to eat was considered food. I wonder if a corrode wrasse would do the trick.
 
agree with badbrady. thalasomma will eat anything. my DT now no longer has any visible bristleworms or hermit crabs, asterina starfish, polychaeata worms, spaghetti worms or amphipods. this is a 4inch one after about 3 weeks in a 125g. also they think they are fighter jets and are great fun to watch zip around in the rocks.
 
Yellow coris will eat flat worms and other pest. They are very fun to watch. You need a deeper sand bed as they like to burrow
 
IME there are no fish that are sure bets to eat FW. Every fish that has been reported to do it, I've seen ignore them at least half the time. My advice is to pick a fish that you want anyway, and if it does happen to eat them, that's a bonus. You don't want to be stuck with a fish you don't like, that you can't get out of your tank, and isn't doing the job you originally got it for anyway.
 
Thanks for the info everybody, I think I'll try a large yellow coris, I had a baby one before and really enjoyed watching it
 
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