Unknown creature!!

[Mikef1]

Recently I discovered very small brown rectangular organisms in the sand. They dont seem to move but when I saw one close up on the glass of my tank it was slowly moving. They are multiplying fast and seem to stay on the edge of the rocks in the shade. They are about 2mm long. Does anyone have any idea what this is and how to get rid of it.

 

[RustySnail]

Sounds like flatworms...

 

[Mikef1]

If it is flatworms how do I go about getting rid of them

 

[cdeakle]

can you get us a pic??

 

[Mikef1]

I am going to try to get a pic

 

[Mikef1]

I dont know if you can dee the brown spots on the sand next to the fungia plate. If not i will try to get a better pic

 

[Mikef1]

There are also some to the right of this coral next to the snail. Very hard to see though

 

[freedom75]

These are flat worms. You want to get rid of them as fast as possible.there are a few ways to get rid of them . one is to get a nudibrach. I am sorry but I do not remeber the name but there are black with blue stripes down the side , these guys do eat them but it does not look like you have enough in your tank to keep them alive. you can also try sucking them out but I have found that does not really work since you almost will always miss some. Salfast makes a flat worm medicine that is reef friendly. I have used it and it works, You want to do it thought before they get to bad since flat worms release toxins when they die. the fewer you have in your tank the better. When I used it it was kind of expensive but well worth the price.It did not harm any of my fish or inverts in my tank . make sure when you use it you do a water change ASAP and then run carbon afterwards. Good luck These guys are buttholes if they get really rooted into you tank..

John

 

[sslarison]

I used the Medication also. Its called Flatworm Exit.
Just as Freedom75 said make sure to change the water right after and have a pound of carbon handy. Hope you have a good skimmer too. Mine is still pulling out orange goop. Good luck. 8)

 

[pplano]

do yours have a red dot at one end of them?...I have something brown about 2 cm in size and flat but ovaly shaped at first i thought that they were mushrooms, but only one end has a bright red dot and they move too much to be mushrooms...I did have snails spewing for several hours one night...is it a snail or this flatworm??? Can't get a pic, it is too small. thanks!

 

[Mikef1]

I went ahead and used the salifert flat worm exit. It worked like a charm. In 10min they were floating around dead. I gave it 30min then did a 50% water change and added a fat bag of carbon. Didnt lose anything !!! :lol:

 

[mooner]

:!: I have them too. I noticed them a week or so ago and they are all over my sump glass. I can see them now and they have that obvious horseshoe shape on one end. These are brown and about twice pinhead size. I have hundreds of them and probably thousands. They are even in the main but far fewer.

Do you all think I should try a few nudis or go right for the treatment? I hate to use chems as I almost lost my tank to RubyReef a few months back and it was "reef safe" ... NOT!

Advice appreciated!

UPDATE: Just called LFS and they recommend a "Target Mandarin" to eat them up and they have one in stock. Any info on that one? Thx!

 

[freedom75]

The Nud's are expensive and fragile. I would use the treatment . but that would be a personal choice just make sure that you follow the instructions very carefully and do the water change and the carbon

John

 

[Expos Forever]

The nudi in question I believe is: Chelidonura Varians (Blue Doris). Like freedom75 says they are poor shippers and fragile. It should also be added they will most likely starve once the flatworms are gone (if they eat them at all).

If you decide to use the treatment it is very important to syphon out as many as possible immediately before treating.

Target mandarin I'm assuming to mean Snychiropus picturatus. IMO this is no sure bet. Can you care for this fish long term? ie Large tank, LOTS of LR, healthy pod population with no competitors? If so it may be worth a shot. Six-line wrasses have also been reported (by some - not all) to eat flatworms.

 

[mooner]

Target mandarin I'm assuming to mean Snychiropus picturatus. IMO this is no sure bet. Can you care for this fish long term? ie Large tank, LOTS of LR, healthy pod population with no competitors? If so it may be worth a shot. Six-line wrasses have also been reported (by some - not all) to eat flatworms.

Tank is fine but I fear if the flats went away there are not enough pods to keep him around. I will do the treatment.

I have already begun the siphoning/removal of the worms. I will do this 'til I can get the Flatworm Exit in from mail order. I checked every LFS and they have none.

I have the HOT magnum ready to load up with AC as soon as I do the treatment.

Thanks.