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Doodlehead

New Reefer
I found these in my tank recently and I am wondering if they are bad news. They are not your common red flatworm (I have those too). They are about 1.5 inches long (or 4-5cm), white on the bottom, and sandy brown on top. I know there are at least three. They like to hide on my branching torch coral (I hope they are not eating it), and when intertwined with it are almost invisible beacuse they match the color almost perfectly. I haven't seen them on any other corals though. Last night I saw these two going through some kind of mating ritual and laying eggs. Just wondering if I should get them out or not. Here are some pics. I did the best I could taking a pic at night with a cheap camera.
 

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wade1

Advanced Reefer
No problem at all. They most likely feed on 'pods and other microlife in the tank. Usually you see them appear when the tank is young, and vanish shortly thereafter. The clear body is an indicator that they are obligate feeders (no photosynthesis) as well.
 

Doodlehead

New Reefer
Just an update. I did some more research and found that these will eat some LPS corals. They actually absorb the stinging cells from the corals into their bodys and use them as self defense. I also noticed that they were eating my torch and my hammer coral. I could tell they were eating them because the corals were receding quickly at the base. That, and I could see the coral tissue in the gut of the flatworm. Kind of like getting caught with your hand in the cookie jar. Needless to say they are no longer in the tank. I hope the eggs they layed didn't survive! Anyway, I just wanted to let you know.
 

wade1

Advanced Reefer
I think thats a bit of a generalization Doodlehead. Unless you find them in mass on an lps, I wouldn't say that is the case. There are hundreds (if not thousands) of species of flatworms, varying from too small to see to very large. They likely each have somewhat specific diets and you may be looking at the wrong one.

If you have any LPS, just check it over very carefully and if you find many on it, then you may be correct.
 

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