Question about Planeria.....

[JeremyGlen]

I was just wondering if anyone has every heard a someone say or read somewhere that the Target Mandarin Dragonette eats these little pests? I read it on a website and had never heard that before.

I have a nice "little" infestation and would like to get rid of them naturally so I don't have to go through the headache of using Flatworm Exit. I already have a bottle and would like to give it another shot at using fish before I use the FE.

I have a six-line, but it doesn't seem to be eating very many of them. The same site I saw the mandarin thing on said that six-lines usually don't eat them when there is an overpopulation of FW.

Any info would be of great help.

[JeremyGlen]

Well, I just thought that with both the six-line and the target, it may halp.

[GaryP]

I have tried everything out there including sixlines and both mandarins. I had given up until I found the tail spot wrasse. I have one in both my tanks and they have cleaned out both of them. I got both of them after they had cleaned out two other seperate tanks. If you want a flatworm eater, this is it.

BTW, red flatworms (Aoecel) are not really a planaria.

[GaryP]

Here is the guy I am talking about.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=2285&N=3

[JimD]

Gary, so youre saying that that fish wiped out your red flatworm population? About how long did it take and how did it affect your water quality?

[caferacermike]

What about the blue lined velvet sea slugs? I thought I heard they will wipe out a flatworm tank in days but then you need to transfer them to another tank or they will starve. Dang I love nudibranch's.

[GaryP]

Gary, so youre saying that that fish wiped out your red flatworm population? About how long did it take and how did it affect your water quality?
It took a couple of months and I was siphoning them during water changes too. It was pretty gradual. One day I looked at the tank and noticed I couldn't see any anymore. I could always find some in the clove polyps. The next time I did a water change I tried siphoning them there and no flatworms. I think they were eliminated so gradually that there was no water quality impact and if there was a small one the carbon took care of it.


What about the blue lined velvet sea slugs? I thought I heard they will wipe out a flatworm tank in days but then you need to transfer them to another tank or they will starve. Dang I love nudibranch's.
Yep, I tried those too. Good luck finding them. I was on a waiting list for months. CB Pets finally got some for me. When I got them, they knocked the population way back, but as soon as the nudis died they were back again. They may work if you bought a ton of them. Again, good luck finding them. I think Todd said he had success with a whole lot of them. They only live for 6 months and do not reproduce in captivity. With my luck, I got some geriatric 5 month old worms. The blue velvets are $20-25/ea. when you can find them. I'm cool with my $25 fish that's pretty cool looking. I think getting rid of them in days is an exageration. Also, good luck with the ide of moving them to another tank. I never saw them after I put them in the tank although I know they did some good because the flatworm population went down.

BTW, I tried flatworm exit too. Several times. I think it did more harm then it did good in the long run. They always came back and became more resistant to it.

[GaryP]

Just in case you are wondering, I tried just about every other "miracle" critter out there at one time or another. The list is long:
Both mandarins, leopard wrasse, sixline wrasse, yellow coris, arrow crabs, and a few more I have forgotten. All may eat an occasional flatworm, but none make a steady diet of them.

[JimD]

Does the wrasse you have look like the one pictured? Where did you get it?

[GaryP]

Yes, exactly like the picture. I got one from Aquatic Warehouse after he cleaned the FWs out of a tank there and the other came from Mikeyboy after it cleaned the FWs out of his tank. I think he got his from Louis at AW too.

The link I gave called them Hoeven's wrasses, but I have always seen them called a tail spot wrasse. They're a member of the coris wrasse genus and are a pretty easy going wrasse like most coris.

[JimD]

So you have two? Interested in selling one?

[BIGBIRD123]

Hey Nitro, Maybe we can get someone to order them for US and we can share shipping. I want one of 'em 2.

Steve

[JimD]

Thats a possibility for sure Steve, Im trying to get one here localy, if that doesnt work out Ill let you know. Idealy, Id like to get one that has proven itself to be a FW eater already, Ive heard that if you dont get that exact Tail Spot speceis its hit or miss. I have absolutely no idea where these things came from....

[GaryP]

Ive heard that if you dont get that exact Tail Spot speceis its hit or miss. I have absolutely no idea where these things came from....
Halichoeres melanurus

http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=4858

[BIGBIRD123]

Jimbo,
Look what I found....ain't this it?

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=2285

Steve

[GaryP]

Here is the guy I am talking about.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=2285&N=3
Or maybe even this guy from about 10 posts ago? Copycat! :)

[BIGBIRD123]

Sorry, Gary the same link as yours...I'm ready for PA!........

[GaryP]

Its OK. I couldn't resist giving you a hard time Steve. Check your PMs.

[JimD]

I also wrote..."do you want to sell one"? lol... Musta overlooked that, huh Gary? lol

[GaryP]

No, I just never got around to it.

I have one in both my tanks. I wouldn't swear that either of my tanks are 100% FW free and that some will never get introduced in the future. However, I am fairly sure I will never again have a bloom of FW again as long as I have them in my tanks. On the basis of that logic, I respectfully decline your offer Jim. Besides, I really like them. They are not nearly the terrorists that a six line is and they are just a "nice" fish.

[Bill S]

How about a GROUP ORDER! Maybe we can get a LFS to do it?

[BIGBIRD123]

Jim, looks like we ordering...

[GaryP]

Louis at AW is the guy to talk to. They are apparently not always available but he can get the right ones. Both mine came from him.

[JimD]

Louis at AW is the guy to talk to. They are apparently not always available but he can get the right ones. Both mine came from him.

I would prefer to go this route, if ya'll put an order together with AW, let me know, Ill most likely join in if I can figure a way to get it to Austin.

[BIGBIRD123]

Jim, I go to SA often, we could meet somewhere.

Steve

[GaryP]

Tell Louis I sent you.

[JeremyGlen]

The only problem I have with this fish is that it gets a bit big for my tank. I only have a 25g and a 5" fish would look huge, not to mention not have much room to swim around. If I can get one of the smallest ones it would be alright. Hopefully it would get along with the six-line.

If I am able to get one small enough, I'll bring a fish to Austin since I'm here in San Marcos.

[JimD]

Are ya'll gonna do this?

[GaryP]

The only problem I have with this fish is that it gets a bit big for my tank. I only have a 25g and a 5" fish would look huge, not to mention not have much room to swim around. If I can get one of the smallest ones it would be alright. Hopefully it would get along with the six-line.
The six-line will not get along with it. A six line is much more aggressive. As far as the size issue, I'm a little confused. A six-line gets as big or bigger. If you are worried about this guy getting too big, then the six line is a bigger issue.

[GaryP]

Are ya'll gonna do this?
Steve has been a little pre-occupied with the PA trip for the last few days. I talked to Louis the other day when I stopped to pick up the MAAST banner. I gave him a heads up on this.

[JimD]

Groovy...

[BIGBIRD123]

Jim,
Louis sent me an email saying that he would try and find us one.

Steve