Small brown infestation

[alexdmg]

All,
I have this small brown slug/snail infestation. Could anyone identify what it is and what eats it? It reproduces quickly and I hate to keep siphoning it out of my tank because I lose gravel as well. Normal gravel vacumes don't suck it up. It's an eye sore especially since my gravel is white crushed coral and these things are brown.

Please help!
-Alex

[jrsatx20]

Flatworms. Wrasses and sometimes mandarin gobies will eat them

[alexdmg]

Do you know what they're called?

[rockmp]

Flatworms. Wrasses and sometimes mandarin gobies will eat them
+1 those are flatworms.

[alexdmg]

Haha! Sorry, I read it too quick! Thanks for the help!

[Squiers007]

I had a huge problem with them a while back. I had to suck out as many as I could every few days and then whenever I was about to do a water change I would use "Flatworm Exit". Just make sure you follow the directions and are running carbon when you dose the stuff since they can be toxic in high numbers. I did that same routine for a couple of months and there numbers have gone down to almost nothing. Good luck.

[alexdmg]

Thanks for the advice! Yea, they're a major pain! I'm going to try a 6 line Wrass and a mandarin goby first. I might even throw in a arrow crab because I'm starting to deal with a bristle worm issue too. Worms must like my tank... I've had a bad experience with chemicals in the past and tend to use them as a last resort.

I really appreciate everyone's help, this is the first time I've posted a problem and didn't expect to get such a quick response.
THANKS!

-Alex

[kkiel02]

A wrasse works well. The key is to not kill them and have them all release their toxins at once. I had them not to long ago but with the addition of the wrasse they arent to be found anymore. Good luck!

[Squiers007]

I tried a 6-line in my tank, but he didnt even touch them! Apparently it can be hit or miss with them. Also, if you are going to get a mandarin make sure that he will have other food to eat once the flatworms are gone. I would hate to have you get him, make him fat and happy on flatworms and then have him starve. Also, the -line liked to bully my other fish so I eventually got rid of him. Using the chemicals on my tank was a last resort also, since I to do not like to use them, but to completely get rid of them from all the nooks and crannies, it worked well. Like I said before though make sure you are running carbon and skimmer when you use it and do at least a 25% wc after you dose. Keep us posted on your flatworm battle!

[ErikH]

They are Red Planaria

Flatworm Exit with that type of infestation could cause a tank crash as they die off. I would approach it naturally with a fish. I have them in my tank and just picked up a 6line yesterday.

[alexdmg]

Kevin,
What type of wrasse do you have?

-Alex