Flat worms???

[Jolly]

I have been told I have them. I have used the flat worm exit(I bought it at aquarium designs) 3 times and they keep coming back. They look like a cross section of a pencil eraser only a sliver of it though. Any other products avaible for this pest? The tank is very large, 350 gall, so tearing it down would be my last option. Thanks, jolly

[Mike]

How about something to help eat them? 6 line or some other wrasses are supposed to help. Maybe some others who have gone through this will chime in...

[ErikH]

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?61338-Red-Planaria-FlatwormExit-Treatment-DONE&highlight=red+planaria

Hope that helps!

[Jolly]

Thanks guys. I have a Christmas wrasse, that I just transplanted to this tank, I guess I will try the blue green chromis as well, and thanks again

[ErikH]

pm replied

[cbianco]

What kind of flatworms are they? Red, Green?

If they aren't harming anything, I would leave them be or if your tank supports it, find a natural predator.

Christopher :)

[Jolly]

I believe they are red. If you were to take a razor blade and cut off a thin sliver of a # 2 pencil eraser, it would look like what I have. They are not as prevailent now. For a while they were all over the glass. I was told they aren't good for the corals either as they compete for the same nutriants and lighting.

[BSJF]

Siphon as many of them out everyday as you can see. Dip corals that you see them on that you can get to easily. Add a few fish that eat them. I had a strain that was resistant to FWE and this did the trick. Fish alone can't keep up with the population, but siphoning is easy. Use a mesh filter bag if you want to put the water back in the tank rather than discard it.

[Jolly]

thanks

[kkiel02]

A sixline and Flatworm Control(Gabe didnt have FWE at the time) did the trick in my 180. That sixline loved them though. Although I want to add that my sixline hated my other wrasses(fairy wrasses) so he had to go.

Ive also heard of the siphoning method working well but luckily I didn't have to go that far.

[ismvel]

I think that the wrasse that worked the best for me when I had a serious outbreak was a Melanarus wrasse. Gorgeous fish....ask Mr. Cob or Justahobby. Gabe gets them in regularly, or am sure that he can get a hold of one pretty easily.

And when I was looking for Flatworm Exit, I only found it locally at one shop and I paid a hefty price, nearly double than what online vendors sell them for, for what it's worth.

And Flatworm Control works just as well as the Flatworm Exit and it is a little cheaper and is more readily available through local vendors.

[Gseclipse02]

And Flatworm Control works just as well as the Flatworm Exit and it is a little cheaper and is more readily available through local vendors.


i wouldn't say it works as well .... for a while we couldn't get FWE and people tried the flatworm control with no success and had success with FWE

[ismvel]

i wouldn't say it works as well .... for a while we couldn't get FWE and people tried the flatworm control with no success and had success with FWE

Mixed reviews I guess. I have never used Flatworm Control, but have read plenty about it and miracles it worked for some. Kinda like wrasses. With the exception of the Melanarus, none of the other wrasses that were supposed to eat the flatworms even looked at them in my tank. And by the time I got around to finding out about the Melanarus, I was infested to the point where they were populating faster that my little guy could eat them.

That is the beauty (or frustration) of this hobby, what works for some, doesn't always work for others.

[Gseclipse02]

That is the beauty (or frustration) of this hobby, what works for some, doesn't always work for others.

very true

[justahobby]

I can definitely vouch for melanurus being gorgeous and an excellent wrasse choice. I don't have pests but its constantly pecking the glass and rocks for unseen critters. Terrific personality and gets along great with small fish too.

[BSJF]

The melanarus just saved my tank recently. I just discovered them (mels) too, can't believe I haven't known about them before. I'd still siphon as many as I could find.

[ErikH]

I have a melanarus, it eats mysis.

Murphy's Law I guess

[ErikH]

Oh and 2 sixlines!?!