Flatworms

[ohioreef]

I have seriously neglected my tank for the past year or so and It has developed flatworms.

What would you suggest I do/use to remove the flatworms? Are there any fish/inverts that will eat them?

[Aquatic Specialists]

Target Mandarins, and Yellow Coris Wrasses do a pretty good job.

[Reefd Up]

Gary, it depends on what type of flatworm they are on how to treat for them.

The only proven somewhat effective in-tank treatment on a few species of flatworms is Salifert's Flatworm Exit...but it doesn't work 100%.

Coris wrasses supposedly eat them, but many experts also say that they just "appear" to eat them, then spit them back out in multiple pieces...meaning you'll have more.  There's a nudibranch that feeds on flatworms, but I recommend having a back-up club member with flatworms to give the nudibranch to after you are finished, otherwise the nudi will starve.  

[reefman]

Target Mandarins, and Yellow Coris Wrasses do a pretty good job.

Best none chemical way!!

[ohioreef]

I'd prefer to use a fish but are the ones listed reef safe?

[Reefd Up]

Gary, can you post a picture of the flatworms you have or find a picture online that look like them?

[ohioreef]

I'll try to get a pic, but they look like these:  http://www.seaslugforum.net/display.cfm?id=5836

[reefman]

Both are reef safe!

[ohioreef]

Both are reef safe!

Thanks

[Reefd Up]

'Doh!  Those are a Convolutriloba sp. - very toxic upon death.  Fortunately, Salifert Exit does work 100% on them, but if you go this route, be very very careful as they can release a signal for all other flatworms to die at once...causing a mass amount of toxin to be released.  This can kill fish, corals, etc.

Six line wrasses, yellow coris wrasses, mandarins, etc may help, but probably will not rid your tank 100%.  They'll only keep the population down.  

[reefman]

I used the mandarin and have no flatworms now!

[ohioreef]

I couldn't find the mandarin listed on LiveAquaria. Does someone have a link to info on it?

[reefman]

http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1635+554&pcatid=554

[mdcoblentz]

I have had the same problem with those flatworms for 2 years now. I have treated my tank with flatworm exit 3 different times. If you decide to go that route, have carbon ready, siphon as many out as you can before you treat it, and prepare to be amazed at how many are actually in your tank. If you treat too many times, they can build up a resistance to flatworm exit and then your screwed.  I had a yellow coris wrasse at one time but he wasn't about to eat all of them.  As much research as I've done on them, I've read that any wrasse with the first name of Halichores in front of their scientific name does its fair amount in trying to keep them at bay.  I've also heard of leopard wrasses doing the dirty deed. 
I have treated my tank and each time they have come back. I think if I would had done another treatment possibly 1 week after I did the first, I may have been able to prevent another oubreak. It does do a number on them. That's for sure, but I would definately recommend 2 treatments, 1 week apart with water changes waiting for 25 percent of the tank 30 minutes after the treatment. then run carbon for a week.  The treatments are SUPER hard on your invertebrates. My serpent star lost a leg on my last treatment and I have a hard time doing it again to him. Corals closed up but were back in shape the next day with carbon running.  PM me if you want any more info.  I'm gonna have to treat again here soon. I have managed to keep them out of my frag tank though thank god!

[coral ranch]

Leapord wrasse will eat them depending on what kind of flatworms they are