Flatworms - To Nuke or control with a fish

[gmpolan]

Any thoughts? too many to siphon out but obviously i would try for a week prior to nuking but wanted to reach out and get some insights.

 

[johniii]

What kind of flatworms are they.? Nuking them if you have a lot may cause a mass release of toxins.

Most wrasse types will eat them

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[gmpolan]

Red flatworms and theres three wrasses in the tank already but none seem interested.
(two Hawaiian wrasses and a red fin)

And yes, its kind of the reason why im putting this out there...

 

[rdnelson]

I believe a yellow chorus wrasse will have a feast. Plus they are fun fish to have in your tank.

 

[gmpolan]

reef safe though?

 

[rdnelson]

Absolutely. And indestructible. That was the only fish that made it through my Brooklynella outbreak.

 

[seth the wine guy]

I have flatworms. I have a yellow coris. I see the flatworms more than I like but they aren't a problem right now. Many recommended fish seem to keep them at manageable levels rather than eradicating them all together.
It's like back pain. Don't expect a cure, but rather something that keeps it at a pain threshold you can live with.

 

[swfk44]

 

[sts04c]

+1 on the melanurus mine mowed through hundreds. Mine had a spot on the tail, typically female from what I have read. The one above looks male, this is a female.

 

[gmpolan]

I have a sixline in the 50 gallon frag tank downstairs and he doesnt touch them at all so i guess ill give the melanrus a whirl....Sad part is i was saving the last few fish for something alittle nicer. Thanks for the input guys

 

[seth the wine guy]

gmpolan;816333 wrote: I have a sixline in the 50 gallon frag tank downstairs and he doesnt touch them at all so i guess ill give the melanrus a whirl....Sad part is i was saving the last few fish for something alittle nicer. Thanks for the input guys

FWIW- You just never know. About a year and a half ago my tank was wiped out by a velvet/ich outbreak. (Reason the Emperor was commissioned) I let the tank sit fallow for 6 weeks but had a big flatworm population in the tank while it sat there with no fish. I bought a Melanarus and threw him in there to take care of the problem. I didn't put a piece of food in the tank for three weeks and never saw him eat a single flatworm nor did the population seem to go down. I did see him eat pods and stomatellas.

I finally fished him out of the tank a couple months ago. He did nothing but eat pods and stomatella snails that I really liked. Finally the stomatellas are coming back and reproducing again.

Any fish is a gamble as to whether they will eat them but a Melanarus will come with risks for CUC type creatures. I would really consider a coris first. You can put several in a tank too. I don't know compatibility with your other Wrasses. I'm really glad my Melanarus is gone though.

 

[swfk44]

"a Melanarus will come with risks for CUC type creatures"

recieved a cuc yesterday and several of the new crew are in his belly :mad2:

 

[gmpolan]

Anyone know whose carrying a yellow corse wrasse then ha...

 

[seth the wine guy]

Jorge at Pure Reef usually have a dozen or more together in the softie corals tank. It's at 1.025 so no need for a long drip if you're close to that in your tank already.

 

[dr_ fish]

Cryptic six-line worked for me. Docile too.

 

[glxtrix]

If they are unmanageable, just dip your rocks really quick in freshwater...they will fall off and hopefully your fish who eat these will help keep in check.

 

[gmpolan]

glxtrix;816457 wrote: If they are unmanageable, just dip your rocks really quick in freshwater...they will fall off and hopefully your fish who eat these will help keep in check.

That would require an entire tear down as most are on the lower rocks so id rather avoid that.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

We actually have a systemic treatment for flatworms, nudibranchs (AEFW, MEFW). As stated, a significant die off of planaria flatworms can quickly toxify a tank, but in low to mild infestations, with proper husbandry, you can manage this.

 

[kirkwood]

I have seen some posts about a coral-banded shrimp eating flatworms. I just so happen to be getting ready to get rid of mine.

 

[atlorange]

swfk44;816290 wrote: http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=i.4614582404582616&pid=1.7&w=153&h=154&c=7&rs=1" alt="" />this is the guy you want, added him to my tank and he has eaten every flatworm in sight, [B]<span style="font-family: arial"><span style="color: #0000ff">melanurus fairy wrasse</span></span>[/B][/QUOTE]

+1.