Flatworms, wondering whether to treat or ignore.
 

Lately I noticed some flatworms in my reef tank. There aren't very many of them.

On the one hand I figure ignore them if they are not causing problems.

On the other hand, if I wait until they get out of control, they can cause more problems with toxin release if and when I finally treat them.

I am not to eager to use Flatworm Exit because I am worried it might affect my anemone and my feather duster worm.

My Mandarin doesn't eat them, my Copperband ignores them. A wrasse might not be a good idea because my tank is fully stocked and the Mandarin and Copperband already compete for pods.

Anyway I am just looking for input on whether to nuke them or leave them alone.

I've heard of blue neon gobies eating them. (cleaner gobies)

Which kind of flatworm do you have? The red ones, Clear, etc....
I have seen a couple clear ones in my tank, but they are not harmfull, and don't reproduce like the red ones.

I've used FW Exit with an anemone, no problems

My black leopard wrasse ate them up like candy :eating: :biggrin:

I have a blue neon goby, I haven't seen it eating them, I'll keep an eye out though.

The flatworms are reddish brown colour.

I'd love to get a leopard wrasse, the main reason I haven't done it is because I heard they are hard to keep when you first get them.

I have had them a while now... 6-9 months or so and have had Flat Worm Exit and have not used it yet. Been a bit lazy with my tank and wanted to suck out as many as possible before using the Exit and that has just not happened. About a month ago they seem to have started to dwindle in numbers, at the peak it was bad. I think if they keep dwindling in size I’ll still use the Exit to kill them all. They never did bother corals just me.
The reason I never wanted to use the Flatworm Exit with a lot of them is that when they die they can be toxic.

Sorry for the long babble but if I was you I would treat them now before they get real bad. Suck as many as you can for a few days and Nuke them with Flatworm Exit.

Dave

reddish flatworms
 

I've used flatworm exit on my tank twice now. The first time i followed the recommended dosage of 1 drop per gallon and lots of them died but a few days later, i still see them around. I retreated at 2 drops per gallon and more died but a few days alter, I stilllll see them around. I haven't treated again since and they are starting to come back. i have the reddish ones that primarily stay on the sand close to the rocks.
both times i had no side effects on any anenomes, sps, lps, inverts and i didn't do any water changes after either.