Help me identify this?

sickright · 12-19-2004, 11:03 PM

What are the tiny red thing all over the rocks, much smaller than the red mushrooms? They are everywhere in my tank, mostly in the less light areas of my tank.

***Reefland*** · 12-19-2004, 11:10 PM

Humm, the picture is not totally clear but it appears to be a flatworm of some kind.

**kevinpo** · 12-19-2004, 11:15 PM

Yes they are Planaria (flatworms) and can multiply to plague proportions. I recommend Flatworm Exit by Salifert.

Regards,
Kevin

Samper · 12-20-2004, 05:39 AM

Why does it seem like everyone is getting these lately?? I see red bug and flaworm posts more and more every day and it's like someone is trying to sabotage the hobby.......... or something. Or then again that could be another bogus conspiracy theory on my part.

***zhenya*** · 12-20-2004, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samper

Why does it seem like everyone is getting these lately?? I see red bug and flaworm posts more and more every day and it's like someone is trying to sabotage the hobby.......... or something. Or then again that could be another bogus conspiracy theory on my part.

LOL. Samper, all this things are part of nature and are present on the reef as well.Probably not to the plague proportion as it is in the enclosed system and there are such things like natural predation to control things that we just can't provide in our tanks. If you are registered at RC check this link out discussing another weird and even scarry looking creatures that can become a real trouble in a reeftank.Go to the first page of that thread for some pictures. Brrrr.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...4&goto=newpost

**Poseidon** · 12-20-2004, 10:40 AM

Man... I knew we had weird critters in our tanks, but never even thought of SPIDERS... I actually like Spiders, they EAT MOSQUITO's!!!

***zhenya*** · 12-20-2004, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poseidon

Man... I knew we had weird critters in our tanks, but never even thought of SPIDERS... I actually like Spiders, they EAT MOSQUITO's!!!

It seems that those sea spiders like to munch on all sort of corals and things. I wouldn't care if they ate mosquitos but they better leave my corals alone...

**Poseidon** · 12-20-2004, 11:13 AM

Ya... I see that being a priority.

Make sure yo read this thread, it will help!

Flatworm exit it is!!!!

ClintoninCali · 12-20-2004, 05:33 PM

Once you get rid of the flat worms get a six-line wrasse or something to nip any re-population in the bud. But, ya that flat worm exit is gnarly stuff.

sickright · 12-21-2004, 03:01 AM

They don't seem to be harming anything, all my corals are growing fine and I have a 12 line wrase. How much harm can they be? Everything has a place in nature.

**Poseidon** · 12-21-2004, 08:57 AM

Yes everything has a place, but without predators to keep the population in check some critters will get to plague proportions. Think RATS and mice, if snakes didn't feed on them, the mice would be a foot deep all over the place... Also in a reef if nothing fed on SNAILS they would breed and multiply and consume ALL the food till they all starved to death. Then nothing would be left to eat the algae and the reef would die... Balance is the key, it is very difficult to keep that balance in our little glass boxes. If you let those worms go unchecked you will end up with THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of them...

**kevinpo** · 12-21-2004, 11:03 AM

They are not harmful to corals or fish when alive but they can become unsightly when they cover all the shady areas of the tank. The population can also crash and the sudden die-off will kill most of the other inhabitants in your tank.

Regards,
Kevin

sickright · 12-21-2004, 04:24 PM

It seems like the best way to try to get rid of them is to just suck them out with a syphon type device over some time, rather than the worm away stuff and possibly posining your whole tank. I can't imagine you could ever git rid of them all. Any one know any other possible predators besides, wrasses and hermit crabs?

12-19-2004, 11:03 PM	#1
sickright New in Town Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 3	Help me identify this? What are the tiny red thing all over the rocks, much smaller than the red mushrooms? They are everywhere in my tank, mostly in the less light areas of my tank. Attached Thumbnails

12-19-2004, 11:10 PM	#2
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 13,044	Humm, the picture is not totally clear but it appears to be a flatworm of some kind. __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

12-19-2004, 11:15 PM	#3
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,436	Yes they are Planaria (flatworms) and can multiply to plague proportions. I recommend Flatworm Exit by Salifert. Regards, Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

12-20-2004, 05:39 AM	#4
Samper Contributing Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,761	Why does it seem like everyone is getting these lately?? I see red bug and flaworm posts more and more every day and it's like someone is trying to sabotage the hobby.......... or something. Or then again that could be another bogus conspiracy theory on my part. __________________ Keep your heart pure conceive your own dreams Respect your fellow man the earth and the trees.

12-20-2004, 10:40 AM	#6
Poseidon Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Swartz Creek, MI Posts: 6,363	Man... I knew we had weird critters in our tanks, but never even thought of SPIDERS... I actually like Spiders, they EAT MOSQUITO's!!! __________________ Need a Photographer? Just say NO to CRABS Mike

12-20-2004, 11:13 AM	#8
Poseidon Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Swartz Creek, MI Posts: 6,363	Ya... I see that being a priority. Make sure yo read this thread, it will help! Flatworm exit it is!!!! __________________ Need a Photographer? Just say NO to CRABS Mike

12-20-2004, 05:33 PM	#9
ClintoninCali Just Moved In Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Visalia, california Posts: 45	Once you get rid of the flat worms get a six-line wrasse or something to nip any re-population in the bud. But, ya that flat worm exit is gnarly stuff.

12-21-2004, 03:01 AM	#10
sickright New in Town Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 3	They don't seem to be harming anything, all my corals are growing fine and I have a 12 line wrase. How much harm can they be? Everything has a place in nature.

12-21-2004, 08:57 AM	#11
Poseidon Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Swartz Creek, MI Posts: 6,363	Yes everything has a place, but without predators to keep the population in check some critters will get to plague proportions. Think RATS and mice, if snakes didn't feed on them, the mice would be a foot deep all over the place... Also in a reef if nothing fed on SNAILS they would breed and multiply and consume ALL the food till they all starved to death. Then nothing would be left to eat the algae and the reef would die... Balance is the key, it is very difficult to keep that balance in our little glass boxes. If you let those worms go unchecked you will end up with THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of them... __________________ Need a Photographer? Just say NO to CRABS Mike

12-21-2004, 11:03 AM	#12
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,436	They are not harmful to corals or fish when alive but they can become unsightly when they cover all the shady areas of the tank. The population can also crash and the sudden die-off will kill most of the other inhabitants in your tank. Regards, Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

12-21-2004, 04:24 PM	#13
sickright New in Town Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 3	It seems like the best way to try to get rid of them is to just suck them out with a syphon type device over some time, rather than the worm away stuff and possibly posining your whole tank. I can't imagine you could ever git rid of them all. Any one know any other possible predators besides, wrasses and hermit crabs?

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