[harris51]

Ok, so I attempted the Velvet Nudibranch... with initial sucess... and new home lined up... then they just disappeared one day... never to be seen again.

I now think I am faced with deliberately introducing a toxin into my lovely ecosystem and ... needless to say... I have some reservations.

I am prepared for a significant water change and massive carbon filtration after the genocide

Any other suggestions / tips to make this go better?

[Ninong]

Flatworm eXit has come up dozens of times in the past. I just ran a search and came up with 108 hits, so I ran it again limiting my search to just threads where it's part of the title.

Here are a few threads you may find interesting: here, here, here.

[kronos5]

are there any fish or inverts that naturally eat flatworms??

[harris51]

There is a "Velvet" Nudibranch ...... Chelidonura varians.

Very beautiful, but notoriously sensitive.

I attempted to get three going.... I even had another home for them after they had depleted their food source.

They lived for 3 weeks, actively predated those damn worms, then one night..... gone. I found one body with trauma c/w an attack, but no idea who or what.


I used the exit last night to great effect..... and very messy.

It didn't kill them all, however, I suspect I may need another round.

I hope that helps.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by kronos5

are there any fish or inverts that naturally eat flatworms??

Yes, but it can be hit or miss. As already pointed out, Chelidonura varians is one option but nudibranchs, in general, are not usually the best way to get rid of any pests because they rarely eat all of them. In the case of flatworms, they multiply by simply splitting in half, so it's hard for any predators to keep up with the expanding population.

Some wrasses will eat some flatworms sometimes, but only if they're in the mood. Sometimes the six-line wrasse will eat them. Maybe.

The spotted mandarin (Synchiropus picturatus) is reported to eat them, but only the brown ones. Sometimes. It all depends on what other food choices are available.

You may find this article interesting.

Good luck!

[kronos5]

Thanks for the comments