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Can you Identify This?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Reeferforlyfe, Feb 28, 2012.

  1. Reeferforlyfe

    Reeferforlyfe Inactive User

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    I don't really know how to put this... My camera cannot take pictures of these things.. They are so small its ridiculous...
    So all I can do is explain.. They are all over my glass, Shaped like an upside down U with points on them at the bottom..  I know this doesnt describe crap... But I don't know what to reference them too... Someone said they could be baby snails... I thought they might be pods, but they have no legs.. just a blob with two pointed ends and between those points, its a little concave.
    I probably sound like an idiot... But i don't know how else to get a picture...
    Ideas or thoughts??
     
  2. cowdust9

    cowdust9 Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    sounds like flat worms
     
  3. cowdust9

    cowdust9 Well-Known ReefKeeper

    999
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    Acoel Flatworm http://www.ronshimek.com/flatworms.html
     
  4. Reeferforlyfe

    Reeferforlyfe Inactive User

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    SOB! Yea its them.... now what?? Thanks for helping me identify these!
     
  5. Reeferforlyfe

    Reeferforlyfe Inactive User

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    I have looked to see if they are the Red Planaria which has 3 lobes. All my flatworms have 2 lobes... So i'm in the clear... What eats these?? Do i need to be worried?
     
  6. Pete H.

    Pete H. Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    I have heard these guys like to eat them - melanurus wrasse
     
  7. phishcrazee Experienced Reefkeeper

    Riverside
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    I wouldn't be so sure you're in the clear......they are quite able to change their shape as they move etc. The bad flatworms are the reddish color and look as you described in your first post. They will be on your softies and on the glass, rock, some sponges etc. Hard to say without any pictures, but I'd Google images of red planaria and make triple sure you have something different. Flatworm exit, with water changes, siphoning them out and carbon after all that is what most ppl do to get rid of them. They can multiply asexually and can cover the entire surface of a softie and block out the light it can get, they can become a real nuisance in a short amount of time.
     
  8. nrenn Well-Known ReefKeeper

    311
    Waverly, Iowa
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    I have heard of dosing "interceptor" which is a canine heartworm pill. Not sure if it is a controlled substace or what, or what doses that would require
     
  9. xroads Veteran Reefkeeper Vendor

    La Porte City, IA
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    A six line wrasse or even two, several other wrasses like the six line, yellow/purple, xmas, or similar body shape.
    Also a blue velvet nudibranch will eat them all.
    Other then that, you can suck them out, flatworm exit works, but if it kills too many at once, it can nuke your tank & kill everything in it.
     
  10. Tina

    Tina

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    Keep in mind that the planarians themselves are photosynthetic and they thrive where there is alot of light.  Interceptor is in fact a dog wormer pill, in aquaria it has treated red bugs (acro parasite) successfully , however i have not heard of it used to treat planarians, and therefore your results could vary. Also, interceptor is noramally obtained through vet clinics, if you choose to try using interceptor, you will have to contact a vet and explain to them what you are using it for. Some will provide it to you for your use and some will not. I recommend being honest with them, you will have much better luck. Also interceptor can and does kill pods, crabs, snails, and other inverts, whereas FW Exit is supposed to be much safer. However always do your research. If you have tons of FW in your tank, you could loose some livestock during treatment due to the poisons the FW give off as they die and their bodies start breaking down. There are lots of trails that have been documented on many forums on the use of FW exit, do a search. I think there are ppl that have used fw exit on this site as well, just reach out and they will send links and tell stories. Goodluck
     
  11. nrenn Well-Known ReefKeeper

    311
    Waverly, Iowa
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    You are correct, it is red bugs I heard about, not flatworms.  Had a brain fart.  Sorry about the misinformation
     
  12. Reeferforlyfe

    Reeferforlyfe Inactive User

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    Nudibranch hurt anything else in my tank? Reef safe? Inverts?
     
  13. Reeferforlyfe

    Reeferforlyfe Inactive User

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    I have watched this FW's move and they all have 2 lobes, even when moving. A off color white, have yet to see any red/pink. Hmm??
     
  14. glaspie69

    glaspie69 Experienced Reefkeeper

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    What is.....Amphiscolops sp. a harmless acoel that "shows up" at times in reef tanks. Also see WetWebMedia for pictures.
     
  15. Reeferforlyfe

    Reeferforlyfe Inactive User

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    And if I want them gone? those are food for? Nudibranches?
     
  16. Jeff k

    Jeff k

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    did you dip your corals before placing in tank? i had a few on the coral i got this weekend.
     
  17. mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchhikers.html
     

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