Whats that flatworm? (2/3)

[Maebh]

Flatworms are a confusing group to research, mainly because there is not much information on the types and taxonomy and we have a habit of referring to the same worm with fifty different names. There are probably a few mistakes in this article, but I tried my best!

Removal should be looked at individually, as I have just given a brief idea of what I have seen to be recommended. Important to note: Many flatworms release toxins when they die, which can be a problem, for obvious reasons.
For most flatworms I would recommend starving them out first, to reduce the population, then manual removal.
If that isn't possible, there are chemical methods for removal such as flatworm exit, flatworm stop etc, though this usually requires a large water change after.
If the flatworms are ones that cover corals, dipping the coral, every 2-3 days for as long as you deem necessary/stop seeing flatworms (and a bit after that) Usually for around two weeks.
There are five major ways to remove/reduce flatworms, in no particular order: dipping, manual, chemicall, biological(fish/inverts that eat flatworms) and starvation.

Photos are not mine.

1. Acropora Eating Flatworm

Classification: Platyhelminthes: Polycladida: Prosthiostomidae: Prosthiostomum acroporae
Harm: Eating the coral's tissue and laying their eggs around the base of their skeleton.
Size: Up to 6mm
Colour: Brown/orange
Removal methods: Dipping, Manual(eggs) and Biological(Wrasses).
https://reefstable.com/solutions/pests/acro-eating-flatworms
Other:
Photo: First two photos show AFEW, the last

2. Euphillia eating flatworms

Classification: Platyhelminthes: Polycladida: Prosthiostomidae: Amakusaplana acroporae (Maybe, we don't know exact specie)
Harm: Consume the coral’s tissues and introduce harmful pathogens.
Size: 15mm
Colour: Transparent/Brown tinge
Removal methods: Dipping and Manual(eggs).
Other:
Photo:

3. Ghost Flatworm

Classification: Maricola Planarian triclad
Harm: Neutral but eat copepods
Size: 13mm
Colour: White/clear
Removal methods: Manual removal, chemical removal
Other:
Photo:

4. Convolutriloba sp. (Info from retrogemma)

Classification:Xenacoelomorpha: Acoela: Convolutidae: Convolutriloba: Amakusaplana acroporae
Harm: Consumes pods and can starve corals of sunlight
Size: 10mm
Colour: Reddish-brown
Removal methods: Dipping, chemical, manual.
Other: Redbug, red planaria, rust flatworm, or simply red flatworm
Photo:

5. Waminoa sp

Classification: Xenacoelomorpha: Convolutidae: Waminoa
Harm: Eats coral mucus
Size: 3-4mm
Colour: Orange-brown, often with white ring.
Removal methods: Chemical removal,
Other: Hosts one of two types of dinoflagellate.
Photo:

6. Leopard flatworm

Classification: Pseudocerotidae: Polycladida: Pseudobiceros pardalis.
Harm: feeds off of injured animals, bryozoans and soft corals.
Size: 20-50mm
Colour: Reddish-brown with large orange and small yellow spots. Small white spots
Removal methods: Manual removal.
Other: Can swim.
Photo: The photo of the white is this flatworms underside.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

A few technical corrections here (I'm sorry this'll probably be a lot/come across as overly harsh correction; I actually really appreciate the article, so sorry if it does):

1. Acropora Eating Flatworm

Classification: Platyhelminthes: Polycladida: Prosthiostomidaerosthiostomum acroporae

The ":" and "P" turned into an emoji - it should be "Prosthiostomum" for the genus. (From Team R2R Mod - Fixed)

1. Euphillia eating flatworms

Classification: Platyhelminthes: Polycladida: Prosthiostomidae: Amakusaplana acroporae (Maybe, we don't know exact specie)

Each worm in the list starts with the number "1."
(From Team R2R Mod - Numbering fixed)

Also, Amakusaplana acroporae is an unaccepted synonym for Prosthiostomum acroporae - the Acropora-eating Flatworm (hence the species name "acroporae").

1. Ghost Flatworm

Classification: Maricola Planarian triclad

Maricola is a taxonomic infraorder in the order Tricladida in the phylum Platyhelminthes.

Planarians used to be considered a part of the order Tricladida (specifically from the class Turbellaria, which is no longer accepted), but are now considered to be part of a different phylum altogether, Nemertea (class, Nemertea incertae sedis).

For those interested, the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) database generally has the most up to date taxonomy (with rare exception).

Regardless, the Ghost Flatworm doesn't have the proper body shape for either triclads or planarians; the Ghost Flatworm (which may actually be multiple species) is an Acoel flatworm, almost certainly from the Convolutidae family - it is currently thought to be from the genus Amphiscolops (this article has me digging deeper into that to see I can at least verify that).

1. Convolutriloba sp. (Info from retrogemma)

Classification:Xenacoelomorpha: Acoela: Convolutidae: Convolutriloba: Amakusaplana acroporae

"Amakusaplana acroporae" should be "Convolutriloba retrogemma/Convolutriloba spp."

1. Waminoa sp

Classification: Xenacoelomorpha: Convolutidae: Waminoa

This one's a bit picky, but it should read "Waminoa spp." rather than "Waminoa sp"

1. Leopard flatworm

Classification: Pseudocerotidae: Polycladida: Pseudobiceros pardalis.

The common name "Leopard Flatworm" is also applied to Pericelis species, which seem to be the more common "Leopard Flatworms" in the hobby.

Completely seriously - despite my corrections here - it's good to bring attention to these critters and help people dealing with them find solutions; and this has been a good push for me to dig deeper into flatworms.

Keep up the good work!

 

[adamg77]

@Maebh and @ISpeakForTheSeas GUYS! This is epic and it was written today!!! I have been looking at these ghost flatworms somewhat concerned but also intrigued as I think most of these ‘pests’ in our tanks are kinda cool.
Do y’all know of any inverts that eat flatworms?

 

[KLaRue]

So, predation by fish/inverts only occurs with AEF?

 

[i cant think]

Flatworms are a confusing group to research, mainly because there is not much information on the types and taxonomy and we have a habit of referring to the same worm with fifty different names. There are probably a few mistakes in this article, but I tried my best!

Removal should be looked at individually, as I have just given a brief idea of what I have seen to be recommended. Important to note: Many flatworms release toxins when they die, which can be a problem, for obvious reasons.
For most flatworms I would recommend starving them out first, to reduce the population, then manual removal.
If that isn't possible, there are chemical methods for removal such as flatworm exit, flatworm stop etc, though this usually requires a large water change after.
If the flatworms are ones that cover corals, dipping the coral, every 2-3 days for as long as you deem necessary/stop seeing flatworms (and a bit after that) Usually for around two weeks.
There are five major ways to remove/reduce flatworms, in no particular order: dipping, manual, chemicall, biological(fish/inverts that eat flatworms) and starvation.

Photos are not mine.

1. Acropora Eating Flatworm

Classification: Platyhelminthes: Polycladida: Prosthiostomidaerosthiostomum acroporae
Harm: Eating the coral's tissue and laying their eggs around the base of their skeleton.
Size: Up to 6mm
Colour: Brown/orange
Removal methods: Dipping, Manual(eggs) and Biological(Wrasses).
https://reefstable.com/solutions/pests/acro-eating-flatworms
Other:
Photo: First two photos show AFEW, the last

1. Euphillia eating flatworms

Classification: Platyhelminthes: Polycladida: Prosthiostomidae: Amakusaplana acroporae (Maybe, we don't know exact specie)
Harm: Consume the coral’s tissues and introduce harmful pathogens.
Size: 15mm
Colour: Transparent/Brown tinge
Removal methods: Dipping and Manual(eggs).
Other:
Photo:

1. Ghost Flatworm

Classification: Maricola Planarian triclad
Harm: Neutral but eat copepods
Size: 13mm
Colour: White/clear
Removal methods: Manual removal, chemical removal
Other:
Photo:

1. Convolutriloba sp. (Info from retrogemma)

Classification:Xenacoelomorpha: Acoela: Convolutidae: Convolutriloba: Amakusaplana acroporae
Harm: Consumes pods and can starve corals of sunlight
Size: 10mm
Colour: Reddish-brown
Removal methods: Dipping, chemical, manual.
Other: Redbug, red planaria, rust flatworm, or simply red flatworm
Photo:

1. Waminoa sp

Classification: Xenacoelomorpha: Convolutidae: Waminoa
Harm: Eats coral mucus
Size: 3-4mm
Colour: Orange-brown, often with white ring.
Removal methods: Chemical removal,
Other: Hosts one of two types of dinoflagellate.
Photo:

1. Leopard flatworm

Classification: Pseudocerotidae: Polycladida: Pseudobiceros pardalis.
Harm: feeds off of injured animals, bryozoans and soft corals.
Size: 20-50mm
Colour: Reddish-brown with large orange and small yellow spots. Small white spots
Removal methods: Manual removal.
Other: Can swim.
Photo: The photo of the white is this flatworms underside.

I think we need a new common name for Euphyllia eating flatworms… they now eat corals from 2 genera.

 

[i cant think]

So, predation by fish/inverts only occurs with AEF?

I’ve eradicated EEF with wrasses, in fact most on that list I’ve removed with wrasse.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

@Maebh and @ISpeakForTheSeas GUYS! This is epic and it was written today!!! I have been looking at these ghost flatworms somewhat concerned but also intrigued as I think most of these ‘pests’ in our tanks are kinda cool.
Do y’all know of any inverts that eat flatworms?

The inaccurately named Blue Velvet Nudibranch (it's not actually a nudibranch) eats them, but I wouldn't recommend using it for them unless you have a solid plan to rehome it to someone else who has flatworms afterword:

From what I've heard, I think the Blue Velvet Nudibranch, Chelidonura varians (which is actually a Cephalaspidean/Headshield Slug, not a Nudibranch), would likely take care of the issue very quickly - my concern would be rehoming it afterward, as it will likely starve to death once it gets rid of the flatworms.

A video of them feeding:

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I think we need a new common name for Euphyllia eating flatworms… they now eat corals from 2 genera.

Interesting - which two genera?

 

[Dburr1014]

This should be fixed and made a sticky.

 

[i cant think]

Interesting - which two genera?

Unless it’s changed weren’t Fymbriaphyllia and Euphyllia separated?

 

[Maebh]

So, predation by fish/inverts only occurs with AEF?

No, I should have specified, sorry! I think predation will work with most fw species, but it was especially recommended for aefw. All the methods should work for all fw species I just put down the top recommended methods depending on species . For example, it's better to do a dipping method for afew or eefw because they congregate on corals, while it wouldn't be efficient with leopard FW because they are more mobile.

 

[Maebh]

A few technical corrections here (I'm sorry this'll probably be a lot/come across as overly harsh correction; I actually really appreciate the article, so sorry if it does):

The ":" and "P" turned into an emoji - it should be "Prosthiostomum" for the genus.

Each worm in the list starts with the number "1."

Also, Amakusaplana acroporae is an unaccepted synonym for Prosthiostomum acroporae - the Acropora-eating Flatworm (hence the species name "acroporae").

Maricola is a taxonomic infraorder in the order Tricladida in the phylum Platyhelminthes.

Planarians used to be considered a part of the order Tricladida (specifically from the class Turbellaria, which is no longer accepted), but are now considered to be part of a different phylum altogether, Nemertea (class, Nemertea incertae sedis).

For those interested, the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) database generally has the most up to date taxonomy (with rare exception).

Regardless, the Ghost Flatworm doesn't have the proper body shape for either triclads or planarians; the Ghost Flatworm (which may actually be multiple species) is an Acoel flatworm, almost certainly from the Convolutidae family - it is currently thought to be from the genus Amphiscolops (this article has me digging deeper into that to see I can at least verify that).

"Amakusaplana acroporae" should be "Convolutriloba retrogemma/Convolutriloba spp."

This one's a bit picky, but it should read "Waminoa spp." rather than "Waminoa sp"

The common name "Leopard Flatworm" is also applied to Pericelis species, which seem to be the more common "Leopard Flatworms" in the hobby.

Completely seriously - despite my corrections here - it's good to bring attention to these critters and help people dealing with them find solutions; and this has been a good push for me to dig deeper into flatworms.

Keep up the good work!

Thank you so much!! I should have gone over it before posting, as I copy pasted from the doc I wrote it in. Is there any way to get a mod to make these changes? I can't believe the . P turned into an emoji!

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Thank you so much!! I should have gone over it before posting, as I copy pasted from the doc I wrote it in. Is there any way to get a mod to make these changes? I can't believe the . P turned into an emoji!

If you can get the mods attention, they can change it for you - some people get responses with #MODS but reporting the post/article and asking in the report for the mods to make the requested changes may have a higher chance of getting their attention.

 

[Maebh]

Its all fixed thanks to the moderation team! Thank you guys so much

 

[TokenReefer]

Very useful. Thank you for taking the time

 

[Andrew Mc]

I had to tear my tank down in an attempt to find this stealthy snail killer. After spending a few hours, I couldn't find it. In frustration, I started reassembling the rock and getting it back online. Once it was all back in place, I looked down in the Home Depot bucket and there it was...

 

[Andrew Mc]

I had to tear my tank down in an attempt to find this stealthy snail killer. After spending a few hours, I couldn't find it. In frustration, I started reassembling the rock and getting it back online. Once it was all back in place, I looked down in the Home Depot bucket and there it was...

Tried to upload 9 second video of polyclad flatworm...