HELP! FLATWORMS ON MY BEAUTIFUL CHILD!

[Wet Nerd]

I have this torch in a 3 month old tank (I like to live dangerously ) I come back home from vacation. Bam. Two flatworms on the skeleton AND tentacles. I'm kinda spooked, as i saved money for the torch for like two weeks, and I don't want coral deaths or an infestation. I have heard of flatworm exit, but that is expensive and could make the worms release toxins when they die. I am very farmiliar with blue velvet nudibranches (Love em') But don't want the beautiful bastard to die when the flatworms to run out (I don't think there are that many) I do seem to spot eggs on the torch... I do not want to add more fish, as there are five in my biocube (all small, no worries) My siphon is really poor, and i dont want to damage or stress fish or coral. Please give me advice. Thank you so much. (Will a pistol shrimp eat them, as they are oportunistic scavengers?) THANK YOU!

 

[Wet Nerd]

Forgot to mention (likely doesn't matter but oh well) My trates are 15 ppm which is not great. trites and ammonia are zero

 

[DaveK]

If you just see 2 flatworms, I wouldn't worry about it. The problem is that they can reproduce quickly and overrun a tank.

For now, keep an eye on everything. If you see a lot more of them, then consider flatworm exit. I don't too much of trying to use predators to try and control flatworms. That method seldom works.

You can try manual removal of flatworms. It will help some.

Note that I do not usually recommend medicating a reef tank, but if your going to kill off flatworms a chemical means is usually the best way. Be very careful on how you use it. Be prepared to make several partial water changes, to remove the medication.