Bugs.. (pics)

fareforce · #1 04/23/2006, 03:53 PM

Okay back to the redish/ orange bugs. What are they? Are they reef safe? Please dont tell me they are the dreaded red bugs!!!!

I never could get a postive ID before, but I have better pics now..

This was photoshoped to help show the details of the mystery bug!

kau_cinta_ku · #2 04/23/2006, 04:29 PM

sorry to say but they are flatworms aka the dreaded red bugs

Scuba_Dave · #3 04/23/2006, 04:33 PM

Get rid of them now!!
Buy flatworm exit. Read up on procedure & do it fast
They will propagate to massive proportions & look like a carpet in your tank. If they die in massive numbers they can kill your tank
You should be dipping & QT'ing everything that goes into your tank to prevent this

While they are a "red Bug"
They are not generally referred to as the red bug. That distinction is usually left for the VERY dreaded Red Bugs that feed on SPS
Treatment to get rid of that bug is much worse

Ti · #4 04/23/2006, 06:11 PM

flatworm exit to the rescue

Moreta · #5 04/23/2006, 06:17 PM

Do a search here on flatworms...there is a ton of information on this fourm about them.

fareforce · #6 04/23/2006, 08:47 PM

Will everything be okay until this weekend? I have to order it as no one local carries it.

Scuba_Dave · #7 04/23/2006, 08:53 PM

People have had flatworks in their tanks for months
Some give up trying to get rid of them

They will usually not kill your tank on their own
It's usually when you try to get rid of them that you run into problems
That is why it's best to kill them off before there are too many
You will need to run carbon & do water changes after tank treatment
You also need to rerun the treatment about 7-10 days later I think. You will need to read the instructions

Good luck, as long as there aren't tons of them you should be OK
It's also a good idea to syphon as many out as possible before treatment

PatMayo · #8 04/24/2006, 12:42 AM

What is the actual size of the worms in question?

Regards,

Pat

fareforce · #9 04/24/2006, 01:57 AM

I would say 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch

fareforce · #10 04/24/2006, 01:58 AM

Why woukd they only be in my mantis tank (fuge)? They aren't in my sump, or in my main tank that I can see. I only see them on the glass in my mantis tank.

fareforce · #11 04/24/2006, 10:37 AM

?

tigerarmy40 · #12 04/24/2006, 10:43 AM

I just siphoned as menay off as possible and did 4 water changes a month then all of the sudden they were gone from both tanks!! no explenation just gone!! I wouldnt worry about them too much and I would try a natural way of getting them out before adding a chemical to the tank!! jmo

Nami19 · #13 04/24/2006, 11:05 AM

I had the same experience as tigerarmy40, just siphoned a few off my mushroom corals and they are no gone, it's been about six months.

RLMainers · #14 04/24/2006, 12:35 PM

Does "flatworm exit" hurt corals or fish?

fareforce · #15 04/24/2006, 01:09 PM

I was ready threads about flatworm exit all day yesterday. The product itself doesn't, but the toxins released by the flatworms can.

rick s · #16 04/24/2006, 02:28 PM

I am no expert in this field but:

1. Slow down. There isn't many things in this hobby that you do Right Now. When you do, it usually creates more problems.

2. They do not look like "Red Planaria" flatworms. But again, I am no expert. Red Planaria are the "dredded" flatworms. I had them, and treated for them. There are many types of flatworms, some more of a problem than others. I would suggest you take your time, research exactly what you have, and then treat if you deem necessary. Siphoning them out of the tank in the meantime would be a good idea.

fareforce · #17 04/24/2006, 03:48 PM

How can I get a positive ID on these then? I just dont want them to spread. Right now I only see them on the top third of the glass on my mantis tank (fuge). I dont want them to go further then that.

So what should I do?