Spot on Xenia (pics)

[Vitaly]

I received a frag of Xenia, approximately 3 weeks ago. It firmly attached to LR in my tank about 2 weeks ago. I has appeared healthy since. This past Sunday I noticed a tan/brown spot on the stalk of the Xenia. I snapped a few images. I received two other frags concurrently and both look healthy.

Has anybody seen these before. Is this indicitive of anything happening to the xenia (disease, new growth, etc)?

Thank you...

[russ49merc]

it's a flatworm get flatworm exit

[bassist6108]

That's a nice looking Xenia. Hope you get that flatworm taken care of.
: )

- Andrea

[syrinx]

def a flatworm. And it looks like there is another on one of the hands. We used to have these back in the day- a lot of people lost their purse about it and tried all the nudies and all to eradicate. As I recall the problem is not with eating things, rather covering and shading. If you just have a few use some airline tubing to siphon them out. They repro by division so don`t mangle them! You ought to be careful who you get corals from!(haha)

[Vitaly]

russ49merc and Syrinx (Scott),

Thank you both for your comments. In your experience(s) are flatworms highly troublesome in the system. How soon do I need to act to rid them? I know nothing about them in aquaria, but will try to read up on them this evening.

I did notice that the spot was there again this morning on the same Xenia. Moreover, there appears to be a sprout/bud appearing on the stalk. Is this related to the flatworm...or a coincidental growth?

Thanks guys!

[russ49merc]

that's just growth and yes i would get rid of them asap i have them in mine and regret letting them go. they take a while to get rid of them. the airline tubing is the best thing because when they die they let off toxins. use the tubing to suck all the ones you can see and then use the flat worm exit to get rid of the ones you don't see

[syrinx]

since you just got them and didn`t notice them before- get to it and siphon them off before they spread- if it came on a frag then there are prob just a couple. you will also see them on glass in the morning- or on mushrooms. I would say not to wait, although I have never seen a bad outbreak- why start now?

[drummereef]

Looks like a couple of flatworms there. Look at the highest arm in the middle. Looks like a second.

[webbstock]

Hey Vitaly, just put your xenia in my "tank of death" and all will be cured!

[Vitaly]

syrinx and drummereef...you have good eyes. I never caught that other one until you pointed it out.

I have seen them a few times on te Xenia...as they contrast well aginst the stalk. I have pulled 3 out by hand...just gently plucked them right off of the stalk.

They are definetly not doing any harm yet, as all the Xenia (white and pink) are extended and pulsing. However, I can imagine that if their population explodes it will be problematic. I guess I will treat the system "Flatworm eXit" before the numbers skyrocket.

Thanks again everyone...