Target mandarin for flatworm control...info needed

[mooner]

I am having flatworm problems and really would like to clear it up or at least keep it under control without chemicals. I was told by my LFS that this guy loves to eat them and will keep them at bay.

Any advice?

Thanks.

 

[teevee]

If you mean Synchiropus picturatus, no, they will not reliably eat flatworms, this is just an reefing myth that ultimately leads to the death of more of these fish.

 

[mooner]

I have heard similar on another thread today.

No worries...I am not going to get one as it sounds like a bad idea. I do not want to take on any fish I cannot care for and house correctly. It's Flatworm Exit all the way.

Thanks for the post.

 

[ereefic1]

When getting ready to combine our 2 tanks, the new tank had tons of red flatworms in it.

After moving everything to the new tank, including a psychadelic mandarin, the flatworms disappeared.

Was it the mandarin or natural? I don't know. Never witnessed the mandarin eating them.

 

[K9coral]

I have a mandarin thats starving right now B/C of an @sshole at the LFS. Check the boards, the lfs, then find out for yourself - - - IMO !!!!

 

[Anonymous]

In the Marine Fishes book I have spotted mandarins are listed as eating flatworms, but green mandarins are not. :?

I always thought of these two fish as pretty much the same with the same behavior but different markings.

Could it be possible that the spotted ones will eat flatworms and the green ones will not?


My tank has a lot of life in it because of some new live rock and sand I added a month ago...all kinds of different pods, but also some fast multiplying flatworms.

since I am noticing their numbers growing, I considered getting something that would eat them....I like this idea a lot better than adding a chemical, no matter how reef safe it is. What DOES eat them?

If nothing eats them, should I do something before their numbers grow any more, or will their population level off eventually?


They don't really bother me and I'm not in a hurry to kill them, but I am worried that they will eat up the food source of other good critters and displace them.

 

[Anonymous]

I thought Mandarins pretty much only ate pods...at least mine does...He wont even eat brine or mysis shrimp....I think theyre pretty stubborn on what they eat...?? I also do not understand why Mandarins starve..only due to a lack of food (pods) only in an unmature tank or where high competition should this happen...Ive had two Mandarins..the first one jumped outta the tank...Neither one of mine show signs of starvation..So when i hear people say they have Mandarins starving its only IMO one of two causes..The two previously mentioned...

 

[Rotary]

mandarins will not touch flatworms. I have battled this problem over and over again. There is a product call FLAT WORM EXIT by salifert. It works GREAT. I heard people that have problems with it but I have used it on 3 tanks. A 12 gal reef packed with xenia,50 g fully stocked reef and a 180 reef. I did'nt have one problem! It worked great just make sure to go by the directions and you should'nt have any probs. It's only like 14 or 15 dollars to.
Good luck