clear flatworm?

[Goonter]

I was looking at the tank last night with a flashlight and discovered this weird clearish-white worm thing that waves when it swims... for those of you who don't get what i am saying, kind of like this ~ and it was about half an inch and hated the light, it swam crazy like and then ended up going towards a sponge and then when i check back later it was gone. I apologize for not taking a picture, i didn't have time, but i thought i would ask to see what it was out of curiosity. I am thinking it might be an acropora flatworm, but i have no clue as it wasn't even near my sps.

[dahliaheartsyou]

did it look like this (flatworm): http://macropyga.googlepages.com/identification

and yes, the clear eat acros.

 

go here: http://www.chucksaddiction.com/

on the left side, click "hitchhikers"

and then "worms" in the middle.

[Goonter]

ooooooo nice site, looking at it i think it probably was more of the "Acoel Flatworm"

worm hitch hikers2nd from the bottom on the left side. However, i don't recall it having a tooth shape, other than that it looks exactly like it. wierd thing is, that is the first time i saw one, and it is the only one i have seen.

 

edit: how can i tell if they are invading the corals if they are clear?

[lakshwadeep]

There are many types of flatworms, and your thread title immediately sounded like acoel flatworms.

 

The clear ones are harmless.

[dahliaheartsyou]

they can smother corals from the light and some feed off zooxanthellae...

their populations go up and down over time. I would siphon them out.

 

here are some articles:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/general...ral_pagesid=362

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/flatworms.htm

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/flatwrmfaq2.htm

[Daemonfly]

Are you sure it's even a flatworm? Many polychaetes, etc.. have a stage where they're a free-swimming smaller squiggly worm.

[lakshwadeep]

Are you sure it's even a flatworm? Many polychaetes, etc.. have a stage where they're a free-swimming smaller squiggly worm.

 

Yes, I didn't even realize that the thing was swimming in the water. That sounds like an epitoke et al. that have pictures on the worm hitchhikers at chucksaddiction.com.

[Goonter]

alright, i am 100% sure now that i have the clear Acoel Flatworms, they are on my glass and look exactly like that picture on http://www.chucksaddiction.com/. I think i got them from some guy giving me free chaeto. I can't find what they do or what i should do to get them out. any help or advice please?