Weird creature... need ID

[TROLL]

I found a very weird flat creature, it's about 2 1/2 to 3" long. It has brown body with white mottles all over it, it's very flat and moves very fast. I couldn't get a photo of it but saw it came off a snail shell and scurried under the rocks.

 

Is it a flat worm or some kind of nudibranch? It could've made a feast out of my margarita snail, tho.

 

I think it's a flatworm tho... Found a pic that almost the same: flatworm img

 

How do I get rid of him if he's harmful.

[TROLL]

Update on flatworm: I caught him, he was a bit stubborn to get off the rock. He went after my small snail and killed him... I squirted the H-E-double hocky sticks out of the rock he was on then burnt the remaining parts that might be attached to the rock. I scrubbed off the slime part, I know those fellas would multiply by division meaning they'll grow into new worm even by small remaining pieces on rock.

 

As for the orginal snail he went after, the snail is doing fine, just got up and crawling about.

['Ric]

Good work!

 

Is there a natural predator of these guys you could put in you tank to nic any decendents in the bud?

[TROLL]

Yes, I think copperband butterfly and some wrasses feast on them. Not sure but someone might know... If nothing then I'll have to buy flatworm exit.

[trble81]

sounds like you need to call a priest and "exorcise the demons"

[Sugar Magnolia]

Predatory polyclad flatworm. Good thing you got it, some are known to prey on snails. (pg 199 in Shimek's Marine Inverts book) I had one hitch in on some LR a few years ago.

 

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