Parasite on my frilly mushroom coral

[Linguisa]

I've noticed red translucent parasites on my frilly mushroom coral. At first they looked like little spots - but I've seen them move, like a flat worm. I think they are harming my mushrooms and I need to get rid of them. I think they are most concentrated on the mushrooms that get the most light. These mushrooms now look dull and lighter in color. I have one other mushroom in the tank, not too far from the frillies, and the parasites haven't appeared on it. Thoughts? Help?

 

My marine tank has been running since October. 38 gallons, T5 lights, three fish, clean up crew (snails, hermit crabs, emerald crabs, conch), wet/dry filter, protein skimmer, we do a water change about every two weeks.

 

Thanks for your help, Luisa

[MLazar]

I've noticed red translucent parasites on my frilly mushroom coral. At first they looked like little spots - but I've seen them move, like a flat worm. I think they are harming my mushrooms and I need to get rid of them. I think they are most concentrated on the mushrooms that get the most light. These mushrooms now look dull and lighter in color. I have one other mushroom in the tank, not too far from the frillies, and the parasites haven't appeared on it. Thoughts? Help?

 

My marine tank has been running since October. 38 gallons, T5 lights, three fish, clean up crew (snails, hermit crabs, emerald crabs, conch), wet/dry filter, protein skimmer, we do a water change about every two weeks.

 

Thanks for your help, Luisa

 

Can you post a picture? We've inherited just about every pest out there at one time or another and can probably give you some assistance.

 

Maureen

Edited March 13, 2009 by MLazar

[davelin315]

Sounds like planaria, or a flatworm. Give the mushroom a freshwater dip and see if they fall off. The red ones aren't a problem except that they can reach plague proportions. Get yourself something that eats them if there's not too many of them, otherwise you may want to try flatworm exit or something like that. Beware, though, when they die they secrete toxins and when lots of them die, it can crash your tank.

[lanman]

Second the dip... even if it's just saltwater - shake the shrooms really good in water - and see if they don't fall off. A good swishing will get rid of most flatworms.

 

Pictures would be nice. But I know mine were hard to photograph.

 

bob

[Grav]

I find a dip of 50/50 tank water and RO/DI + a good shake does it pretty well. An alternative is Flat Worm exit, 5 to 10 drops in a few gallons of water (total over dose) gets the job done fast, and causes less stress to the coral compared to RO/DI.