Aquarium flatworm control

April 3, 2002
From: Victor Hernandez

I've had a salt water tank for a couple years now and noticed for the first time today Acoel Flatworms colonizing my disc anemones. I read an article in a publication called Marine Fish and Reef, (Annual 2000) indicating that if the flatworms are left in the absence of predators they can become a problem.

I went on to read that Sea Slugs of the genus Chelidonura are known to feed on them, as I also saw in a photo here on your site. Are these sea slugs an importable creature in the aquarium hobby or not? And if so what is the longevity of such a creature in captivity? Will Chelidonura deplete its food source quicker than the flatworms reproduce?

I would appreciate whatever input you could provide. I don't want to import an animal that will not be successful in a reef aquarium.

Victor Hernandez

Victor.s.hernandez@bankofamerica.com

Hernandez, V., 2002 (Apr 3) Aquarium flatworm control. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6655

Dear Victor,
Chelidonura varians is the species normally mentioned. Have a look at the messages on that page for a full discussion on its efficacy. Basically, they are hard to obtain, we know nothing of their life-history in the wild, so we have no idea how long they would last in an aquarium. If you got one, I see no reason why it wouldn't just eat all your flatworms and then starve to death. I am afraid its brain is a bit small to know about rationing its food supply.
Cheers,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Apr 3). Comment on Aquarium flatworm control by Victor Hernandez. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6655

Factsheet

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