Possible Predatory Flatworm infestation

Dominic444

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jul 5, 2022
Messages
8
Hello, i have a bioactive tank for my regal jumping spider and have never had a problem with flatworms before in any of my tanks, but today when I woke up I noticed what is pictured crawling everywhere, I did a little research and it looks like they are predatory flatworms. I've heard theres a type of beetle that eats these but will they harm my spider? Are there any other ways to get rid of them? 20220705_174552.jpg
 

viper69

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 8, 2006
Messages
19,063
You have more than that in there clearly. Good luck. I don't let critters like that invade my cherished pet's home.
 

Dorifto

He who moists xD
Joined
Aug 10, 2017
Messages
2,773
Let the sustrate dry, while keeping a corner moist. They will move to the moist spot, then remove that portion.

Killing manually the visible ones guarantees you that they won't reproduce anymore 🤣🤣🤣

Also remove any kind of leftovers.
 

ShyDragoness

Arachnobaron
Joined
Jun 7, 2017
Messages
369
Might also be worth moving your jumper to a temporary set up while you deal with the infestation. But I'm not super familiar with flatworms.
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,572
The entire containment is a write off. Sterilize. It's not just bio-active, it's primordial ooze. Also, consider taking personal precautions just in case schistosomiasis is present.
 

Dominic444

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jul 5, 2022
Messages
8
Thank you all for the help. Looks like I'm gonna be busy tomorow sterilizing. Any safe and efficient ways to sterilize the enclosure to ensure they don't come back?
 

Tentacle Toast

Arachnolord
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Jul 6, 2016
Messages
644
The entire containment is a write off. Sterilize. It's not just bio-active, it's primordial ooze. Also, consider taking personal precautions just in case schistosomiasis is present.
You're probably not going to get anything yourself, but I'd treat it like I could if I were in your position.
Thank you all for the help. Looks like I'm gonna be busy tomorow sterilizing. Any safe and efficient ways to sterilize the enclosure to ensure they don't come back?
Throw EVERYTHING away, I would suggest not trying to salvage anything out of that, even the plants. Then blast the enclosure with HOT water, getting all the debris out. Then go through with hot water & bleach at a 10:1 ratio. Rinse, repeat, rinse, & rinse again, then let it dry thoroughly, preferably in the sun.

A few questions, though...how old is that tank? What substrate did you use? I've seen contaminated springtail containers being sold in reputable shops, so make sure you know what all is going into the next one...same with the plants. Nasty stuff can come in on the roots... Will you please post more pictures?
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,572
I've seen contaminated springtail containers
Helminths of all varieties are expert hitch hikers. A part of the reason Schistosomiasis is a close second to malaria in the third world. The word has been spread accordingly and people who collect snails in the wild usually cover their hands with plastic bags. Your next bite of food may have a few eggs or larvae along for the ride.
 
Last edited:

dogpack

Arachnosquire
Active Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2022
Messages
65
I hope all goes well. I do remember viewing or reading about substrate that is too wet or wet for too long and that has not been allowed to dry can have these types of issues.
 

Tentacle Toast

Arachnolord
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Jul 6, 2016
Messages
644
Helminths of all varieties are expert hitch hikers. A part of the reason Schistosomiasis is a close second to malaria in the third world. The word has been spread accordingly and people who collect snails in the wild usually cover their hands with plastic bags. Your next bite of food may have a few eggs or larvae along for the ride.
It's actually rather rare in the US, but there are regions where you could pick it up. Plus, we have no idea where he got anything in that tank, so better safe than ok 0
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,572
It's actually rather rare in the US, but there are regions where you could pick it up.
For the moment. But with globalization, tourism at all time highs, more and more people interested in owning exotic animals, mercenary hunters, rampant smuggling and profits before all else pet outlets it's a whole new ballgame for many diseases thought confined to specific locales. Global warming is another contributor.
 

dogpack

Arachnosquire
Active Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2022
Messages
65
History is a good teacher. Nature is a wealth of knowledge. Animals are guides toward beneficial know-how. T's are a blessing.
 

Dominic444

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jul 5, 2022
Messages
8
You're probably not going to get anything yourself, but I'd treat it like I could if I were in your position.

Throw EVERYTHING away, I would suggest not trying to salvage anything out of that, even the plants. Then blast the enclosure with HOT water, getting all the debris out. Then go through with hot water & bleach at a 10:1 ratio. Rinse, repeat, rinse, & rinse again, then let it dry thoroughly, preferably in the sun.

A few questions, though...how old is that tank? What substrate did you use? I've seen contaminated springtail containers being sold in reputable shops, so make sure you know what all is going into the next one...same with the plants. Nasty stuff can come in on the roots... Will you please post more pictures?

Thank you for the help! Gotta a busy day today. I've had the tank for several months now, i just recently added my jumper 2 weeks ago after molting. I can't think of the soil's brand name but its one my local shop sells and I've never had it had a problem with it in my other tanks. I think it might have been the plant. This was my first time using a live plant in a tank and this is the only tank I've seen them in. The springtails I added into the tank came from a colony I raised myself and all i did was scoop some in a container with 0 dirt put them in it.
 

Dominic444

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jul 5, 2022
Messages
8
You're probably not going to get anything yourself, but I'd treat it like I could if I were in your position.

Throw EVERYTHING away, I would suggest not trying to salvage anything out of that, even the plants. Then blast the enclosure with HOT water, getting all the debris out. Then go through with hot water & bleach at a 10:1 ratio. Rinse, repeat, rinse, & rinse again, then let it dry thoroughly, preferably in the sun.

A few questions, though...how old is that tank? What substrate did you use? I've seen contaminated springtail containers being sold in reputable shops, so make sure you know what all is going into the next one...same with the plants. Nasty stuff can come in on the roots... Will you please post more pictures?
Also, hiw would I go about making the bleach water ratio. I'm not gonna lie but I suck at ratios and understanding them. Would it be lile for every 9 cups of water it would be 1 cup of bleach? Or something different?
 

Tentacle Toast

Arachnolord
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Jul 6, 2016
Messages
644
Also, hiw would I go about making the bleach water ratio. I'm not gonna lie but I suck at ratios and understanding them. Would it be lile for every 9 cups of water it would be 1 cup of bleach? Or something different?
It's simply 10 equal parts water to one of bleach. For a small job like one tank, that could be 10 quarter cups (or 2.5 cups) water, to 1 quarter cup of bleach (or 600ml water to 60ml bleach, if that's more your metric)...
 

Dominic444

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jul 5, 2022
Messages
8
Update: threw away everything. First i dumped some bleacg water in the enclosure to kind of kill everything, then did as instructed: rinse, repeat, rinse, etc. Now I'm letting it dry. Will the little bleach in the water evaporate with the water when its drying? Just want to be safe so when I go to refill it there isn't any to kill my spider or springtails
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,572
Will the little bleach in the water evaporate with the water when its drying?
It precipitates into chloride salts. Think sea foam residue at the beach. Mildly noxious but not particularly toxic or hazardous.
 

Tentacle Toast

Arachnolord
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Jul 6, 2016
Messages
644
Update: threw away everything. First i dumped some bleacg water in the enclosure to kind of kill everything, then did as instructed: rinse, repeat, rinse, etc. Now I'm letting it dry. Will the little bleach in the water evaporate with the water when its drying? Just want to be safe so when I go to refill it there isn't any to kill my spider or springtails
If you rinsed thoroughly with non-bleach water, you'll be all set :)
 
Top