Black worms in filter

[Rawrs.]

Have you tested your water?

Yes

If yes, what is your ammonia?

0

If yes, what is your nitrite?

0

If yes, what is your nitrate?

0

If I did not test my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.

Do you do water changes?

Yes

What percentage of water do you change?

21-30%

How frequently do you change your water?

Every week

If I do not change my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.

Anyone have any idea how to get rid of these things? Tank has been running for years with no issues. Water parameters are good, 20% water changes every week.

 

[deeda]

Have you fed any type of worms to your fish?

Do they look like leeches? I can't blow the pic up enough to tell.

 

[tlindsey]

View attachment 1496700Anyone have any idea how to get rid of these things? Tank has been running for years with no issues. Water parameters are good, 20% water changes every week.

It's hard tell in the pics like D deeda stated. If not leeches but detritus worms you will need to vacuum the substrate every wc feed less and probably clean filter more often.

 

[Rawrs.]

It's hard tell in the pics like D deeda stated. If not leeches but detritus worms you will need to vacuum the substrate every wc feed less and probably clean filter more often.

looks like detritus worms. Bunch of black little worms. Haven’t fed fish nothing but pellets.

 

[jjohnwm]

They look to me much more like leeches than detritus worms, just going on apparent size, colour and shape.

And bear in mind that most leeches are scavengers on dead organic matter, not posing any danger to fish or to the fishkeeper...so you still need to address tank maintenance to get rid of them. But in and of themselves they aren't actually troublesome. I doubt these are bloodsucking predators, or your fish would be look like hedgehogs with that number of them around.

 

[aroijuana]

There just normal black worms.. smaller fish love them. They turn into fungus nats if I'm not mistaken. You can get rid of them by doing more filter cleanings/larger water changes. They are harmless to your fish tho.

 

[jjohnwm]

If by "normal" black worms, you mean the typical ones sold as live food, then I don't think so. Those are sort of medium-brown in color, whereas these look actually black, but maybe that's just the lighting.

It's bloodworms that are the larvae of midges; black worms (and leeches) are true worms.

 

[aroijuana]

If by "normal" black worms, you mean the typical ones sold as live food, then I don't think so. Those are sort of medium-brown in color, whereas these look actually black, but maybe that's just the lighting.

It's bloodworms that are the larvae of midges; black worms (and leeches) are true worms.

drain fly larvae would be my guess then.

 

[Rawrs.]

drain fly larvae would be my guess then.

That could also be it. Any way to get rid of them? Was told to try a dog dewormer

 

[jjohnwm]

If you believe they are insect larvae of some sort...and the more often I view those pics, the more firmly I feel that they are not...then a dewormer isn't designed to do anything for you. Dewormers aren't even effective on all types of worms, so thinking that they will help you kill caterpillars (insect larvae) is not realistic. I just realized that "drain" fly might be an autocorrected version of "crane" fly. Crane flies look like mosquitoes, but are huge by comparison, many times bigger than skeeters. Thank goodness they don't bite. If that's not what you mean, what are "drain" flies?

If you don't want these critters living in your tank, a much better solution than reaching for a bottle of mysterious chemicals would be to simply deprive them of whatever it is that makes your tank attractive to them. In the case of almost all these suggested ID's, that would be excessive food and build-up of sludge and detritus in the tank.