I have worms !!!!

[Nubster]

I have these tiny little worms floating around in my tank. Some are on the glass and I can see them scooting along. They are white and about a 1/4" long and about as thick as a hair. Anyone know what they are, how they got there, are they bad and what do I do about'em. Let me know if you need more info.

 

[rallysman]

If they are what I am thinking of its a sign of a neglected tank. Do some water changes and make sure your filter is up to par. Also vac the gravel I dont think they do any harm, but arent good either. Also make sure you arent overfeeding.

 

[Nubster]

Not a neglected tank, but over feeding a possibilty. It is a new tank with seasoned filter media as I had an accident with my old tank crashing down on the floor. It was a 29 gallon so I quickly setup a 65 gallon I had on hand, but with all new water and substrate, but used the filter media from the old tank. This occured on November 24 and the worms appeared today (December 23). I will give the tank and good cleaning and cut back on the food some and see what happens. Thanks for the input.

 

[rallysman]

Good luck and keep checking on this thread, i'm sure you'll get more and better answers

 

[Pangong_ilong]

Those worms are planaria. You are overfeeding your fishes my friend. Even if its a new tank, you still used your old filter. Some of the worms might have been living in your old filter. Lessen the food and do some water change and it'll be fine.

 

[NoRtHbAyKeEpEr]

Planaria:

If small white creatures are seen crawling all over the glass and ornaments, especially at night, they may be planaria. Planaria commonly show up in tanks with an excess of food. Most are introduced to an aquarium from other aquaria with live foods like black worms, live plants, or anything else moved from an active aquarium that has them. There is some belief that they can survive in freeze-dried or frozen foods. If a lot of food is left in a tank; including dead and dying fish, snails, other animals, and plants; then a few planaria may divide into hundreds very quickly. They usually reproduce by asexual fission. Their heads are shaped like arrow heads. If a tank is found to be infested, planaria can be controlled by a good vacuuming of the gravel and better tank maintenance. To remove more planaria, see the next section on controlling planaria. Planaria will eat dead fish, fish eggs, and immobile fish larvae (fry newly hatched). They do not pose any risk to mobile fry or adult fish.

Controlling planaria in aquaria:

1. Set out bait like meat in a mesh bag. Remove the bait a few hours after the lights go out on the tank. It should be covered with planaria. Throw away and repeat until the population goes down.
2. Add planaria eating fish to the tank. One species is the paradise fish.
3. Vacuum the gravel very well and do a 50% water change. Often, planaria proliferate when the tank is too dirty. This will remove not only some planaria but their food source as well.
4. Reduce the foods added to the tank. Planaria often proliferate if too much excess food is provided.

http://www.fishpondinfo.com/micro.htm

 

[Nubster]

Thanks everyone.

 

[b_live]

good info