Nematodes! Help!

[skrefany]

I think I have nematodes. They are little, white, wiggly worms that float around in my tank. They aren't attached to anything. I've had them before in my 29g and I couldn't get rid of them until I broke everything down and switched over to my 75g. And now I have them again! I know I will probably have to take my snails out to put salt in the tank. Is there any way to get rid of these little things completely?.....And where the heck are they coming from?! They seem to just show up out of nowhere.

Ugh. They gross me out.

 

[guppy]

You sure they aren't planaria?

 

[skrefany]

You sure they aren't planaria?

I was under the assumption that planaria are dark colored and will stick to the side of the tank. These guys are white and just free-float. They aren't attached to anything. They are only about a 1/4 inch at the most....kinda like tiny earthworms that float.

 

[fishmaven]

Nematodes are found in the muscular tissue of a fish. They normally appear is bumps on the fish or little capsule-like things in the fins or clear tissue parts of a fish. It's very unlikely that you'd have enough nematodes to be free-swimming in your tank.

These worms either came from your tap water or your snails. Low levels of copper would probably either kill them or make them go back into your gravel.

I('d suspect that you've had the light off in this tank for awhile. Typically when these guys show up the fish would try to eat them until the numbers get really high.

 

[skrefany]

These worms either came from your tap water or your snails. Low levels of copper would probably either kill them or make them go back into your gravel.

Well, I know it's not the snails because last time I found the worms I quarantined the snails in a separate tank so that I could treat with copper (which doesn't seem to work) and the tank I kept the snails in stayed worm-free.

But, the plants and stuff will be coming out of the tank so that it will be easier to wash the gravel while I'm dealing with this mess. I might even take the gravel out too.

Also, I know there are differents types of nematodes (some harmless, some not).....or least I think that's what I found last time I researched it, but now I'm doubting myself.....then again, if I were sure what they were, I wouldn't be asking for advice.

 

[fishmaven]

If it were me I'd take the snails out again and treat with copper. What makes you think it didn't work previously?

If you've added water from your tap or plants either could have introduced planaria again.

Unless you're planning on using NEW gravel and plants you might as well treat while they're still in the tank. I've used Chore Boy brand copper pads from a grocery store to treat with low levels of copper. Other brands don't work.

Nematodes- they're found on livebearers and rainbows commonly. The fish are not supposed to be sold if infested. Fish farms in the USA are inspected to be certified nematode free. To understand the procedure you have to know about fish farms in the USA. There are breeding farms, grow-out farms and shipping farms. The breeders normally play with the weird stuff: long-finned white clouds, x-ray tetras, rainbows, cichlids, etc. The grow-out farms buy whatever they think will be hot in the fall or winter, (clown knives, monos) buying babies in the early spring and summer and selling as soon as profitable. The shipping farms raise their own fish and bring in things from other farms, sometimes even imports, to offer the best selection of fish to their customers. Being certified nematode free is serious business to the farms that have recieved the certification. They wouldn't knowingly risk selling infested fish altough it does happen. Until the capsule-like pod is at the surface treating for nematodes is useless. When at the surface you can pop the pod and expose the worms. If you had a pond full of infected fish it'd be easier to just kill the pond full of fish.

 

[skrefany]

If it were me I'd take the snails out again and treat with copper. What makes you think it didn't work previously?

Copper was the first thing I tried with the 29g....the worms didn't even seem to be affected. :WTF: I am gonna try it again though.

If you've added water from your tap or plants either could have introduced planaria again.

The plants are fake and I'd like to think that there aren't worms in the water that I bathe and brush my teeth with. That's just gross. *shudder* When you picture these guys, think like the mosquito larvae you see outside in puddles that wiggle back and forth. Now take that image and turn them white and make them thinner.

Unless you're planning on using NEW gravel and plants you might as well treat while they're still in the tank.

I was gonna take most of it out so that it would be easier to see how many of these little buggers I'm dealing with AND that way, when I treat with the copper again they won't have any place to hide. My brother is actually using the 29g that I had the worms in before with all the decor I had in it. We took everything out in the yard and hosed it off and let it dry completely and he says he hasn't seen any sign of the worms in that tank again. So I can only assume that they are coming from my fish.

What I'm confused about though is the fact that none of my fish appear to be affected in any way. They still eat like piranahs (I hope I'm not jinxing myself by saying that).

 

[guppy]

Planaria are often white, pale yellow, or even less commonly red or even purple, but do tend to cling to the glass.
You are correct though as to the many types of nematodes, some parasitic. Some feed in the intestines, some in the gills, others in the muscles, and some just under the skin of your fish.
However, one of the more common types found in an aquarium live mainly in the substrate and filter media feeding on detritus and bacteria, they actually make good fry food. These are very much like tiny, white earthworms and move with an ineffectual wriggling motion. those seen in the water column usually come out of the filter.
They are very similar to grindals and microworms. You can often get rid of most of them by changing your media but that seems drastic.
Most anti-helminics such as levimisole or mebendazole will wipe them out as will methylene blue/formalin mixtures but the latter is hard on your filter bacteria and many fish, esp. cats, loaches, and knives.

 

[Potts050]

Any real risk in leaving the little wriggle dudes to do their thing?
They have to help in keeping the tank detritus free and how can you argue with free live food?

 

[fishmaven]

... I'd like to think that there aren't worms in the water that I bathe and brush my teeth with. That's just gross.

Unfortunately, wishing doesn't make it true.

I was gonna take most of it out so that it would be easier to see how many of these little buggers I'm dealing with AND that way, when I treat with the copper again they won't have any place to hide.

Stirring the gravel would have the same effect.

What I'm confused about though is the fact that none of my fish appear to be affected in any way.

That's the reason I'd use something as weak as low levels of copper rather than something stronger. I wouldn't use agent orange to kill a weed.

The problem really is that they bug YOU. Do a water change, cleaning the gravel really well. That'll thin them out. Then, try a stronger light on the tank, the ones that are left may just go back into hiding.