Strange Worms

[Dalfrey86]

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?

10

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?

51-60%

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.

Hey All, I was cleaning out the HOB filter boxes and after I put everything back together I noticed 1 small worm. Semi clear and less than 1/2” long.
Tank is a 55 gallon, been set up, stocked, and running for 6 months no issue. Any idea why one lone worm would appear? I have not added stock to the tank is months and they are fed NLS and Hikari.

 

[tlindsey]

Hey All, I was cleaning out the HOB filter boxes and after I put everything back together I noticed 1 small worm. Semi clear and less than 1/2” long.
Tank is a 55 gallon, been set up, stocked, and running for 6 months no issue. Any idea why one lone worm would appear? I have not added stock to the tank is months and they are fed NLS and Hikari.

Hard to tell you without a pic but sounds like a detritus worm from your description.

 

[kno4te]

Hard to tell you without a pic but sounds like a detritus worm from your description.

+1

 

[Dalfrey86]

Apologies for the lack of photos. With all the muck floating about from the clean out it was almost impossible to spot it.

 

[Dalfrey86]

Seems to happen when the HOB kick back on from a WC. Despite cleaning the HOB box and filter I’m still seeing this little boogers.

And yes they have multipled, any ideas on iradicating them?

 

[esoxlucius]

Detritus worms are usually a sign of overfeeding. Cut back and they'll go as fast as they came. They're harmless enough but in some cases they will come out of the substrate and glide all over your glass, looking unsightly.

 

[Magnus_Bane]

Detritus worms are usually a sign of overfeeding. Cut back and they'll go as fast as they came. They're harmless enough but in some cases they will come out of the substrate and glide all over your glass, looking unsightly.

I honestly like having em in my tanks. They make great food for fry and fish with really tiny mouths. Wish I had a colony of em back when I had some scarlet badis.

 

[kno4te]

As the others have mentioned. Increase water changes. Clean and gravel vacuum. Remove any leftover food. Can do meds but can It’ll turn the water quality bad. Risk of losing fish.

 

[Dalfrey86]

I honestly like having em in my tanks. They make great food for fry and fish with really tiny mouths. Wish I had a colony of em back when I had some scarlet badis.

Just get 3 or 4 Texans that like to hide/bury food in the sand substrate... this tank is going to be the death of me as far as fish behavior is concerned.

 

[Magnus_Bane]

Just get 3 or 4 Texans that like to hide/bury food in the sand substrate... this tank is going to be the death of me as far as fish behavior is concerned.

O trust me I've delt with the whole cichlid food hoarding behavior before and it isn't fun. Ya miss one lil spot while cleaning and the next thing ya know is the whole tank is going thru a spike. Ik the detritus worms can help prevent spikes but not entirely. They just basically do the same job that the beneficial bacteria in your filter do, except with fish waste/leftovers in the substrate.