worms in my tank...

[bornasghost]

i have g0t an all pleco tank now, but had an aro, gar, irid shark and plecos before hand. these worms just started to show up not too long ago, when i had only plecos. these worms look like blood worms, but are maybe more red.
they kind of freak me out, cause i first noticed them when i was siphoning out water from the gravel, and saw them flying up the tube. even when i do water changes everyday for a week, i havent been able to get rid of them. I havent noticed if the plecos are eating them...but i could only assume. they are a reddish brown color, and when i put food in there for the pelcos, the will also eat the food...its gross.


what can be done?

 

[Allan01230]

These are probally black worms. They will not harm your plecos also if you have any carnivores they should get rid of them in time. These worms are probally breeding in your gravel bed. Get a few loaches such as a botia or tiger loach and these worms will soon be gone as the loaches will dig them out.

 

[bornasghost]

what about a geophagus?

i love those fish, and i hear they dig as well. hence the name, earth cleaner.
but i also heard that black worms or blood worms will not breed like that, that it is rare. i asked the guy at the lfs a while ago and he was like, damn....I WISH I COULD DO THAT....so....yeah

 

[oscar n redtail cat]

clown loach and other loach will do fine in there if u want them gone
~josh~

 

[Allan01230]

Black worms will indeed breed like that. Just dump a bag of blackworms in your tank rinsed first of course and they will breed. I have been doing this for years. Geophagus are also perfect to dig the worms out.

 

[Mumtron]

those live worms are one of the best fish foods ever created. i would take the fish out and just let the worms breed like rabbits. Quality foods at its best.

 

[bornasghost]

great, do u think geophagus would disturb my pleco breeding project?

 

[bornasghost]

my :134's are from the same river. rio tapajos

 

[Mumtron]

how big is your tank? If your tank is big enough the only problem you'd have is the geophagus would be eating all the worms up. that wouldn't really be a problem though. they're usually peaceful and never bother tank mates.

 

[bornasghost]

yeah, my tank is a 75