whisper

I just noticed tonight there are tiny white worms in my little cherry shrimp tank. Is this something I should worry about or will the shrimp eat them? I don't know where they came from. Have never had them before. Could they have been on the java moss I just got or could they have come in from the pond I brought a lily leaf in for the shrimp to eat which they love.

SWilkins

It could have been from the java moss or the lily leaf. It could also be from overfeeding them. I have them in my shrimp tanks too sometimes if I get carried away with feeding them....I know better but sometimes I just cant help myself.

Tony G.

if its from overfeeding, then it is probably planaria... Just waterchanges and syphoning the tank should help.

whisper

Ok. If I do those two things will they go away? won't they be multiplying all the time so you could never really get rid of them without taking the whole tank apart and starting over?

aquarist48

Sounds like planaria to me as well. You can get rid of them with water changes and gravel vacuums. Shawnie has had this problem as well. It's usually caused by over feeding.
The Trouble with Planaria Worms? by Majid Ali
The link above may be of some help.
Ken

whisper

There's no gravel. I made a carpet of java moss. Could I just take that out and rinse it off? That should help get rid of any hiding in it right?

aquarist48

Good morning Whisper. When I got my java moss (from one of our members that was kind enough to send me some) I rinsed it in hot water from the tap...quickly, then immediately rinsed it in ice water also quickly and did this 3 times per the instructions I was given. If there were any "cooties" in the moss they didn't survive the rinsing procedures.
Ken

Shawnie

LOL @ cooties....great advice ken!!!!!

but whisper overfeeding is the biggest culprit ...trust me ive been there for awhile LOL ...but even more is if you arent overfeeding your shrimp, it could be lack of vacuuming which im sure you dont do often with a java moss bed...leftover food will create these lil buggers ...

whisper

I'm so excited. I found the cure for white worms. betta's! I put one betta in each tank and within 4 days the worms were completely gone in both tanks!!!!