zdam20

I've got a fresh planted tank that's been setup for about 1 month and I've noticed something I didn't put in there. I've got dozens of small white worms all over the tank. They're quite active, floating for a while and then spazing for a bit and then floating again. The biggest one I've seen is about 3/8" long but most are about 1/4" long. The tank is stocked with 10 ottos (recently spawned), 30 cherry red shrimp, and 5 amano shrimp. I was wondering if I needed to worry about these worms or just stock something that will eat them. I'm waiting for my plants to mature to add 100 cardinal tetras whick I'm thinking will clear these worms out. Does this sound like a good plan or should I try something else?

CHoffman

Can you get a pic of the worms,
that would help members id them.

zdam20

I'll try.

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore !!(if I havent welcomed you already lol )

google planaria and see if its them...they come in funny shapes and colors so read up on it and it probably is whats going on

Butterfly

They are harmless to your fish. They are usually a sign you may be overfeeding or not gravel vacuuming enough. They are in the tank in tiny amounts all the time(see your fish rooting in the substrate?) but excess food in the substrate will cause a population explosion. They are pure protein and your fish should enjoy eating them.
To get rid of them Do a good substrate vacuuming, large water change and reduce how much your feeding. A fishes stomach is about the size of one eye so they really don't need as much as we humans want to feed them
carol

Mylisser

They are not *always* a sign of overfeeding, though. I have a QT/starter tanks for my plants and I get planaria outbreaks in it all the time. I don't feed that tank (except for flourish, ferts, and excel) so they can occur just from having plants. They eat plant material, and can grow, thrive, and colonize just from having plants around.

The Otos may eat them. I know Corys and guppies thoroughly enjoy the little things. Scarlet Badis are great little planaria hogs as well.

Gravel vacs, water changes, and cutting back on feeding will help. Even if they didn't come around from overfeeding, cutting back on potential food sources will cut the numbers.

I have also read about using dog dewormer in tanks to eliminate planaria and hydra. I'm not bothered by the planaria enough to try it, but it has had good results for other people. Here's a link to the aritcle.http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...imp-tanks.html

Shawnie

wowsers a dog dewormer in a fish tank? thats a new one to me!

Mylisser

I was shocked the first time I heard about it. I know two local RCS breeders that swear by the stuff. One of the "exotic" vets here uses it to get rid of flukes on fish also.

I'm just not brave enough to try it.

Butterfly

No not always, there's always the exception to the rule. Thats why I said usually
I guess if it's needed it would be ok(if you know how much to use) but I don't recommend using chemicals when water changes and substrate vacuums will take care of the problem.
Levamisole which is used for parasites in Loaches is a sheep/pig wormer, But there have been specific dosages worked out so meds do cross over. We have to remember they are very strong meds and use caution with them.
Carol

Shawnie

i use NO meds ever....so maybe thats why i was so shocked LOL ....
<--thanks her lucky stars for never needing meds!

Butterfly

You and me both Shawnie
Carol

zdam20

Thanks for the input everybody. I only feed 2-3 times per week and then just 1 algea wafer. What I've got in the tank should survive on algea. I did recently get lots of plants though so maybe that's where they came from. Hope this is the biggest problem I have to face.

zdam20

Goggled planaria and they don't look like that at all. Very thin white worm that floats in the water colum. I'll see if I can get a pic.

catfishlover123

Probably their hitchhikers.