desertrefugee

This morning, I happened to notice an extremely small, hair-thin white worm crawling on the front glass of my 29g. It was, perhaps, a quarter of an inch long, possibly a bit more. I only watched it for a few seconds before a platy inadvertently destroyed it swimming by.

Are these normal? I did not imagine it. It was very real.

Interesting, but I'd sure like to know if it's an indication of something amiss.

Thanks!

Craig-D

It's called planaria. It's nothing to be alarmed about as they are harmless and quite common. In fact, your fish will enjoy munching on them. Supposedly they are caused by overfeeding and insufficient gravel vacuuming. That makes no sense to me though, as it doesn't explain how the little buggers get in an aquarium in the first place.

aquarist48

http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/...ria_Worms.html
A link you may find helpful concerning Planaria.
I would do daily water changes and gravel vacuums until they are gone. If your tank is cycled. Planaria do not like fresh clean water.
Best of luck,
Ken

Butterfly

There are many tiny water critters in our tanks that we never see unless they over populate and Planaria is one of those. When there is plenty/excessive food (fish food, waste, dieing plant matter etc.) in the substrate these critters will multiply until we can see them. A couple of substrate vacuums and a couple of good water changes will have them back down where you don't see them. Your fish will definitely enjoy them as they are pure protein. They are harmless but a sure sign the substrate needs vacuuming and can be unsightly is they get to heavy a population going.
In the wild fish probably don't eat every day so when they find a food source they will stuff themselves preparing for the day they don't eat. I know most of our fish are tank raised but that is just an inborn trait.
Cutting back on how much is fed is a good place to start preventing another population explosion. A fishes stomach is the size of one eye.
Remember all they eat that they don't use is excreted as waste.
As to where they come from - who knows but they are there.
Hope that helps
Carol

bolivianbaby

Carol-that's interesting information. I had a tank come with some planaria in it, but they dissipated over time. Now I know why

Shawnie

im totally a planaria raiser LOL ....and it takes me a week to clean them out(lots of water changes and vacs ) ....i overfeed and spoil to no end but im learning to behave ....

bolivianbaby

Sure, we'll see if you're really learning to behave when we see how big that mammoth male con of yours gets when he stops growing

Shawnie

be nice to moose they are beasts tho
planaria isnt a new tank kinda worm...my tanks have been up for years and i stil get them...its a total overfeeding issue for me LOL

bolivianbaby

I kinda hope his grandbabies take after him size-wise. I can't call him cute, but since female cons like their males bigger, we can definitely see why they're attracted to him. In his own way, he's quite handsome. From a female convict point of view, he's like a GQ model

desertrefugee

Thanks for the info, folks. I could've looked it up - and have actually been reading voraciously, but this forum is such a treasure-trove of experience and information that it's much more intertaining to turn it over to the fish-people.

I suspected that these worms were "normal". And I had thought my feeding regimen was appropriate. I've read all the warnings about killing with kindness. In my case, it might be the vacuuming issue. There are quite a number of inaccessible areas in my 29g. Next water change, probably Wednesday (I just did on on Saturday), I'll pull the large items out and do it right. Thanks again for the help and information. MUCH appreciated.

Here's the planaria-occupied habitat:

Attached Images

29g.jpg (686.1 KB, 23 views)

bolivianbaby

I LOVE your tank! That white substrate makes everyone show up really well. Your DG is a cutie, too!

Butterfly

Very pretty tank. I wouldn't take the tank apart just vacuum really well the next couple of water changes and make the water change a little larger.
Shawnie I know what you mean. My clown loaches and angels beg so prettily I can't resist an extra bit of food. They both adore blood worms so I acommodate them probably more than they need so I have to keep the vacuums and water changes up
Carol

desertrefugee

Thanks for the kind words on the tank. It's my first effort. (The 10g was/is for molly fry...want some?) I have found photographing aquariums and fish to be difficult. Not enough detail where you want it, too much where you don't.

This particular friendly little community will not compare to my next project. The 65g is currently cycling in anticipation of an African cichlid zone. Mild-mannered (I hope), with plans for a Yellow Lab and a couple of Peacocks.

Thanks so much for the advice on the planaria. I will be mindful of the feeding. Some of my problem might be the now additional after-dark shrimp pellets - aimed at insuring the four new juvenile albino cories get fed.

later... !

Darrell

Shawnie

great job on the aquascaping!!! it looks awesome and I agree it really shows up your fish....are you doing the same with your africans? that would rock! goodluck !! (dont hold your breath on a mild mannered african setup ...that would take a miracle even with labs and peacocks LOL ..but the most amazing tank I own)

Craig-D

That's likely your problem right there. My experience is that the most of the debris in the substrate is typically found under all decorations. Most of it seems to accumulate there for some reason. You have to move them and get under them every time you vacuum. You'll be shocked when you see how much stuff comes up out of there.