jnb1984

Ok. So I just noticed this tonight when I got home. Looks like some sort of snail? How'd it get in there...Also, there was a bunch of VERY small white stringy things. They looked alive, cuz they changed the direction they swam in at random, and way to sudden to be part of the current. My beta ate a couple that I saw. I just did a water change.. But unfortunately, the last few weeks I haven't been keeping ontop of it. So maybe that's how it happened...Should I get some kind of medication? I don't want my fish to develop parasites. But I don't know what these things are. The only pic I could get was of that snail thing. the others were too small to see with a cam. And no, none of these things were attached to my beta or pleco...yet

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Nate McFin

The snails likely hitchiked in on a plant (if you have any)
The white strings are most likely planaria and are a sign of overfeeding. I had them for awhile when I first set up my tank. I wouldnt worry about meds just make sure and clean the filters (in dechlorinated water!) and make sure the substrate is being cleaned well.

iloveengl

Both planaria (I agree with Nate on that id) and snail populations are indicators of overfeeding. Some thorough gravel vacs and reduced feeding (including scooping out uneaten algae wafers after a couple hours) will make a tremendous difference. It shouldn't hurt your betta to snack on them - fish tend to like them, but don't rely on the fishies to make the planaria go away.

aquarist48

The Trouble with Planaria Worms? by Majid Ali
HelloJNB. Above is a link concerning Planaria.
Best of luck!
Ken