Theres a crazy worm thing in my tank!!! helP

andrewcoxon · Post by **andrewcoxon** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:05 am

just got back in tonight and turned my fish light on and theres a crazy worm like creature about 1.5 - 2 inches in length on the front of the glass inside the tank. it looks like a tiny thin earth worm. what the hell is it? and should i be worried???

thanks in advance.

andy

andrewcoxon · Post by **andrewcoxon** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:07 am

iv just fished it out with my net and it curled up into a small ball as soon as i toutched it?

Lifted193 · Post by **Lifted193** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:40 am

Andy,
I notice the same worms in my prefilter too.
I feed my ZP's some frozen food once a week it's a variety pack, with frozen worms!
Ken

crazie.eddie · Post by **crazie.eddie** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:37 am

It could be planaria, which normally occurs in when the fish are overfed. Planaria are harmless, just a nuisance. Could you post a pic of them so we can verify?

Jojoyojimbi · Post by **Jojoyojimbi** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:44 am

nematode, not planaria, since planaria are flatworms like you used to discect in highschool

crazie.eddie · Post by **crazie.eddie** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:54 am

Planaria can exist in aquariums. Do a Google search on aquarium planaria. Here's a link as an example...
http://www.aquariumcorner.com/planaria.htm

I picture and/or better description of the worm would help.

andrewcoxon · Post by **andrewcoxon** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:53 am

iv just looked on the net and it definatley isnt planaria, it looks like a nematode as shown here:

however, on the net it says they dont get more than 4-5mm long, where as the one i found was over an inch! but very thin, like a thick hair.

it also says both worms are a product of over feeding, i do over feed on purpose but i always ensure all the food has gone or vac it up and i test my water weekly and its never ever had any nitrite or ammonia in it....?

Jojoyojimbi · Post by **Jojoyojimbi** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:29 am

they live down in the substrate and usually come out in the dark or when there's too many in the substrate, all that food you're feeding is working its way into your substrate and providing a great habitat for them to grow in, feed less, vac more, and you'll get rid of them

andrewcoxon · Post by **andrewcoxon** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:39 am

thanks. you sure thats what it is tho? as i said, it says they get to 5mm where as the one i found was an inch and a half!!!

or did i just manage to grow my self a show size worm....

jerms55555 · Post by **jerms55555** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:58 am

Sometimes when i feed live bloodworms, about a month later I find a few that have grown under rocks!

I thought they wouldn't live to long underwater. They usually grow to abou that size.....and these are tanks that have not substrate!

Briesje · Post by **Briesje** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:33 pm

I also had the same as jerms tells

Only have sand and also had twice a worm of that size...

Lifted193 · Post by **Lifted193** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:23 am

I manage to capture on of the worm and they look like bristle worms in reef tanks...? The coloration of the worm is pink. I don't think there harmful but I don't like them in my tank.