Help What Have I Managed To Inherit Now?!

[Shantih]

Hi all,

well my fish finally seem happier and the tank has been going well for a while but... now i have some tiny little what i can only describe as worms swimming round my tank, they are like a fine piece of string about an half inch long and they swim, impossible to get a pic of but am worried cos my fish are eating them Are they dangerous for my fish?, how can i get rid of them?!

Thanks for any help in advance

 

[Shantih]

quick note they are white in colour and incase my stock helps i have 1 molly 5 neons and a plec

 

[indigoj]

Planaria - usually caused by overfeeding. Cut back a bit, do a few extra gravel vacs and they should go.

 

[Shantih]

Ahh thankyou, not too harmful to the fish then?

 

[Shantih]

hmm av just looked at that link and the planaria shown there looks like a proper worm and it says they stick to the tank, these are swimming around and they are as thin as a hair?

 

[indigoj]

def. planaria, not harmful at all.

 

[Honeythorn]

Most fish eat them, they aren't harmful.

 

[drobbyb]

If they are free swimming they are not planaria. They sound more like detrius worms, and they are present in most aquaria to some extent. Seeing lots of them is a sign that your tank is getting too dirty and needs a good proper gravel cleaning. They are harmless to your fish, but may eat any eggs they can find.