Planaria

[Andie]

After isolating Elphie and Nessarose following their unfortunate encounter today, I looked into my 10gal to check on Sarima and the ever-expanding Galinda (she is the most constipated betta I have ever seen) and I freaked- the water was crawling with microscopic li'l white squigglies which I assume must be planaria.

I have never, ever seen them in my tanks before (obv they were there, I just couldn't see them before) and considering the fact that I just changed the water I think it's bizarre that I'm seeing them now, but whatever. I was so grossed out that I got the girls into fresh jars and was on the verge of scouring the entire tank, when something occurred to me.

Can/will betta fry eat planaria? They certainly look small enough to me, but I'd like to know for sure. If so, I'll definitely save some of the water to add to their tank when they become free swimming, because this would be a great way to give them live food without the problem of dealing with cultures I may even just clean out the gravel from the girls' tank, and use it for Fiyero and Elphie to spawn in, provided the planaria won't harm the eggs or the parents in any way.

 

[Synirr]

Oh yeah, very young fry will happily munch them! When I had my spawn I put live plants in the breeding tank to help encourage planaria so the fry would have something to snack on between feedings

 

[wuvmybetta]

But.... ) planaria will happily eat immobile fry, so I wouldn't do it until they're well over a week old.Closer to two. That way they're fast enough to get away.

 

[Andie]

Heehee it's eat or be eaten Awesome- so I now have three ice cream tubs full of planaria-ridden water and, after an exhaustive scrubbing last night, finally got the last grains of sand out of the girls' tank. Spawning tank, check; wiggly wormies to snack on, check! Gack, I am so glad I'm not a baby betta