White stuff in tank

[gmcdonald]

We have just noticed that there are lots of tiny white particles stuck to the side of our tank. There are none in the filter's air stream, however they are floating on top of the water, stuck to the glass and on the heater - they almost look like small white hairs.

Is this something we should worry about and need to treat? We recently lost a Dalmation Molly and a CAE and don't know the cause.

As newbie's we just want to make sure this is not something bad.

Hope someone can help.

 

[gmcdonald]

Come on Guys - someone must have an idea??? We don't want to be losing any more fish.

Thanks

 

[Cian McLiam]

Hi gmcdonald,
These sound like planarian worms. They wont harm your fish and are almost impossible to get rid of, I never try. They are here to help you though, as they are a sign of unhealthy conditions building up in the tank. This can be uneaten food, rotten plants or more likely a dead fish somewhere in the tank. They live in the gravel most of the day, and almost every tank has some. You only see a huge increase in their numbers when there is something in the tank to feed them, as mentioned above.
Gouramis and bettas do eat some, but not enough to clear the tank, only a good gravel clean and 10% water changes daily will clear the problem fast and also do a head count on your fish and track down any dead ones.

Ken

 

[Jaws]

ken could you describe planaran worms a little bit? i too have what gmc describes except they dont really look like hairs.. everything else fits it pretty well. i had ich a few months ago and i always assumed it was ich.

edit- ok well i did a search on the worms and saw they visibly crawl on the glass, whereas i just have a bunch of white dots. a few days ago my black moor had a very small patch of elevated and what appeared to be fuzzy stuff and i figured he had either fungus or ich again.. i put some maracide in there that day. just now i put in some maracide and discovered something interesting: all the white dots floating on the surface immediately dissipated into the water, clouded around, and after while vanished (i assume they went into the gravel) do yours migrate around? because i only have them on the surface every once in a while.

 

[gmcdonald]

Hi guys,

I'm still confused as to what they are. They do look like tiny hairs, and don't crawl around on the glass. I've just ordered myself a gravel cleaner, as I think it probably does need a clean. I do regular water changes anyway and all my fish look to be okay and acting normally, so whatever it is its not harming the fishies!