White Wiggly Worm

[Lynz781]

Just witnesed a white wiggly worm in the tank. I glanced up at the tank only to see this thing (possibly an inch long stretched out) swimming in the water, just before my pristella tetra ate it. She never spat it out so now I'll never know what it was unless I find more.
Any ideas what it was?

 

[jayjay]

Planaria would be my first thought.

 

[eschaton]

I'm pretty sure the white wriggly worms like little threads that end up in the water column when the bottom is disturbed are actually nematodes. They're also harmless to fish though.

 

[Lynz781]

Well funniliy enough, I spotted it right after a water change and sand vac. Aslong as its harmless its a handy food source for the fish.

 

[Lynz781]

Well after another water change I noticed quite a few. Managed to get a rubbish pic of one wiggling in water, then I looked in the net (where I'm keeping baby albino cories) and noticed a few stuck to it. Now I'm certain these guys have arrived with the instant baby brine shrimp I'm feeding the babies (and adults).

Should I be worried?

 

[WILDER]

If the worms are on the fish not good.
Can you see any peirce marks or red sores on the fish.

 

[kpintheshed]

i was wondering how do these worms get in? so i can avoid them in the future

 

[Lynz781]

Nope not that I can see wilder. I know the fish have been eating them and they seem ok.
They got in via instant baby brine shrimp I feed them. It's by ocean nutrition and it stinks so bad but the fish loves it. The shrimp arent live though. Oh dear, your supposed to keep it refridgerated, no wonder it smells bad! Damn I don't want to chuck it out it cost alot!

On second thoughts, it's getting chucked! Although it did provide a really good start for my baby cories though. Ach well.

 

[eschaton]

I have the same sort of worms that live in my substrate. They're detrivores, not parasites. Provided you don't get an outbreak of them things should be fine. I would think if you're raising cories they would be turning over the sand and discovering them on a daily basis.

 

[Lynz781]

Cheers for info. I managed to catch one last night when it was swimming close to surface. This is a picture of it, before it split in two and both parts of the worm moved in opposite directions! Just like an Earthworm!!

They will probably become extinct in my tank now. Lots of hungry bottom dwellers.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Just planeria....they probably only appeared when you started using th baby food because before there wasn't enough food for them. They tend to show up in over fed tanks, in your case your feeding more for the young so voila planeria appear!

Completely harmless as everyone has said.

 

[colbat0]

if there are lots and they get eaten by your fish they can get very ill

 

[Lynz781]

Thanks for all your input everyone.

if there are lots and they get eaten by your fish they can get very ill

Why would they get very ill? How would you define lots? I only see some after a waterchange.

 

[colbat0]

i dont know the same happend 2 me and my fish swimed weird next day r.i.p

 

[Lynz781]

Well your statement isn't really a valid one then. There are loads of reasons why your fish could have been swimming weird.