Worms In My Tank

[barb-e]

Worms
I was moving some stuff around in my tank today and I stirred up some particles from the gravel. I was observing my tank and I saw this little white worm wiggling through the water . I'd seen one before and was able to scoop it out. Well today, when I saw it I wanted to scoop it out but instead I watched in horror as one of my cherry barbs swam up and ate it in one bite . What are these things. Now one of my fish does have ich. Could these things be tomites (spelling)? Whatever it is, I don't want worms in my tank. What should I do?

Ich
While i'm at it that fish with ich has had ich for around 2 1/2 weeks. I'm trying a heat treatment for it. Today the spots are gone but i've seen them disappear and return over and over again so I won't get my hopes up. I'm assuming the ich is in it's free swimming stage now. What can I do to wipe it out and is 17 days a normal ich infestation period or should I be worried ?

 

[WILDER]

I would use a med for the whitespot.
http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/manage...aria_Worms.html

 

[zoekin8yg]

The worms are probably planaria and quite common in fish tanks. Have you just used heat for the ich or any treatments? I would use some meds for the ich

 

[barb-e]

I've heard a lot of "the ich medicine killed my fish" stories so i'm just using the heat.

 

[WILDER]

Some fish are funny with parasite meds, what fish do you have.

 

[Amunet]

I'm not sure how to go about treating ich, but the worm was probably just planaria. Harmless little worms.
I had an infestation in my tank a week ago. They were ALL over the glass and it was just.. bleh. So thanks to the advice I got.. I cut back on feeding alot (down to once a day)... and did some big water changes and gave the gravel a very good vacuuming a few times. Also scrubbed the inside of the tank glass with a tank brush. And now the little things have disappeared

 

[barb-e]

I have cherry barbs.

 

[WILDER]

Ok if you only have cherry barbs follow the med instructions.
Increase aeration as it's very important as the high temp and med reduce 02 in the tank.

 

[barb-e]

But will the meds mess up my plants?

 

[blazinloud]

I too have the small white worms........I was just going to post, till I saw this thread.

I've battled ich twice now and each time I just used a little bit of salt and heat, and it seems to work wonders.

 

[barb-e]

How long did it take for the ich to go away using salt and heat?

 

[blazinloud]

well I guess that depends on when you start treating it. I usually saw results within a week. Also depending on how much salt you add.

but what do I know, Ive only been keeping fish for about 3 months

 

[WILDER]

I think the fish should come first before the plants.