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Post by guppybill on Mar 23, 2017 22:27:05 GMT -5
i have a tank that only has pleco's and fry plus cherry shrimp in it ohhh and i forgot snails. i was looking at it tonight and in the gravel i see these things that look like some kind of worm. i'm confused have no idea what they are. Could they be new born snails or cherry shrimp. they look like an off white and go from very small to about a half inch. Should i be worried and take everything out and clean the gravel and tank  ? Please let me know what you think. Thanks BILL |
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Post by gabor129 on Mar 24, 2017 5:27:50 GMT -5
Search up "detritus worms"
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Post by stevee on Mar 24, 2017 6:27:01 GMT -5
Could possibly be (planaria) but I would start with what Gabe said first
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Post by phish on Mar 24, 2017 8:05:10 GMT -5
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Post by guppybill on Mar 24, 2017 10:41:50 GMT -5
thats what they are. just have to watch and see what ones they are. Thanks for the link phish.
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Post by phish on Mar 24, 2017 12:40:33 GMT -5
Hopefully they are just Detritus worms
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Post by guppybill on Mar 24, 2017 17:42:39 GMT -5
any idea what i can use to get rid of them?
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Post by phish on Mar 24, 2017 18:17:21 GMT -5
Do a daily vacuum of the gravel until you don't see them anymore. No detritus, no worms. I've never seen them before but then again, I use undergravel filters with my gravel so its well oxygenated. Vacuuming will stir up the gravel, suck up some worms and reduce the detritus that they feed on so they won't multiply and explode in population. It'll be hard with fry in the tank but that's the safe way of getting rid of them. Also note that they are not harmful in anyway to your friends inside the tank but are a sign that it needs maintenance.
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Post by Xander on Mar 24, 2017 21:06:17 GMT -5
I leave mine be. They aren't harmful. Certainly nothing to panic about.
They don't bother my tank inhabitants in any way, and in fact may occasionally be eaten. Live, wriggling goodness abounds. They don't even show up until I do a water change, and I guess they get shaken loose out of my filter for an hour or two.
They are an indicator of overfeeding, for the most part. The best way to control them and to keep them from coming back is to have as little leftover food in the tank as possible.
You can take a turkey blaster or use your siphon to suck the little buggers out as you spot them, too.
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Post by guppybill on Mar 25, 2017 10:39:15 GMT -5
might just break it down and clean the tank, it's about time i did it anyway. just make sure i use hot water to clean the gravel. thanks for all the info.
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Post by Crazygar on Mar 25, 2017 12:03:53 GMT -5
Back off on feeding as well, most pests will reproduce to food source. The more the food, the more the population. Snails are also in this category. I feed once a day, every other day.
I would also recommend daily gravel cleaning and good tank husbandry.
Never use a biological solution to a biological problem.
Gary
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? Please let me know what you think. Thanks BILL
