what the hell are the worms doing in my tank??

Question

hi, i just noticed some changes in my tank.. since i don't have gravels in my tank, i can see if there would be any accumulation of dirt at the bottom right? and here's the bad thing, i just found out that there are small worm like creatures on the bottom of the tank... what are they? and my fish is now suffering from itch... what's the best thing that i should do? i have a flower horn but is still very young.


i hope you do reply and answer...

Answer 1

Are the worms flat and crawling along the glass like a snail? These would be flatworms: http://www.caudata.org/cc/images/articles/critters/planaria1JOHNSON.jpg

If they're threadlike and swimming with a sort of whipping motion, they're most likely the larvae of a midge - a small fly like a mosquito that lays the eggs in the water. The larvae can be red or white/tan depending on the speces: http://www.jonesctr.org/research/aquatics_research/graphics/chiros.jpg

Neither of these will harm your flowerhorn, and the fh may eat the midge larvae - the red ones are what are sold as bloodworms in pet stores.

As far as the ich, that's a more immediate problem. You can treat this using just aquarium salt, or use a medication for them - something that contains both malachite green and formalin is what will work best. Which ever you would choose to use, raising the temperature to 86o or above will help by speeding up the lifecycle of the parasite and keeping it from reproducing. Just raise (and after treating, lower) the temperature slowly, a few degrees each hour. Keep up the treatment for 10-14 days (some labels say 3 - this is not correct!), or at least 3-5 days after you no longer see any spots on the fish. If you stop treating too early, you run the risk of the fish being reinfected.

See the link below for more info on ich and the correct method for treating with salt:
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/ich.shtml

Either ich treatment will most likely kill the worms as well.

Answer 2

I have to agree with James. I was unaware of the name of worm but they are only there because there is tomuch uneaten food. I had this same problem when I had little dwarf frogs. I found the easiest way to feed them was to train them to get their food from a "food dish". What I did was siliconed some gravel to the botton of a clean bottle cap and sank it to the bottom of the tank. I made sure the cap was farthest away from the filter. I would then use a clear straw and drop the pellots through the straw onto/into the bottle cap. That way if the food went uneaten within a few hours i would remove it. I always fed my guys in the evening. That system worked out really well for me.

Answer 3

These unsightly white worms are flatworms. They're not parasitic, and won't harm your fish. They're thought to be introduced into the aquarium through food (both live and dried). When water conditions are poor, and contain high levels of nitrates and large amounts of biological matter, such as fish waste, these worms can grow and multiply.

To rid your aquarium of pesky flatworms, try removing all your fish and placing them in a temporary holding tank. Then, increase the water temperature above 95°F for several hours. If this doesn't kill the flatworms, try a water treatment that specifically targets parasites, such as CopperSafe, Clout, or Fluke Tabs.

To prevent future infestation, consider upgrading your filtration system. Undergravel filters are typically not efficient mechanical filters. Aquariums with undergravel filters usually require weekly water changes and thorough gravel vacuuming. Consider adding another filter that employs more efficient mechanical filtration. A canister filter or power filter offers an effective solution. Both are easily maintained and require that you simply change the mechanical and chemical cartridge when it becomes clogged with debris.

Most importantly, be sure to clean your aquarium regularly, control nitrate levels in the water, maintain your filter, and perform frequent water changes to prevent problems with pests like flatworms.

Answer 4

The worms are probably not a big problem but you should get rid of them. The ich(correct spelling) probably has nothing to do with them as some of the best fish shops have worms but nothing is wrong.

Answer 5

is it a salt water fish. if it is you should put it in a different tank and keep the water a bit warmer and at night give it a medicine. i only know the Japanese name so you should go to the pet shop and ask. if it has white spots on it then do this. if you don't d it quickly it will die cause it will cover the gills

Answer 6

use ick cure. get a tank vacuum and clean the debris from the bottom. fish eliminate ammonia and this burns the fish's skin. keep the tank clean and take out 1/4 of the water and replace it often with good water.
a little baking soda might help also.

Answer 7

Some people keep crawfish or shrimp to keep things like these out of the tank. Most bottom scavengers will gobble up flatworms.