Advice On What Appears To Be A Water Parasite

[markalex]

Hi all,

I've had a tank with three oscars in for about a year now - one tiger and two red - got the three guys when they were small and they're all doing great and grown phenomenally.

The one thing is that I've noticed that in the past few months there has been a tiny (couple of millimeters long) white organism/parasite in the water... parasite isn't maybe the correct word since they don't seem to actually affect the fish at all.

I've usually just been able to knock it off the glass and the filter seems to have taken care of it in the past (or so I thought). I can see that what ever they are is an organism since it can be seen to move - or perhaps 'twitch' is a better word to describe it.

Recently however, I'm sure that the number of these little 'things' has increased quite a lot.

They don't appear to affect the fish at all, its just the quality of the water and my enjoyment that its affecting the most! Any ideas as to what this could be and how to get rid/prevent in the future?

I don't to start putting chemicals in if its not going to solve the problem.

Any comments gratefully appreciated.

Mark
Liverpool (UK)

 

[fishing4exotics]

Hi Mark, those small worms are called Planeria. Harmless to your fish. Planeria feed on uneaten fish food. You might want to cut back on the feeding and do more water changes.

 

[WILDER]

I agree plus more gravel vacs.

 

[markalex]

Thanks guys - very much appreciated.

Will let you know how I get on and hopefully be able to put a pic or two up.

Mark.

 

[WILDER]

http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/manage...aria_Worms.html

 

[Kogainei]

Hi Mark, those small worms are called Planeria. Harmless to your fish. Planeria feed on uneaten fish food. You might want to cut back on the feeding and do more water changes.

hi im new to this forum,

About those worms.....i got a simillar problem but its with snails.
They seem to have increase the numbers latley in my 80litre community tank.

I was wondering if u have any advice on getting rid of them without harming the fis and the plants.

Cheers

 

[fishing4exotics]

The way I get rid of snails is to put in clown loaches. They just love to eat snails. I don't know if I should recomend them to you. I don't know what you already keep nor how big your tank is.