Eww What Is This?

[Twinklecaz]

Just cleaned my tank and gave ny filter media a good rinse out in a bucket of tank water. As I'm cycling a little tank at the mo I thought it wouldn't do any harm to tip some of the dirty filter water into the new tank. When I did I saw in the water these little white pieces of cotton.....except they're WRIGGLING!

I don't know if this is something that's developed in my new tank or if it's come out of my older tank's filter media (prob I reckon) but what are they? They don't match any of the pics in the hitchhikers section. I've never seen them in my older tank so I assume they must have just been in the filter.

What are they and are they harmless?

 

[rdp50734]

Does it sound like these? http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/340077-possible-worms-in-water/page__hl__worms__fromsearch__1

 

[Twinklecaz]

Yes!

Though all my fish seem healthy?

 

[rdp50734]

Yes!

Though all my fish seem healthy?

It not really harmful to the fish but it does show somethings not right ie overfeeding or not enough gravel vac'ing. Just cut back on the feeding a bit and do a gravel vac every second day and you will clear them in no time.

 

[Twinklecaz]

I have sand, I prob clean it every 3 days or so anyway

I have things pointing towards overfeeding before but I dunno how I'm doing it. I feed a small pinch once a day.

Thanks, I'll try cutting down.

 

[rdp50734]

Whats your stock? It may be possible to just feed every other day.

 

[Athena]

I have sand, I prob clean it every 3 days or so anyway

I have things pointing towards overfeeding before but I dunno how I'm doing it. I feed a small pinch once a day.

Thanks, I'll try cutting down.

Just a thought - is there anyone else in your home that may be feeding the fish when you're not around?

One small pinch of food a day doesn't sound like it could cause overfeeding. Is it flake, granules or powdered food?

I know that with the fry food I use - which is a fine powder - it does give a warning on the tub that it may cause planaria to develop but that it's not a risk to the fish.

Also, they can appear if ammonia levels have been high.

Athena

 

[Twinklecaz]

Hiya

My stats have been good. I don't think anyone else would be feeding them.

I have 2 Honey Gouramis, 3 Platys and 7 Pygmy Corys. I have 3 different foods (2 flake, one granuals) which I alternate except one day a week they have a pinch of chopped up peas and another day they have a pinch of freeze dried bloodworms. Every few days I give the Pygmys half an algae wafer just to make sure they're actually getting some food.

I did go through a stage of feeding them every other day but I have to say I've noticed an improvement in their health since I've gone back to every day.

Is is possible these worms have developed in the new tank instead? coz when I saw them I'd just put it's filter media back in so I suppose they could have"dripped" off that into the water?


P.s thanks for the tip about the Algae Wafters btw Athena. My Pygmys love them!

 

[Athena]

Hi! Glad the algae wafers are going down a treat with your corys!

Sounds like they're getting a varied diet, which is good - and it doesn't sound like you're overdoing it with the amount either.

Ah, just realised what you said before - that you are cycling another tank and it's in the new tank where the planaria are (after tipping some of the old media in there) - so obviously ammonia levels will have been high in there, and maybe that's where the planaria sprang up from eh?

So your main tank doesn't have these white wormy things then? Sorry, brain a bit slow today... I'm a bit (well, a lot) tired today LOL.

Athena

 

[Twinklecaz]

No I haven't seen them in there, but I assumed that's where they'd come from coz I'd just tipped the dirty water in. Hopefully they're in the new tank then