Finally-i've Seen What's Wrong With Him

[ellena]

It's some sort of worm. They're extremely tiny and white. I thought they were some sort of algae growing on the glass, but they definitely move along in an inchworm kind of way. And he has them on him I saw 2 on his side behind his gills. They would explain the itching and twitching to get rid of them.
Any idea what they are and, more importantly, how to get rid of them?
Thanks

 

[Forestpisces]

Do they have forked ends?

They could be anchor worms. Try posting in emergencies Wilder might be on there or someone more knowlagable than me. Anchor worms are the only worms i know of.

 

[ellena]

Thanks for the reply. Can't see any forked ends. Have posted in emergencies

 

[Forestpisces]

Best of luck with him.

 

[tibby25731]

I have no experience of worms, Wilder will help you out here

 

[loraxchick]

the white inching things on the glass are probably planaria which are harmless, failrly common, and do not have forked tails...they dont attach themselves to fish tho, so the ones attached to the fish, do THEY have forked tails? if so that is anchor worm (and would be attached to your fish, unlike planaria)...so check them out too.
how big are they? planaria are small)usually around a mm) where anchor worms can grow a little bigger.
planaria are taken care of a couple of good thourough gravel vacs and cutting down on the amount you feed the fish. anchor worm needs meds...or you could take the fish out and pull the worms off with tweezers. sometimes you need to do this anyway even if using meds....then keep some clean water for them and they will be fine.
cheers

 

[indigoj]

If there are a lot of planaria they can seem attached to the fish but are simply sitting against the skin.

The fact that you have planaria means you are overfeeding and not gravel vac-ing enough. You may also have an ammonia reading due to the excess food.

 

[ellena]

Thanks for the replies guys I will try and get a closer look at the ones on him.
Some advice on maintenance would be appreciated too. I have this tank in a fish in cycle, so I am checking the stats and only doing water changes if they are 0.25ppm or above. This is in order to keep some levels of ammonia and nitrites in the water to feed the bacteria.
I have sand, not gravel, and I vac up any mess I can see when I do water changes. How do I clean up when I don't need to do a water change though?
Feeding-I'm giving the betta about 6 pellets a day in 3 sittings and I see all of them get eaten. Since I got the frogs, I'm feeding 2-3 bloodworms each every couple of days and again I see them actually eat them.

 

[tibby25731]

Get a turkey baster, squeeze the bulb of it, keep it squeezed, pop it in the tank and slowly unsqueeze it above the dirt. It will siphon into the baster and you can get rid of it
6 pellets, ad say 3 lots of 2? That is OK. I feed mine about 6 pellets a day, but they get them all at night. I guess this is more for my convenience, and the convenience of my family when they come to feed the fish for me when i am away (quite often!). it's down to personal taste i guess
I only feed my frogs once a week and feed them quite a lot, this is fine for them and they are very healthy and always sing to each other at night But what you are doing is also OK

 

[ellena]

Right, OK I'll get a turkey baster and clean the bottom with that in between water changes, thanks
In emergencies, Wilder seems to think it is the planaria, they can cause gill irritation apparently. So, just how to get rid of them? The article he linked to said predation can help, apple snails may be an option.