UGH worms!

[corykitty516]

OK so I vacum the gravel really good in my 10gal tanks about every 2 weeks. On occasion I see threadlike white wormy things which I assumed to be planeria and since they were few and far between I didnt stay up nights worrying. OK so yesterday I was pulling the filter out to rinse and there was a LARGE (nearly an inch and a half) almost earthworm like THING that had woven itself into the fiber pad and I belive it was dead. Upon gravel vacing I got 2 more smaller ones, 1 less than 1cm and one about 1.5 cm. Somewhat translucent with a pink/red tinge still wiggling .
Should I worry?

Oh yeah
tank inhabitants:
3 corydora julii
3 pristella tetra
red somthing or other plants ... cant rember.
Params
Ammonia 0
NitrIte 0
Nitrate 20 (higher than usual)
Weekly 20% water change
Every other week gravel vac

This grosses me out bigtime ... I'm trying to get a pic to post but husband is out of town with the good camera. I'm going to dig around and see if I can find the old one.

 

[SirMinion]

Some do get quite big yes.

Here's a picture of all the planaria species (not to scale) is it one of these?

 

[Paul_MTS]

mmmm they would go down well with dinner

 

[Discomafia]

 

[corykitty516]

It looks most like the second one from the right on the top. I just tried to take a pic, which did not come out well, but I have no idea where the card reader for the thing is computer is being stupid and furniture is due to be delivered any moment ... I think I'm having a hard day.

So do I need to freak out, tear down the tank & start over? I've just set up a 55 gal for my silver dollars that has sand. Do you folks with sand have much of a planeria problem?

 

[fufanu360]

mmmm they would go down well with dinner

isnt that nice

 

[bshockstubb]

are those the things that in bio. class you cut them into halfs and they regenerate...I remeber they had big 'ol goofy eyes

 

[SirMinion]

Planaria infestation is usually a sign of overfeeding. Cut down the food and they will vanish.

We have seen a few in Martha's tank because she's such a messy eater, but regular vaccuuming and sand stiring keeps them under control it seems.

Don't worry either way, although they seem unpleasent, they won't harm your fish.

 

[turbotiber]

I remember those from bio class too, also known as flukes and pretty harmless Man I loved that class