Worms In My Tank?!

[SimonSays]

wow... I have no idea how this happened...

my guppies have been lethargic lately, and i've been doing water changes every few days...however this one time as I was pouring the water into the tank I notice small worms in my tank! they're about 3-5mm long and white, they seem to have been knocked up out of the gravel with the water change...what are these guys? how do I get rid of them...and....could they have possibly gotten into me? I don't use gloves or anything when I gravel vac and water change...

 

[chibi]

Ahh, those things. They're actually nothing to worry about. They appear when you feed your fish too much and/or don't clean your tank enough. They're harmless to your fish. In fact, your fish will actually eat them, and it's okay. I remember the first time I saw them I flipped out, but there's nothing to worry about. Just clean your tank more often or don't feed them as much.

 

[SimonSays]

oh my god thank you, peace of mind...ahhhh

 

[Amunet]

It's probably just planaria. As chibi said, they're harmless. They do indicate that something is off though. Such as not cleaning your gravel properly, overfeeding, or an ammonia spike.
Some water changes throughout the week with some good gravel vacs will help clear most of them up.