Intruder Alert! What are these?

[Shadyr]

Something got by my admittedly not too stringent quarantine, and I see them in Chicory's tank. They are little white ... line looking things. I see some swimming and some on the inside wall of the tank. They bend and flex as they move. They look like tiny worms of some kind. Any ideas what they are, and do I need to kill them (and if so, how do I kill them?)

They are so small I can't get the camera to focus right, but I have a picture...

[MistersMom]

Is he about to eat it? lol. i think they may be water fleas, but i don't know...

[Aus]

I think.. those.. are nematodes.




Or possibly planaria..

They live in the gravel, usually. Have you medicated the tank/gravel vac'd/changed something? That can make them swarm out.


Here's some info:

http://www.fish-as-pets.com/2007/11/...t-answers.html

Or possibly a fish leech. But I think those are darker.. and usually attached to a fish. :D

[MistersMom]

Why the random big smiley Aus? lol, just a random happy face at the end of a nasty sentance 'you might have fish leeches :D' lol. a little excited much? jk lol

[Aus]

I was exhibiting joy that it wasn't attached to the fish, MM!!!

[MistersMom]

LOL. Aus, i was only playing with you :P

[Shadyr]

Hmmm, well, I obviously DID jinx this tank by posting just recently that it's always my clearest and cleanest one. Note to self, no more jinx-inducing commentary. That being said, the water *is* very clear, I have not noticed any issue with overfeeding, as pretty much every pellet I put in goes straight into Chicory's mouth. (3 pellets in the AM, and usually 4 more over the course of a day, fasting weekends) The Betta Baster doesn't find that much to suck out of his gravel, as Chicory is the only inhabitant.

As for recent changes, I did a water change Tuesday and his next is gonna be tomorrow. I would guess these came with my sword plant? That's the only other relatively recent change. I kept it in a bowl for a few days, but I probably just plain missed these. Ug. I do not want them in my tank! No idea how long they have been there, I was up real close today trying to get a good look at the bite Chicory put in his tail when I noticed them.

Best option to kill them without killing my plants or Chicory?

[Aus]

Keep your tank spanky clean, water change regularly and don't let food fall to the bottom.. they'll starve to death eventually..

Or can you can use some nasty chemical snail-rid, I think.. they do starve off pretty quickly, though.

[Shadyr]

They are NOT harmful to my fish? If that's the case, I'll reduce his food and see about starving them. Rather not do harsh chemicals if I don't need to, but would be willing to burn them with fire too. Do they get any sustenance from fish poo? Would the swimming ones land on him and bother him? Do *I* need to worry about them during water changes?

Gah, and of course this comes up a week before the family vacation.

[Blue Fish]

Could you put him into a quarantine bowl and then let the buggers starve to death because there's *NOTHING* to eat in there (food or otherwise)? Ugh. I'm interested in what others have to say about their harm or harmlessness as well. :(