I have a specific question regarding tiny worms on the inside glass surface of my tank. I have heard mixed reviews as to what they are, some being harmless to others being parasitic. They are approc. 3-4 mm long and they appear to only be on the glass surface rather than free floating. At least I can't see any throughout the water. I always assumed they were harmless and caused by too much protein in the water from uneaten food. Fish are healthy and I've noticed these tiny worms(10-20) for years. I add salt (1 tbsp/10 gallon) as a general conditioner, but they always are present. What are they?
Tiny Worms
- Thread starter El Gordo
- Start date
hey el gordo
its nice to see some one from vancouver( i live in coquitlam)
i had those tiny little worms in my tank too and someone told me that it is from over feeding. all i did was scraped everything off the glass and didnt feed my fish for a few days then it went away. how ofter do u feed? how much? filteration?
its nice to see some one from vancouver( i live in coquitlam)
i had those tiny little worms in my tank too and someone told me that it is from over feeding. all i did was scraped everything off the glass and didnt feed my fish for a few days then it went away. how ofter do u feed? how much? filteration?
Hello I tend to feed them once a day. All that I have presently is nocturnal bottom fish, so I feed them right at night.
They are nematodes (sp?) and are harmless. They do mean there is too much food in the tank if you can see them crawling on the glass. That being said they are in every tank just normally in low enough levels to not be noticed.
Still, try to cut down on the amount you feed that once a day. Nematodes swim frantically in the water. If they are "sitting" quietly on the glass then it's probably planarians. Either way, TKOS is right, they are harmless.
I think kveeti's right about these being planarians aka flatworms aka Turbellaria. The ones that you see are actually only the very largest of the flatworms. Microturbellaria are everywhere in the gravel, on the plants, eating detritus and spores and algae.
Can't have a garden without worms. Eh, kveeti! (The lady is an outstanding terrestrial gardener!)
The life stages of parasites away from their host are all microscopic.( Leeches are an exception.) Nothing you see swimming around is a parasite. That's a reassuring thing to remember.
Can't have a garden without worms. Eh, kveeti! (The lady is an outstanding terrestrial gardener!)
The life stages of parasites away from their host are all microscopic.( Leeches are an exception.) Nothing you see swimming around is a parasite. That's a reassuring thing to remember.