Is this planaria???

Shawna

Shawna

AC Members
Jul 7, 2005
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Now ive asked this before - I was dealing with little thread like thingys that swam like sperms. But something different (or mabey the same) has caught my eye.

I had what looked like dust particles stuck on the sides of the glass in my betta tank. But closer examination showed they were MOVING! Now I freaked out last night and went researching, scared they were anchor worms, because I noticed my betta had a peice of "dust" moving on him as well. But the anchor worm pictures show them sticking out from the fish. This worm on the fish was just crawling. SHould I be concerned?? Are these just BABY planaria???
 
Planaria are larger than dust particles, I wouldn't think that's what they are. Plus, they are more shaped like a flat piece of uncooked rice but smaller and they generally stick to the glass, I've never heard them attaching to fish.
 
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These small worms you describe are most likely tiny planaria which are hamless. They can come in on plants or rocks or water from a LFS. USing MAracide is completely unnecessary and may do more harm than good.

Maracide is a mercury based antiseptic and is potentially more harmful than a few free swimming worms.

The worms are a sign that there is waste in the tank and that cleaning needs to be done.

These worms are usually called Turbellaria and are free living and non- parasitic. They simply feed off of waste. In setting up tanks, I have seen them often, but they have always disappeared after a couple of weeks. And I have never worried about them or used medications to get rid of them. Just vacuum them up and change the water. Not everything that is wormy is harmful.
 
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