ack white worms!

white worms, either nematodes or planaria, i can't remeber which ones which.

There two types i've run into. The one you described, looks like a mini white slug. Theres another one that swims freely that swims in an "S" motion.

Both are harmless, nothing to worry about. Its usually a sign that you need to clean your tank a little better and reduce feedings. They are usually pop up when you have nutrient rich water.

To get rid of them, one water change a day for a few days and a good cleaning.

name my worm

Maybe someone could identify my worms. They live in my filter media. The one time I saw alot of them was when I tried to clean the Eclipse cartridge for the first time after a 1month cycle and another month with fish. When I turned on the filter, it flushed the most disgusting cloud of gunk into my beautiful crystal clear planted tank. I have since changed to a sponge and some polyfiber in the filter chambe.

As a newby I was freaking out!!! And then I noticed the worms and started really freaking out. Then the fish noticed the worms, and the blood bath comensed. Worst decision those worms ever made.

Anyway they are white, really hair thin, and move in a thrashing figure 8 fashion. (they don't swim, they just float to the bottom,or try to anyway). They are probably 1/4 inch long or less, some bigger, some smaller. I still see one every once in a while usually when a filter in one of my tanks is disturbed. I don't sweat em, but does anyone know what they are?

I think those are the same as the worms that swim in an "S" motion. Except they are dying or unhealthy.

I once had a HUGE infestation of these worms that would just thrash around, wiggling side to side like they were seizuring. Some would stop convulsing for a bit and swim in an "S" motion, so i figure they're the same.

spartan said:

white worms, either nematodes or planaria, i can't remeber which ones which.

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The crawling ones are planaria, the frantic thrashing ones are nematodes.

The crawling ones are planaria, the frantic thrashing ones are nematodes

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Sweet, i think i'll remeber that now :thm:

The crawling ones are planaria, the frantic thrashing ones are nematodes.

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Some may debate this one a little, Planaria can get in your filters, and will settle in the gravle, on plants the gravle, ect ect, But they are not a crawler, they are swimmers.
Spartan was correct IMO exept for the water change everyday I don't agree with.
They harm nothing, most fish that see them will eat them, and unless your really botherd by it, the best way I found to rid them is do a good gravle vac, and a little extra water change, like 20% or so instead of the norm. 15%, & try not to over feed your fish, This is what I do just once and that's usually the last I see them untell the next time, but I don't do a special water change just because I see them in my tank.

since you are discussing wormy things, I figure i put this here. I know this should be in saltwater but maybe you know anyway.

I went to my LFS and i saw hundreds of these little things crawling on the walls of the SW tank. Some were almost invisible while others were about an inch long. They look like terrestrial centepedes. hundreds of little legs. they didnt appear to move very fast. Uhh they were creepy looking things. wormy things make my skin crawl.

ironically though i find kulhi loaches to be the cutest fish once i started watching them. They are like an otter you can legaly own as a pet. I guess its a manifestation of the fear of the unknown like most humans.

A decent weekly water change of 30-50% with a gravel vacuum is all that is needed. While the worms themselevs are harmless they do mean that the tank has way too much food in it and this could cause problems.