The California Blackworm

I'm new to this web site and I just wanted to say thank you DeeDeeK for all the information that you have posted on here. It has helped me out a lot to figure out what I have living in my tank.
 
So I have a 50 gallon fresh water tank that about 2 weeks ago I noticed these little worms that were sticking out of the gravel and wiggling back and forth. So with doing all kinds of research and luckly coming across this post, I figured out that I have those California Black worms too. But mine are growing and reproducing naturally. I have made this tank really close to what a pond would be by gathering everything from the rocks and plant to the fish that are in it. So some were along the line, probably off all the plants that I've put in, I brought in the worms and they are growing strong. When I came across this post and read all the info that DeeDee put up it made me wonder what else I have growing in my tank. So I got a 30x lighted magnifier and started checking stuff out up close. I have some picture that I'm posting that I took of some of the critters that are in my tank. In my 30x magnifier there is a 8x magnifying glass that I took out a figured out a way to tape it onto my camera a take some cool up close pictures. It's pretty easy to do once you figure it out. Well here are my picture and I have some more in my personal gallery. Thanks again DeeDee for all the info that you have given us.
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Can anyone help me out and help me ID what these are? I'm talking about the round thing on the left, I know the thing on the right is a water flea. I think the thing on the left is some sort of flat worm (planaria). I'm just not sure and I've been trying to document everything I can find in my tank. Thanks a lot for any help.
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The thing on the left looks like a freshwater limpet to me.
 
Thanks a lot Jspigs. Those are for sure limpets. I thought they were some kind of a snail just by the way that their mouth works and other characteristics. Thanks again and I guess that the picture I have posted that says it's a picture of baby snails are actually baby limpets getting ready to hatch out. In the picture of the snail that has the hydra attached to it's shell, does anyone happen to know what kind of hydra that is, or if it's even hydra at all? I'm pretty sure that it is but it's just really tinny and white in color instead of having longer tenticles and being a green color.
 
When I was reading about the limpets, I read that some species can actually glow in the dark when under distress and they secrete a glow in the dark fluid to distract the predators. Has anyone else heard of this before? I'm going to turn off my lights and try to distress some and see if it actually happens. I will let you know if it does happen and I will try to take some pictures too.
 
This is an awesome AWESOME thread. Keep the information coming. I was considering introducing these to my 55g tank, but then read here that you shouldn't give them to peacocks or Mbunas. Well I have Peacock OBs so that's a definite no-no if I believe this site. Any of our cichlidaphiles on here want to debunk or reaffirm that statement? Just don't want to harm my fish while trying to give them more in their diet.
 
I accidentally discovered that the worms LOVE shrimp pellets, the catfish didn't have a chance lol, the worms surrounded them instantly and ate them VERY quickly.

It was a little scary. LOL

I think it was hikari brand I'm trying.
 
LiveMermaid07 said:
I think it was hikari brand I'm trying.
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ooops, not hikari, it was something that started with an A, I don't have it here, but it's spelled similar to aquarium, but I think it had an e in it.
 
Has anyone else ever had a marimo moss ball in with these critters?

I picked up one the other day to squeeze it out and rinse it and it was full of worms!
My betta has started staking it out LOL!

I have noticed where another moss ball was in another tank that they seem to have eaten it. O.O Oh my.
 
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