worms?

[goldentiff]

Okay I am posting this everywhere I can.

While doing a wc, I noticed a worm-like thing that while sticking to the gravel was floating back and forth. Then I noticed another one which also was on a piece of gravel but managed to get on the pleco's tail. The pleco swished his tail back and forth about 3 times then just kept doing its thing but the worm was now attached to his tail fin. Saw a couple more also on the gravel.
I managed to pull one from the tank and it survived outside the water on top of the counter just moving around. I put in regular tap water and still survived. The best way I can describe its movement is smiliar to an outside snail (the ones that don't have shells), its aprox less then 1/4 inch and kinda light grey appearance.

What are they and are they harmful to fish?

29 Gallon
same occupants for last 6 months
1 pleco (unknown type) 6 inches long (has been w/us for 3 yrs)
1 apple snail (has been w/us for 1 yr)
water temp: 77Fht.
nitrite: 0
ph: 7.7
50% wc every 3 weeks

I was about to transfer my platy fry to this tank, now I just don't know.

Help wanted

 

[bleach_freak]

maybe ur snail having baby it just a guess

 

[goldentiff]

Nah, apple snails are one sex and do not breed unless there is male and female together.

But thanks anyway.

 

[robinos]

Sounds like it could be a planaria, a flatworm. If you get a good look at one again, take a close look and see if he has googly eyes (not a scientific term). You may be overfeeding and/or not cleaning enough. 50% water change every 3 weeks sounds kind of lax. Try doing a pwc weekly, maybe 30%. Plecos generate a lot of waste. Excess food and waste encourages worm growth. Do you have any other test kits beside nitrite? It'd be interesting to see your nitrates.

Ooh, another thread just reminded me, do you vacuum your gravel when you water change?