What kind of worm is this, how do I get rid of it?

[Waqas]

Hello everyone,

I have a 10g planted / shrimp tank that I started about 4 months back. At that time I was under the impression that I could feed them micro pallets, that I feed my tetras in the bigger tank. Turns out I grew a bunch of hair algae, snails, hydra, and this worm I can't figure out.

I have taken care of the hair algae by water changes, and changing the food to dedicated shrimp food. Took care of Hydra by using a Azoo Hydra/snail treatment.

 

This worm is a mystery to me, as I can't figure out how to get rid of it. I started taking them out using a tissue paper first, but then I would not see them in the day, now they mostly come out at night. The reason I want them gone is that I think they are eating shrimplets, as I haven't seen any, though there have been a few shrimps with eggs.

When they move they move by elongating their body, sticking, and then pulling the body back. They have a hard skin when I have touched them. I am not sure how to attach a small clip, as the forum would not allow me.

Thanks a bunch, love from Lahore, Pakistan.

[shkote]

They are leeches. Most likely found their way into the tank on plants. As far as treatment goes, I've never treated a tank with other invertebrates. The treatment I used would kill any invert in the tank along with the leeches, so I'm not sure what your options are. If it's a severe infestation, a break down might be the best option? Maybe someone else has had this issue in a shrimp tank and may be of more help. 

On a side note, your Rotala looks amazing!

[Waqas]

10 hours ago, Lynze said:

They are leeches. Most likely found their way into the tank on plants. As far as treatment goes, I've never treated a tank with other invertebrates. The treatment I used would kill any invert in the tank along with the leeches, so I'm not sure what your options are. If it's a severe infestation, a break down might be the best option? Maybe someone else has had this issue in a shrimp tank and may be of more help.

Wow, didn't even think that they could be leeches. What kind of treatment would that be? I can move the shrimps, snails, and the filter to a temporary holding tank and then try. Do not want to break it apart right now 😞

10 hours ago, Lynze said:

On a side note, your Rotala looks amazing!

Thank you.

[shkote]

I used copper on mine years ago, that along with manual removal worked for me, but I wouldn't feel comfortable putting inverts back into a tank that has been dosed with copper. 

You can try to keep up with the manual removal. You could also try traps, but I'd imagine if the traps will catch leeches, they will also catch shrimp and snails. If you were going to move everything over temporarily anyway, traps would be worth trying. 

[JerseyBundy]

Fighting the same issue.  Found a adult leech, was hoping I got it before it had laid eggs in the substrate.  Well 2 weeks later, I'm doing maintenance on the tank and found a bunch on the silicone seals of the tank. I've been picking them out. I've bought a leech trap but I've yet to use it because I don't know what bait will work.  So everyday I look in the tank and pick out the ones i see. I used plant tweezers to pick them out. I stop counting after picking out atleast 40 during the week.  But yesterday I only pulled out 3. So I guess I put a dent in there population. Because when I first noticed,  I picked out 13 . Been at war with them for a week so far. Good luck . Wish I had better advice. 

Edited September 21, 2020 by JerseyBundy

[Waqas]

12 hours ago, Lynze said:

I used copper on mine years ago, that along with manual removal worked for me, but I wouldn't feel comfortable putting inverts back into a tank that has been dosed with copper. 

You can try to keep up with the manual removal. You could also try traps, but I'd imagine if the traps will catch leeches, they will also catch shrimp and snails. If you were going to move everything over temporarily anyway, traps would be worth trying. 

I was hoping you won't say copper. I guess I will have to live with them for the foreseeable future as I have some plants (Ludwigia SP Mini, Myriophyllum Tuberculatum, and Pink Cabomba) that I am trying to grow in this, they have now rooted and growing.

I have ordered a trap, lets see how it goes, I will update this post once I have it and use it.

Thank you for all your help.

[Waqas]

10 hours ago, JerseyBundy said:

Fighting the same issue.  Found a adult leech, was hoping I got it before it had laid eggs in the substrate.  Well 2 weeks later, I'm doing maintenance on the tank and found a bunch on the silicone seals of the tank. I've been picking them out. I've bought a leech trap but I've yet to use it because I don't know what bait will work.  So everyday I look in the tank and pick out the ones i see. I used plant tweezers to pick them out. I stop counting after picking out atleast 40 during the week.  But yesterday I only pulled out 3. So I guess I put a dent in there population. Because when I first noticed,  I picked out 13 . Been at war with them for a week so far. Good luck . Wish I had better advice. 

I have been picking them out as well, they seem to be intelligent, or atleast evolve, I think. I stopped seeing them after a few weeks when I first started pulling them out, then one day I turned the light on at night, and saw a bunch, now I feel like they swim away /detach from glass, as soon as they see light. Anyways, best of luck to you too.

As for the trap, from what I have learnt so far, you can put a fish pallet that is big and wont dissolve quickly, or shrimp food, or a piece of fish meat. Make sure you take it out the next day in any case.

[JerseyBundy]

21 minutes ago, Waqas said:

I have been picking them out as well, they seem to be intelligent, or atleast evolve, I think. I stopped seeing them after a few weeks when I first started pulling them out, then one day I turned the light on at night, and saw a bunch, now I feel like they swim away /detach from glass, as soon as they see light. Anyways, best of luck to you too.

As for the trap, from what I have learnt so far, you can put a fish pallet that is big and wont dissolve quickly, or shrimp food, or a piece of fish meat. Make sure you take it out the next day in any case.

Yea ive noticed.  I dont think there's a full proof plan unless breaking the tank down and getting rid of the substrate.  But im not willing to do that. I've noticed them under plant leaves as well.  And there definitely smart. Saw one today attached to a snail. Grabbed the snail and it detached itself and went into the substrate. I guess I will try some pellets but the snails will go for it and I guess they will become the bait. Lol

[Seized]

I would dose the tank with salt and suggest reading aqarium coop salt blog post. 

[Ben Ellison]

Nearly all freshwater fish will dine on leeches, but red-eared sunfish are known to have a special affinity for them and will eat them in massive quantities if given the opportunity.

 

Dunno if that's realistic way to handle it. They look like big boys haha

Edited September 27, 2020 by Ben Ellison

[Antichton]

These look like the leeches that I find when I get blackworms. Pretty sure these give live birth; I cut them in half to feed to my fish so they don't propagate, and one time I cut one open, a bunch of little ones popped out from the middle...

[Fonske]

On 9/27/2020 at 1:49 PM, Ben Ellison said:

Nearly all freshwater fish will dine on leeches

My betta cleared the baby leeches after the big mama leech was removed. Not a 100% shrimp safe method though.  

[Joe O]

 

On 9/27/2020 at 5:39 AM, Antichton said:

These look like the leeches that I find when I get blackworms. Pretty sure these give live birth; I cut them in half to feed to my fish so they don't propagate, and one time I cut one open, a bunch of little ones popped out from the middle...

Just following this thread to learn, the idea of trying to remove my shrimp if this happened is daunting. But the above quote from Antichton will probably give me nightmares for a long long time!