Supermassive Posted August 21, 2023 Share Posted August 21, 2023 I have quite a few microorganisms in my tank and I don't know what they all are but I couldn't really find anything on google about any microorganisms actually being dangerous in aquariums other than planaria with shrimp so I haven't been concerned . But about a week ago I saw a quite a large worm thing. Its about a quarter inch long and must be 50 times the mass of any other tiny worms I've seen so now I'm a little concerned. My tank has no fish in it and I don't currently plan on putting fish in but I want to move the plants when I get my new tank set up and idk if I should try and get this thing out or not before then. I plan on getting a betta and I'm guessing it would just eat the thing and I'm not sure if it could cause problems. Its probably harmless but I'm unsure and don't want to take any chances. If anyone knows what it is and could tell me if it could be dangerous that would be great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted August 21, 2023 Share Posted August 21, 2023 I do believe you have planeria worms. They are not especially harmful for fish but may be very harmful to shrimp and snails. There is a product called NoPlaneria you can buy at the fish store to get rid of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Root Posted August 21, 2023 Share Posted August 21, 2023 I purchased a crypt from my local fish store that was infested with planaria. Didn’t see it until I got home. I put it in a nano cube with a betta and snails and never saw the planaria again. I have heard planaria is bad for inverts and I have heard that they aren’t. Cory has mentioned that he has them and breeds shrimp just fine. I’m on the fence about them. Will they eat a shrimp? Probably if the circumstances allowed, but so do my fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supermassive Posted August 21, 2023 Author Share Posted August 21, 2023 @DaveO Okay thanks. Ill probably just leave it then. I thought they had a triangular head and weren't that big but I just did a bit of googling and there are a bunch of species. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supermassive Posted August 21, 2023 Author Share Posted August 21, 2023 @Root Great. I'm not going to worry about it then. Yeah I heard Cory say the same thing. If there is a healthy population of shrimp then the planaria wont really be able to have an impact is what I gathered from what he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted August 21, 2023 Share Posted August 21, 2023 It appears to be a type of flatworm called a rhabdocoela. They are pretty common. It may not be planaria. They would be removed in the same fashion using traps and manual removal. Pecktec has a good video on the process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supermassive Posted August 21, 2023 Author Share Posted August 21, 2023 @nabokovfan87 Okay thanks. I will probably just leave it. I'm thinking it will get eaten anyway if it was to transfer with a plant. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-In-Of-TheSea Posted August 21, 2023 Share Posted August 21, 2023 Agree w/ Rhabdocoela ID. I have them as well. They are beneficial to the ecosystem. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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