white worms all around my tank its everywhere!!

[yve]

Hi,

i’m cycling my new 5gallon tank.( been a mth at least.) the levels look ok however the seem to be worms all around! they are everywhere - on glass, gravel, plant, or just swimming. can yall help id the worms? (see image; may need to zoom in abit) are they safe for betta?

i’m thinking of moving him in this weekend. he’s currently in a 2gallon tank but he has fin rot and is under kanaplex medication. 

would it be okay for him to move in now or should i get rid of the worms first? 

 

Edited December 28, 2023 by yve

[DaveO]

Those look like detritus worms. Very common and not a problem for your fish. I'm growing a batch of detritus worms right now in a newly setup tank. I think if you feed fish food to cycle a tank, which I do before introducing fish, the worm population is greater. 

I should mention that the fish consider these little morsels a yummy treat.

[Tlindsey]

On 12/28/2023 at 3:53 AM, yve said:

Hi,

i’m cycling my new 5gallon tank.( been a mth at least.) the levels look ok however the seem to be worms all around! they are everywhere - on glass, gravel, plant, or just swimming. can yall help id the worms? (see image; may need to zoom in abit) are they safe for betta?

i’m thinking of moving him in this weekend. he’s currently in a 2gallon tank but he has fin rot and is under kanaplex medication. 

would it be okay for him to move in now or should i get rid of the worms first? 

 

@yve are the worms flat and glide on the glass and substrate. If so those are planaria. I suggest treating the aquarium if they are planaria but if they are detritus worms like stated I wouldn't worry about them. 

[yve]

thanks for the advise but i can’t really tell if they are detritus or planaria.. they both look alike.. but yea thosw worms so glide on glass surfaces - substrate can’t really tell.  

if its planaria, how should i go abt treating the tank?

[Tlindsey]

On 12/28/2023 at 7:17 AM, yve said:

thanks for the advise but i can’t really tell if they are detritus or planaria.. they both look alike.. but yea thosw worms so glide on glass surfaces - substrate can’t really tell.  

if its planaria, how should i go abt treating the tank?

@yve You can treat with No Planaria,  Prazi Pro, or some have treating with dog or cat dewormer.

[DaveO]

You can tell if it is a detritus worm by the shape. They are slightly thinner at the tail end VS. the front end. There is no defined head. On the planeria worm the head is an arrow shape, rather distinctive and kind of creepy looking.