Worms

[FIREFISH]

I was cleaning the gavel with a python as I always do. I noticed small I mean really small worm looking things coming out of the gravel. They are not swimming around the tank they are just in the gravel. Its a 55 grow out with 25 1/2" to 1" trophs. I clean it about once a week and do about a 60% water change. I will do the water parameters and get back. Has anyone else had these?????????????

Thanks FF

[Mzungu]

Google planaria or tubifex worms. Those are the most common type of little worms found in aquariums. Planaria move slowly, and don't swim. Tubifex types tend to squiggle around a lot and sometimes swim through the water like little squiggly pieces of spaghetti.

[PhishPhreek]

What you need is a pair of Tiger Loaches

[FIREFISH]

Tested the water all is normal. Will Loaches take care of the problem?

FF

[FIREFISH]

How do I get rid of them?????????? Anyone??????????

FF

[Mzungu]

Which ones are they?

It's usually an indication of sub-par water quality. What do you mean by "normal?"

[Mzungu]

http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=22480&highlight=worms

[geoff_tropheus]

post a pic if you can.

With your regular waterchanges, as long as your gravel vaccuming....it should not be planeria.

With (25) 1/2 to 1" trophs in a 55 you should be in good shape till they are about 2". How often do you feed them and what are you feeding?

Are you finding the worms in the filter media as well?

Could be that your overfeeding, or the worms were in the tank before you had this setup?

Not sure about this product, but do lots of searches on How to Kill Planeria if it turns out to be this, and almost all say cut back feedings and perform daily waterchanges for like a week.

There are instances where people used a product called "VERMEX" but I never used it before and I would be leary on Trophs.

[FIREFISH]

Thanks Mzungu! I also found some info on another forum. They are they same thing Philbert had. I did not think I was over feeding but I guess that has to be it. I do weekly water changes, looks like I will be stepping them up for awhile. I can't remember what the readings were. thanks for the link. Thats what I was tring to look for, mabe gave up to soon.

FF

[FIREFISH]

Thanks Geoff, I'm feeding 1mm NLS that I smash into smaller size bits for the little guys. Ahha, Could it be that I smash the food??? The tank has been up and running for years. I have never had this problem before. I feed them I time everyday.

FF

[geoff_tropheus]

There is a NLS product called "Growth" that is already smashed up so you dont have to do it.

I would stick to feeding just once.

And do whatever helped Philbert out from the link posted.

[Mzungu]

And do whatever helped Philbert out from the link posted.

Not the bayou, please!!

You are welcome. Good luck with them. Whatever they are. It might take the work of a couple weeks of stepped up water changes, but if you don't let them have enough to eat, they will go away. Kinda like snails: they have population explosions, but eventually die off when there's not enough to sustain them.

[FIREFISH]

Don't worry no bayou!! More like the toilet or the yard. Thanks again!

FF