Small white worms on aquarium glass, what are they?

[CheckeredRust]

Hi all, I'm 15 days into cycling/maturing my new low tech planted tank, so far I have been doing 50% water changes, and started dosing fertilizers twice a week about 7 days ago. My lighting hours are average of 6-8 hours daily. Just hours ago, I decided to inspect the tank, and realize there are very tiny and short white worms(?) crawling on the surface of the glasses. Does anyone knows what are they? I'm unable to provide a photo as I do not have the equipment, and it can't be seen on a phone's camera.

Also, I just did a 50% water change yesterday, and probably added extra fertilizer than usual (4ml instead of the usual 2ml). What could the reason of the worms appearing? There isn't any live stocks inside or feeding involve, my tank doesn't have any visible algae at all too.

I found a photo online that looks similar to what I'm seeing, just that the worms in my aquarium is much smaller.

 

[Tom72]

They look like detritus worms, which are harmless. They are a result of either over feeding, or beak down of organic matter, plants, they come in on plants, fish or substrate. It may be a sign of low oxygen levels as they live in the substrate, and adding an air stone would help, or increasing your surface agitation. They won’t harm any fish or shrimp and are part of the ecosystem.

 

[CheckeredRust]

Update: managed to video it down

 

[CheckeredRust]

They look like detritus worms, which are harmless. They are a result of either over feeding, or beak down of organic matter, plants, they come in on plants, fish or substrate. It may be a sign of low oxygen levels as they live in the substrate, and adding an air stone would help, or increasing your surface agitation. They won’t harm any fish or shrimp and are part of the ecosystem.

Ah that's a relief to hear. I posted a video above of the worms. Could adding extra fertilizers cause this?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Update: managed to video it down

They are "Flatworms" and <"probably Planaria">. You can see them "gliding" across the cur surface.

cheers Darrel

 

[Tom72]

Yes the video is a lot clearer, they could be planaria. Check this link flatworm/Planaria in shrimp tank, is it really that bad?

 

[CheckeredRust]

Ah, is there any reason why they are appearing during the cycling process? I didn't add any fish food or whatsoever to kickstart the cycling. Will the worms die overtime as there's no food?

 

[Tom72]

I would keep up with your water changes, wipe the glass regularly and vacuum any mulm that builds up. See how that goes, I have had them in the past and they disappeared. As there are no livestock an anti worm treatment could be tried, but I would just keep it simple at the moment and monitor it. If it doesn’t improve or gets worse then treat it.

 

[Bkirby02]

Hi All!

I've recently set up a low tech nano tank! I've just added 3 pink leopard ramshorn snails and plant fertiliser! However, I've started to see these little worms, I have attached pictures below! Does anyone know what they are? I hope not planaria as I'm hoping to add shrimp soon!

Any help would be Amazing!

Ben

 

[Hufsa]

I have attached pictures below! Does anyone know what they are?

They look like detritus worms to me, a catch-all term for various nematodes and harmless worms that live in the tank.
That big one is definitely not Planaria 🙂👍 The shape is not a match and it has hairs on its body.
For reference in the future there is also a white worm type that looks a little bit like Planaria but has a round head. These are Rhabdocoela and are also harmless 🙂

 

[xZaiox]

@Bkirby02 - as @Hufsa has said above, I think it's fine. Aquariums can pick up all sorts of worms/microfauna, but planaria are quite easily identifiable by their 'arrow-like' head. I've attached a picture of a true planarian below that I found on google. Notice two features: the arrow-head, and the two eye-dots. These are quite characteristic of Planaria.

 

[Bkirby02]

Thank you so much for getting back to me guys so quickly!!! Really appreciate that! I will give the tank a good clean!

One last question! Would these appear even though I haven't fed the tank/don't have an abundant bioload yet?

Thanks again for all the help! 😊🙏

 

[Hufsa]

One last question! Would these appear even though I haven't fed the tank/don't have an abundant bioload yet?

They are a part of the biological community of the majority of aquariums, so yes I would say.
They can become more numerous if there is a large collection of a food source somewhere, like a filter that needs to be cleaned a bit, or a substrate that is trapping food or dirt.
But in a new tank you may get what seems like "population booms" of various forms of life, that will come and go as the tank matures and stabilizes.
So if you have a few extra visible now, its likely that they will disappear again when everything is more balanced out 😊

 

[Bkirby02]

That makes so much sense!!! Thank you so much! I will just keep on with the tank cycle and water changes! Thanks again for everyone's help!😊

 

[vixvg2024]

Hi all,
I've been fish keeping for over 15 yrs and have just noticed tiny white worm creatures whilst cycling a small, back up tank, but also after using liquifry 2 in my main tank for platy fry. ( mature tank water was added to tank 2 to start up the bacteria)
It looks a bit unsightly in tank 2, they appear dead tbh. Liquifry mentions it in their leaflet ... I gotta be honest I'm confused, a tad worried.
No white wigglers in my bigger tank, but many seemingly dead bits in the cycling tank 2. Which is nearly ready , I'm unsure whether to vac it out, or what ? As no fish are gonna be in at least 1 - 2 more weeks.
Should I be worried, what about the debris if its all dead matter?
There's few live plants in both tank, not mature planting thou. I also removed few snails , arrived with plants.
Any thoughts ? Before I get vacuuming!
Thanks Vix
( I'm assuming bkirby02 has got it all in order since last year ?)

 

[edenlt]

My tank having tiny worms asvel, I do have decent microscope, could anyone identify it?

my tank is tropical
25.5C
water very soft from tap less than 30ppm adding bit of calcium and magnesium to 150ppm
ph 7.8

shrimps
plecos
corries
nerite snails
and few tetras
planted tank

 

[edenlt]

thay are very tiny yet its x40 mag, I noticed them only during water change as they where all over the glass

 

[Tyko_N]

could anyone identify it?

A bit tricky without seeing it move (for me at least). If it glides smoothly across the glass, then it's some kind of flatworm, although it doesn't really give me flatworm vibes since you're usually able to see at least some "stomach" and eyes on them. The small size speaks against it being an insect larvae, and the shape is to short and round for a Nematode. If it's properly segmented then maybe be some kind of tiny Oligochaete or even a Rotiferan (but then you should be able to see the mastax).

 

[BettaGirl]

Can someone please identify my worms? I believe they are planaria, but I have treated 4 times now with Panacur c - dewormer since 7/11 & they are not going away or getting any less. I have used multiple cameras/lens & magnifying glasses. I have not seen any triangular heads. Just heads that are slightly larger than body sometimes. I have never seen the eyes, but they are on the glass, so I would be looking at their bellies & not their heads. Even after putting in a tiny glass of water & looking at them from above, I still have never seen any eyes. I know those are supposed to be a distinct part of planaria. They definitely slide across the glass like a flatworm though. They are extremely slow when moving.

I have dosed the recommended amount per multiple sites. I have a 15 gal Fluval Flex that is pretty heavily planted with a 2 inch substrate of Seachem Flourite Black Clay Gravel, so I calculated the water at 12 - 13 gallons.

The only critters in the tank are some hitchhiker bladder snails that came with my plants. I have kept them under control by removing most of them & only allowing a few to munch on the algae. Plants were installed a week after I started the fishless tank cycle on 6/22. My tank is now cycled, but I am concerned about these worms as I plan on introducing shrimp. This is going to be a Betta fish tank with a few shrimp & Nerite snails & also a few Harlequin Rasbora.

My current readings are...
Temp 84.7 f (This is being lowered. It was set higher to help with the cycling process)
PH 7.8
Nitrate 10 ppm
GH 11 dGH
KH 8 dKH

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Can someone please identify my worms? I believe they are planaria, but I have treated 4 times now with Panacur c - dewormer since 7/11 & they are not going away or getting any less.

They may be <"Rhabdocoela flatworms">, they aren't susceptible to most pesticides

They definitely slide across the glass like a flatworm though. They are extremely slow when moving.

Sounds like Rhabdocoela, they aren't usually considered an issue

The only critters in the tank are some hitchhiker bladder snails that came with my plants. I have kept them under control by removing most of them & only allowing a few to munch on the algae.

They are <"a good thing"> to have in your tank.

Cheers Darrel