ID: Is this worm a leech?

[trevally]

Saw one worm which looks like the one below (see link) in my shrimp tank. Size around 4cm. It's black and kind of flat and move quite fast (kind of difficult to catch it). Burrows itself in the substrate and wriggles like a tubiflex worm. What is it ? It's a leech or worm and will it harm my snails or shrimps ? Thanks.

YouTube - Leech

[Aquaculture]

Welcome to AQ.

The clip is rather blur but it looks more like an eel than a worm...

[benny]

I think it just might be a leech that hitchhiked into your tank. I don't think shrimps and fishes are at risk, but that's just guessing. I suppose it's best to catch it out.

Cheers,

[vinz]

I don't think it's a leech. Errr... tape worm?

[flashout]

Well, i think its most likely a leech. I saw it alot here, where I got netting in the river, always being suck by them. Put a salt, and they will die.

Leech feed on blood, by sucking, attach to their pray such as human and event fish. I would strongly advice you to remove it from your tank.

[trevally]

Thanks alot bros. Be it either a leech or a worm, I will definetly want to catch it out. But my tank is quite heavily planted with moss and drift woods and that bugger move really fast. Once it notice you gonna catch it, it will burrows itself into the substrate and disappers. Smart fellow haha..

Well, i think its most likely a leech. I saw it alot here, where I got netting in the river, always being suck by them. Put a salt, and they will die.

Leech feed on blood, by sucking, attach to their pray such as human and event fish. I would strongly advice you to remove it from your tank.

If I'm gonna add salt into the tank, will it harm my shrimps as well ? I've crs, cherry and tigers in the tank. How much salt should I dose then ? Thanks.

[flashout]

Try creating a trap... look into the DIY section.

For me, few thing can use to control them. Try to reduce the feeding of fish food, introduce fish/ loach that can eat them such as puffer fish.

IMO, i prefer this method rather then using chemical.

[Quixotic]

Saw one worm which looks like the one below (see link) in my shrimp tank.

Try to reduce the feeding of fish food, introduce fish/ loach that can eat them such as puffer fish.

Loach/puffers/some fish aren't shrimp safe though.

trevally, I could be wrong, but doesn't that "shrimp tank" look more like a bowl? If it is a bowl, then keeping shrimps in a such kind of "tank" can prove to be difficult, where keeping the water conditions clean and stable can be a struggle. I would suggest to tear down the "tank", transfer the shrimp to at least a 30 cm cube tank. Not only do you get rid of the "alien", the new setup will provide a much better environment for keeping your shrimps successfully.

My 2 cents worth...

[trevally]

Loach/puffers/some fish aren't shrimp safe though.

trevally, I could be wrong, but doesn't that "shrimp tank" look more like a bowl? If it is a bowl, then keeping shrimps in a such kind of "tank" can prove to be difficult, where keeping the water conditions clean and stable can be a struggle. I would suggest to tear down the "tank", transfer the shrimp to at least a 30 cm cube tank. Not only do you get rid of the "alien", the new setup will provide a much better environment for keeping your shrimps successfully.

My 2 cents worth...

That video from youtube doesn't belongs to me. I was searching the net for something that resemble the "worm" that I seen in my tank. It's difficult to take a pic of that "worm" as most of the time its hiding in the substrate. Finally I managed to catch one out and confirmed its a leech but there are still quite a few leeches in my tank.

Bro flashout, I think a trap will do the trick in catching those leeches. Wish me successs.