HELPS Needed: My tank is infested with this "Planaria, flatworms" .....

[Icepolo]

Dear friends,
I have recently (a month ago) started my 2.5ft planted tank. I kept it as a Shrimp-Only setup (Cherry, Yellow, Sukura, CRS and Black Diamond). No fishes, not even otto...

About 2-3 weeks ago, I started seeing 2 or 3 of these "'slimy and yucky" looking worms in my tank. I guess it was probably introduced a month ago when I bought the new moss plants from FramMark at CCK.

I checked throught this forum and found a posting about "Aquarium Bugs", and learned that this worm is called "Planaria, flatworms".

But this week... I discover more than 10 to 20 of these crawling all over the tank. They are apparently reproducing in my tank !!! The sight of these lousy looking worms is really turning me off ... The fact that they are giving birth even before my Cherry Shrimps do, make me really sad and piss too...

1) Does any one have this experience before...?

2) Are there any ways to stop or ex-terminate them ???

Please HELP...!





Planaria, flatworms



Icepolo

[aquascaping1982]

Sorry, what's those white stuffs at the driftwood?

Try not to feed to much food to your shrimps cos overfeeding will result in planaria, maybe some other fellow brothers will guide you how to remove those worms.

[windcharm]

Over feeding bro. Usually this happened to shrimp tank when overfeeding occurs. Try to reduce feeding and remove leftover. Try to catch and kill them with a pincer. If there are really too many of them, try to use the "fishing" method.

Here's a discussion on how to get rid of them: http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=14641
__________________

[itsuki]

you can try vermex... it is effective.

[Icepolo]

Dear Bro Aquascaping1982, u are right... those white stuffs are pellets of shrimp foods not eaten yet by my shrimps .... thank you very much for the advise!

Dear Bro Windcharm, thank you for the advise too!! I have been trying to remove them manually.... using my plant-planting pincer. But they are just everywhere... and some are really small ones which can tell are probably new-borns. Have read the useful links you provided... will very probably try the fishing method later!!

Dear Bro Itsuki, is Vermex a kind of aquarium drug? I guess this can be bought from fish shop? Will it harm Shrimps?



Thank you again!!

Icepolo

[beetlejuice403]

Hi bro icepolo,

as mentioned by the earlier bros, try not to overfeed & remove any uneaten food in the tank after 1-2 hours of feeding. This wil aid in reducing the chance of feeding the planaria worms...

Think these worms have very special survival skills, do not attempt to crush or cut them into 2 pieces as in the end, for every 1 planaria you cut, you'll get 2 instead... "Fishing" method might be better in getting them without them multiplying...

As for the Vermex, never use before, but if you using, maybe you like to start with a smaller dose to see its effects on your fanuas first... It Vermex does not contains copper, it should be safe on shrimps... read the composition of the chemical first before buying/dosing...

Cheers!

[Icepolo]

Thank Bro Beetlejuice,

I did try to crash and cut them into pieces.... and you are damn right... it became 2 individuals and continue cawling away... haha... really terrible...

I am indeed a little worry about using aquatic drug like Vermex... I just feel that the Shrimps will somehow be harmed or affected by it too ....

Will first cut down the feeding quantity immedaitely, then try the fishing method for a start. At last resort... maybe then the Vermex...

Thanks!!

Icepolo

[itsuki]

Hi

my fishes and yamato are still swimming actively. but dun overdose. the effective of vermex is very fast. within 1hr to 3hr. i bought the vermex from serangoon fish shop.

[windcharm]

If you want to crash them, you need to really crash them into "powder" like to prevent them from multiplying. I will use a pincer to take them out of my tank and boil them in hot water. hahah

[leechaorui]

Try introducing some fish eg. tetras in to consume the worms. Avoid feeding anything for the next week.

[blue33]

Looks like a snow tree to me. You have over dose food, never see people do that in my life.