Worm identification assistance

[Ingen]

Hi,

I'm new to this world of keeping and maintaining a tank. Got a 3ft wall mount from a friend and started a planted tank thinking it was easy, but I was wrong lol.

Anyways, all was going fine until I bought a new carpet like plant setup (Not sure what its called)
.

Usually, I will remove the plant from the host object and tie it onto the driftwood or plant it into the soil directly. However, this had roots all rooted to the sponge. So, i thought may I can just place it into the tank whole.

Putting the sponge in as a whole could be the worst decision... This is what I found the next day!



I used a pincer to pick it up and it broke into two piece, both wiggling away in the water. I had to choose one or lose both parts. So I fished out one part of it, however the other part burrow into the soil and I couldn't find it even after I dig up part of the area that it burrow into...

Need some experts' assistance to identify this worm and possibly how eliminate it before it populates the whole tank...



Your advise is much appreciated.

Cheers.

[Draka]

No experience with this but looks like freshwater bristleworm

[Ingen]

Did some google searches on the fresh water bristle worm you mentioned, it sure looks like it. But havent seen anyone with an effective method to remove it...

[yongkeat]

they are cool little worm, they are scavengers so they are of no harm to your fishes or shrimps(no reported case of predation) and actually fishes like to snack on them .they scavenge on rotten plant matters for food thus benefiting both your plants and water condition.But if you do want to remove them do not attempt to pull them up, should any part of its body get broken off, the broken parts will regenerate back into a new worm.There`s is two way to get rid of it.
1.Natural predators.(Clown loach has been known to actively hunt for them)
2.Traps.Drill some holes into a non-toxic tubes and make sure the holes are big enough for the worms to brawl in, place a piece of dead shrimps or seafood into the tube and lastly turn off the light for 12 hours and emptying the tube every interval
They may look disgusting but actually they bring benefits to your overall tank condition so reconsider about removing them, but if their population is out of control it is a must for you to get rid some of them.I hope this is helpful for you!

[Ingen]

Thank you for the insight. I don't see the big ones anymore but I found lots of small ones now lol. As what you suggested, I'm leaving them alone for now. As I only have shrimps and moss in my tank i'm hoping they don't multiply too quickly.

[mincedmeat]

You can get the gush catchpen to help you with the worm.