Worm in Cherry Shrimp tank?

tekkguy · 02-01-2013, 02:03 PM

I have a 5 gallon tank that contains nothing but hitchhiking snails and some cherry shrimp.

Since the RCS were the only livestock I was adding, and they all came from the same place (who can resist 3/$1?) I didn't quarantine any of them.

This morning, there was a worm swimming in the tank. The tank has been up and running empty (again, except for snails and plants) for about a month.

When I first saw the worm, I thought it was a cabomba leaf, because I have some purple cabomba that I'm fighting a bit of leaf loss on. Then I realized that I wasn't seeing a leaf at an odd angle, but a free-swimming worm.

The worm was about 3/4" long and white - very, very thin. I have a message to the seller asking about parasite problems he might have had, but the tank my shrimp came from has never held fish according to him. I want to add some kind of fish to this tank once it grows in some and the RCS are a bit better established, but I'm worried about the worm!

Any ideas?

**Betta Maniac** · 02-01-2013, 02:15 PM

Does it look like it's spazzing out as it swims? If so, it's just a harmless nematode. Chekck ou the "What is this bug" thread:

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=40061

tekkguy · 02-01-2013, 02:33 PM

That is exactly what it sounds like. Thanks! Hopefully no more will pop up, but if they do at least I know they're not harmful.

Jadelin · 02-01-2013, 05:46 PM

Fish love eating nematodes; I had a few of the little red ones in my substrate for a while and whenever I did water changes my goldfish would chase them down.

**Betta Maniac** · 02-01-2013, 06:14 PM

There is a whole world of itty bitty bug life in my shrimp only tank (all the plants came from my commnity tank, where I assume the fish eat all the little critters).

tekkguy · 02-01-2013, 08:47 PM

Well, if I had realized it was harmless at the time, I would have left it until fish are added later. Better safe than sorry though, so into some bleach it went.

02-01-2013, 02:03 PM	#1
tekkguy Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Mesquite, TX Posts: 164	Worm in Cherry Shrimp tank? I have a 5 gallon tank that contains nothing but hitchhiking snails and some cherry shrimp. Since the RCS were the only livestock I was adding, and they all came from the same place (who can resist 3/$1?) I didn't quarantine any of them. This morning, there was a worm swimming in the tank. The tank has been up and running empty (again, except for snails and plants) for about a month. When I first saw the worm, I thought it was a cabomba leaf, because I have some purple cabomba that I'm fighting a bit of leaf loss on. Then I realized that I wasn't seeing a leaf at an odd angle, but a free-swimming worm. The worm was about 3/4" long and white - very, very thin. I have a message to the seller asking about parasite problems he might have had, but the tank my shrimp came from has never held fish according to him. I want to add some kind of fish to this tank once it grows in some and the RCS are a bit better established, but I'm worried about the worm! Any ideas?

02-01-2013, 02:15 PM	#2
Betta Maniac Wanabe BKK Herder (View User Tanks) PTrader: (17/100%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: IHella<3Oakland Posts: 2,136	Does it look like it's spazzing out as it swims? If so, it's just a harmless nematode. Chekck ou the "What is this bug" thread: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=40061 __________________ GBR Fry Adventure

02-01-2013, 05:46 PM	#4
Jadelin Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (14/100%) Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 627	Fish love eating nematodes; I had a few of the little red ones in my substrate for a while and whenever I did water changes my goldfish would chase them down. __________________ Joy to the fishes!

02-01-2013, 06:14 PM	#5
Betta Maniac Wanabe BKK Herder (View User Tanks) PTrader: (17/100%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: IHella<3Oakland Posts: 2,136	There is a whole world of itty bitty bug life in my shrimp only tank (all the plants came from my commnity tank, where I assume the fish eat all the little critters). __________________ GBR Fry Adventure

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02-01-2013, 02:33 PM	#3
tekkguy Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Mesquite, TX Posts: 164	That is exactly what it sounds like. Thanks! Hopefully no more will pop up, but if they do at least I know they're not harmful.

02-01-2013, 08:47 PM	#6
tekkguy Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Mesquite, TX Posts: 164	Well, if I had realized it was harmless at the time, I would have left it until fish are added later. Better safe than sorry though, so into some bleach it went.