What's that bug? How to recognize them

[Mangala]

Gah... every time I dig up tubifex worms out of my substrate, I forget what they are and have to come back here. Thank goodness for you guys and this thread!

[retoid]

I've noticed some small, very small in fact white slug like creatures in my tank.
They move across the glass very fast for their size.
They are too small for my camera to pick up, any idea what they might be?

[LS6 Tommy]

Originally Posted by retoid

I've noticed some small, very small in fact white slug like creatures in my tank.
They move across the glass very fast for their size.
They are too small for my camera to pick up, any idea what they might be?

Sounds like planarians to me.

Tommy <9))>>{

[knuggs]

Great Thread! Glad they made this a sticky. Foreign creatures can be worrysome. I have some of those plant worms that I want to get rid of. Are they harmful to fish or shrimp? And what is the best way to get rid of them?

[spypet]

Originally Posted by knuggs

Are they harmful to fish or shrimp?
what is the best way to get rid of them?

NO,
Vacuum your gravel surface and cut fish feeding by half.

[retoid]

I hadnt noticed that strange worm like creature in my tank for a while, but this morning I saw him again. It has grown a bit and I was able to get a picture.
Can anyone help identify this?

[retoid]

Bump, anybody have any idea?

[eon17]

bumping a sticky is pointless. you dont need to bump after 2 hrs

[retoid]

thank you for your concern on my bumping.

[retoid]

anybody got a clue?

[spade]

Woops,i have found out that this thing is usually attach itseft to my shrimps,and after 1 day,that shrimp is with gods.So,is it really harmless ?

[Zezmo]

Here is another little nasty that is found sometimes in a planted tank.

Freshwater Bristle-worm:


They typically live deep in the substrate, or in the filter. The largest I have seen was nearly 4 inches long, it was munching on some mulm about 2 inches deep in the aquasoil, up against the glass. The smaller ones just look like red worm, and you have to look very close to see the bristles.
I believe they are harmless, since they seem to be a detrivore. However, I have not touched one to see if they sting like some marine varieties. There have certainly been no dead fish with a row of stings up their side.
IMO, this is the nastiest of the nasties you can find while working on your tank.

[bsmith]

i have a bunch of planaria worms wiggling around in my water in my shrimp tank! from what i gather thre not harmful and the onlyway to kill them is by starvation/manually removing them with a vravel vaccuum?

[A Hill]

Originally Posted by retoid

anybody got a clue?

Not sure, but i'll tell you I've seen some and they're harmless.

Originally Posted by spade

Woops,i have found out that this thing is usually attach itseft to my shrimps,and after 1 day,that shrimp is with gods.So,is it really harmless ?

Yes I'm 99% sure they're harmless.

-Andrew

[CdoGG]

Originally Posted by retoid

I've noticed some small, very small in fact white slug like creatures in my tank.
They move across the glass very fast for their size.
They are too small for my camera to pick up, any idea what they might be?

I have the same thing in my tank. I noticed them while squishing snails. Here is a video. You can barely see it but its on the right side.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRYHCRcwiIU