Bloodworm in Red Claw Crab Aquarium

[mutantllama]

Hi all,
Bought a 60L tank two weeks ago, and four Red Claw crabs (lovely creatures!). All has been fine up until recently, when we noticed lots of little red worms in the tank (which is filled with gravel and a pile of stones for the land mass). Completely cleaned the tank and filter out (which was clogged with them), and fished out any remaining worms that I find, but how can I avoid getting any more? How did they get there anyway? Thanks for any advice!

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[Fishey bricks]

Hi all,
Bought a 60L tank two weeks ago, and four Red Claw crabs (lovely creatures!). All has been fine up until recently, when we noticed lots of little red worms in the tank (which is filled with gravel and a pile of stones for the land mass). Completely cleaned the tank and filter out (which was clogged with them), and fished out any remaining worms that I find, but how can I avoid getting any more? How did they get there anyway? Thanks for any advice!

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Those worms are most likely Tubifex, which are most often caused by over feeding. They are a sign that the aquarium is dirty when you have an explosion like that. Here's a link that may be helpful.
Tubifex - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[mutantllama]

Thanks mate! They were definitely bloodworm, but the good news is that, between fishing them out and the filter and the crabs eating them, they are all gone now!

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