Small white leeches.. Help!

[Basefrog]

I noticed that i have some small white leeching looking creatures in my 6g planted tank. Live stock is Amano shrimp and Otos. they have all been in there for about 3 weeks. Where have they come from and how do I get rid of them?

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

P.S. The leeches are only about 2-3mm long so far.

 

[DragonFish71]

Google planaria and see if that's what you have. If so, they are harmless, but you need to cut back on feeding and up water changes to get rid of them.

 

[HN1]

Google "planaria" and see if that is them. If so, clean water, improved gravel vacs, etc will be your best bet.

 

[Basefrog]

Thanks for the quick responses guys! They do look like them.. Funny you should say cut down on feeding, as I noticed them when I was feeding xD though tbh I only feed once every 2-3 days. An I do a 30% pwc every week.

 

[jlk]

You def need to ID them! Do they undulate & swim like snakes? Do they have a sucker mouth & dive for cover when you turn the lights on? If this description fits the your worms, then you may have a leech problem. ID'ing them will be key here.

 

[Basefrog]

They are honestly too small to tell.. Though they are not free swimming.. They just move slowly along the surface of the glass.. The light seems to have no effect on them.

 

[jlk]

This is good news!! Most likely planaria (leeches dont crawl along on the glass) which are harmless. Just up your water changes/grav vacs & reduce feeding as suggested. If they get really annoying, you can safely treat the tank with prazipro to eliminate them.

 

[Basefrog]

Ok thanks! Was getting worried that they might over populate and harm my stock.

 

[Athaocity]

They hide in your substrates. No harm from them but the thought of worms is harmful yah

 

[Basefrog]

Will Shrimp eat them? Or will anything eat them?

 

[jlk]

I dont believe theres anything that eats them. They are basically just a nuisance. Wipe them off the glass & do some grav vacs & water changes & you should be able to bring them under control.