long white thread-like worm?

[kimberly]

This morning when I turned the light on my 58 gal in the gravel there was a long white thread. I examined it closer and realized that it appeared to be moving like a worm. I pulled it out (along wtih some gravel) with my net and ran hot water over it to kill it. It was probably 2-3 inches long and the thickness of a thick thread. What is it? I didn't take a picture, besides it being so small, worms freak me out!

Tank inhabitants: planted with assorted plants, 6 fancy guppies, 8 orange von rio tetras, 1 dwarf gourami and 3 (small) clown loaches.

 

[Devilishturtles]

Possibly some sort of nematode. Have you recently added any fish?

 

[Joey17]

I used to get worms like that when i had my reptiles. They only showed up when there was wood in the water. I think they were called planaria .

 

[talloulou]

Make sure you aren't overfeeding your fish. Presence of this worms often indicates the tank has an excess of food available.

 

[kimberly]

I recently added the gourami, no wood and yes, I probably do overfeed.

So other than not overfeeding, do I need to do anything?
Thanks.

 

[talloulou]

I don't think the worms hurt the fish. Just be sure to do very regular gravel vacs and water changes.

 

[kimberly]

I have been doing about 10 gallon water changes each Saturday and I do a *really good* gravel vac b/c my almost 3 y/o loves to see the fish poop come through the line. Do you think I should change more water? The tank is 58 gal and planted.
Thanks.

 

[talloulou]

I'm the wrong person to ask because I do almost 50% (now that I have one of those nifty pythons that makes water changing a breeze) twice a week. But if your using the old bucket method that makes larger water changes harder. I'm one of those people who believes you can never do enough water changes for your fish. But I don't normally change more than 50% at one time.

I also am guilty though of overfeeding my fish I feed them a few times a day and a large variety of foods so that's one of the reasons I like to do water changes alot. The two sorta balance each other out.

 

[kimberly]

Old bucket method here...10 gallons is fairly easy because it is 2 5 gal Home Depot buckets. I could probably do that twice on Saturday with out too many problems, but my 3 y/o really likes water and I always worry while he is "helping" me that there is going to be water everywhere. Thanks again!