tiny worms in my tank ):

[shrimpnoobie]

I have a 2.9 gal tank with four ecosphere shrimp that has been on autopilot for a year now. All of a sudden I look in today and see these little worms that are less than a cm long and wide, white body with a black end, squirming around my tank. They “swim” by violently twitching and they can sit on the walls of my tank. I do not know how long they have been there. Also, I noticed a dead ant in my tank today as well which I will remove.

What are these worms? What should I do? Thank you.

[Dch48]

If they have a round body, they are probably just harmless detritus worms. If they are flat with a diamond shaped "head" at one end, they are planaria which potentially can be dangerous to the shrimp.

[shrimpnoobie]

If they have a round body, they are probably just harmless detritus worms. If they are flat with a diamond shaped "head" at one end, they are planaria which potentially can be dangerous to the shrimp.

Thank you for replying. I did more reading on the detritus works and although they don’t really look alike they swim very similarly. Maybe my worms are still babies, because he difference is mine are sooo tiny. Maybe 1mm long and a hair thin. They have only a black “head” and their body is thin. I’ll do more reading. I do not think they are dangerous as they’ve been there now possibly a couple days and no changes. I can’t post a pic because they’re too small ):

[Dch48]

If they're swimming like that, they're most likely harmless. Planaria will crawl along the glass kind of like slugs. I had an outbreak in my cherry shrimp tank that proved to be just the harmless type. Outbreaks of Detritus worms are most often the result of overfeeding. There are always some present in an established tank but they usually stay buried in the substrate.

[shrimpnoobie]

If they're swimming like that, they're most likely harmless. Planaria will crawl along the glass kind of like slugs. I had an outbreak in my cherry shrimp tank that proved to be just the harmless type. Outbreaks of Detritus worms are most often the result of overfeeding. There are always some present in an established tank but they usually stay buried in the substrate.

Is it possible that the dead ant made them
come out? I haven’t fed my shrimp in a year, lol.

[Dch48]

I guess that could be possible.

[Super Jess]

Maybe mosquito larvae? They do that twitching movement and look like a thread with a head at first.

[shrimpnoobie]

Maybe mosquito larvae? They do that twitching movement and look like a thread with a head at first.

Thank you for replying! They don’t really look like mosquito larvae when I google them, but maybe there is many different ones. I feel like there’s more of them every day, but then they die and float to the top of my tank. I remove them when they’re dead. Or sometimes, I see it and I’m like “ok have to remove that dead one later” but when I come back, the corpse is gone. I wonder if it sinks down to the sand and I worry about my tank. My shrimp seem relatively unbothered. If anything they seem to be sticking together more than usual but other than that I don’t notice anything.

[Dch48]

The shrimp could be eating the dead "worms". They are mainly vegetarian but will eat other things.

[shrimpnoobie]

The shrimp could be eating the dead "worms". They are mainly vegetarian but will eat other things.

Well, I learned something today. The little worms just go up there and pretend they are dead for awhile, and then they randomly start twitch/swimming back down lol. So they are not really dead. I do use that opportunity to aspirate them up into this turkey baster I have to spot clean the tank when I need to. I hope this resolves on its own, but truthfully i don’t know. I feel like there’s more little worms every day. It doesn’t feel like they’re taking over the tank or anything but I feel like I remove 10 and then I see way more as soon as I’m done with removal. Also, my shrimp are way more active lately. I wonder if they’re competing with the worms for food. I don’t want to feed my shrimp now though, with all this going on. Lastly, I see some of these worms are soooo small and some are bigger. Are they having babies!!!? Ok so also today I feel like I got some pictures of the ones I took out and put in my hydrometer. It’s tough to make out but they’re in the lower right corner. Thank you to everyone that has replied so far.

[shrimpnoobie]

Ok also I revisited the mosquito larvae pics after getting a better look at my worms today and they look extremely similar. The thing is, the way people recommend getting rid of them is adding fish or certain chemicals to the tank. I don’t have those options because of my shrimp ): What should I do?

[Dch48]

The one by the number 22 definitely looks like a larva. It has the widened head and swimmers on the other end. It is definitely not a worm. I wouldn't worry too much about them. Just keep removing them and they'll soon be gone. Unless another mosquito comes along and lays eggs that is.

[shrimpnoobie]

The one by the number 22 definitely looks like a larva. It has the widened head and swimmers on the other end. It is definitely not a worm. I wouldn't worry too much about them. Just keep removing them and they'll soon be gone. Unless another mosquito comes along and lays eggs that is.

Thank you. Yep they don’t seem to be harming the shrimp which is important. Hopefully it resolves soon as I’m hoping to expand the shrimp family with another group of shrimp from mustafa, since right now the family is only my four original from the ecosphere. Thank you again (-:

[Super Jess]

They do look like mosquito larvae to me. Best thing you can do is keep the tank covered so mosquitoes can't get in to lay eggs, and/or just keep scooping them out as you find them. I've been working with my county's vector control and these suckers are everywhere!

Can't think of anything that would definitely be safe to add to water with the shrimp; I vote for cover+suck.

Edited to add: they shouldn't harm your shrimp but removing them will help avoid supporting a breeding population of mosquitoes in your home

[shrimpnoobie]

They do look like mosquito larvae to me. Best thing you can do is keep the tank covered so mosquitoes can't get in to lay eggs, and/or just keep scooping them out as you find them. I've been working with my county's vector control and these suckers are everywhere!

Can't think of anything that would definitely be safe to add to water with the shrimp; I vote for cover+suck.

Edited to add: they shouldn't harm your shrimp but removing them will help avoid supporting a breeding population of mosquitoes in your home

Lol yes, I do not want to make a cozy home for them! The thing is my tank lid doesn’t cover it all so I’ve been making do with a piece of clear film wrap. I guess this was a bad day in the clear film wrap guard! Thank you.