spade-headed worms

[heslipst]

Lately I have been having way too many parasite problems. However, while examining my heavily planted apisto tank tonight, I found small worm-like organisms crawling around on my planted driftwood. These guys are white and their front end was sort of like the shape of a spade. Does the presence of these organisms represent more bad news in my ridicuolous micro-zoological struggles?

Steve
(still trying to get rid of :evil: camallanus :evil: as well )

 

[2la]

Not too much to worry about, Steve. Read this article. It does signal an overabundance of food material, however. If you really feel the need to be proactive about getting rid of them, paradise fish and blue (three-spot) gouramis will dine on them if they're short of other foods. Baensch claims SAEs will as well, but IME they don't appear to have a very big appetite for them.

 

[Daniel L]

Hydra? I heard these were gladly eaten by whether gouramis or apple snails, which I prefer. Hydra will be a threat to fry as it will grab and eat them. Be carefull! Daniel L

 

[aspen]

yes, planaria are buggers with fry.

rick

 

[2la]

No, not hydra (they're not even mentioned in the article, I don't think). Planaria. They don't attack fry but WILL make a meal of the eggs.