General Care Discussion :: EW! Mold and now WORM problem!

[Bumby's Mom]

I am so disgusted right now. I just looked into the babies tank and the filter is covered in these little white/clearish worms! and mold! I don't understand why they keep getting mold and now worms in their tank. I just bleached the tank last week. Should I stop feeding them in the tank? I am calling the vets tomorrow. I am really grossed out right now and I am afraid to put my hands in the water. Are the babies in any danger? Should I get them out and put them in something else until I call the vet tomorrow?

[Tenodera]

Can you take a picture?

[Bumby's Mom]

I just took a pic, Sorry it is so big but it shows the worms, they are the thin white things:

[Tenodera]

Oh...Nematodes. Those are normal. When the babies get bigger try feeding them outside of the tank and they'll be gone in a few weeks.

[Bumby's Mom]

So they are safe? Are you positive thats what they are? I am just really upset about it... there is also mold in there which really irritates me because the water should be clean. I change it almost on a weekly basis, have a filter and last week I actually bleached it (except I didn't let it sit for 1/2 hour like I should have). The water doesn't smell very nice either... just not very happy right now

I just did a google search and there are pictures of humans being infested by them! Am I at any danger here?

[Tenodera]

Oh no! It's a different kind of nematode. Try googling "aquarium small white worms"

[Bumby's Mom]

Phew, I about had a panic attack! lol. So there is no need to call the vet and take some in? I am going to clean the tank and bleach it again. I think I will do Nyx's tank too (even though her water is nice and clear lol).

[DavidY]

Wow that's weird. Kevin, how on earth did you identify those worms from that picture? I could barely make them out. lol! If you can feed them in a separate container that should help prevent the problem from coming back. Do the turtles ever leave uneaten food in the tank? That's the only time I've ever seen mold actually grow in an aquarium is when it's covering uneaten food.

[Bumby's Mom]

Yep, the babies don't eat everything and the problem really isn't them not eating everything it is the filter sucking it in before the babies can get it all. I was searching the worms last night, are nematodes and planaria the same thing? I seen that people actually raise these worms for fish food!! It was nasty. There was a picture of a guy with an over flowing handful of these worms. I am going to bleach the tank today and from now on they will be fed in a different container. I know they aren't harmful but they are just gross and the water smells, which is weird since it is perfectly clear...

[SpotsMama]

Technically speaking, a nematode is a round worm and a planaria is a flat worm. Both are worms but different varieties. There are actually multiple varieties within both the nematode and planaria groups. Some nematodes are parasitic and some are not. I could be wrong but I don't think planaria are ever parasitic.

[csmiley]

Sounds like spotsmoma is right on the money about this one.

[Bumby's Mom]

well they got bleached LOL so they are no longer living. Whatever they were if they return I will be taking a sample to the vet. And I will not be feeding them in the tank anymore.

[zero_tails]

planaria are harmless, i get em ocassionally in my oscars tank but my pleco just eats them after lol.