worms in freshwayer aqarium water

Question
help, i have seen in my aquarium water these long white worms. they don't appear tyo be bothering the fish but they are creepy. what are they and can i get rid of them

Answer
Hi Betty,

Those worms are Planaria. They are caused by overfeeding and poor water quality. They cannot harm the fish or plants whatsoever. They are simply unsightly. If you want to re3move them, you will have to do a series of partial water changes and gravel vacuuming.

-Perform 20% water changes every day, along with a gravel vacuuming using a gravel siphon (available at your local fish store, if you don't have one)

-Feed the fish only once per day. This is adequate for most freshwater species, and feeding too much gives excess nutrients which Planaria thrive on.

Do NOT use any chemicals in an attempt to kill them, as they will kill your fish or the beneficial bacteria which remove toxins.

In the future, make sure you do partial water changes every week as a normal maintenance routine. 10-30% per week is sufficient, with a gravel vacuuming once every 2 weeks.

Good Luck, and Happy Fishkeeping!