Planaria

[ryanoh]

I noticed I've got some planaria on the front glass of my tank. I've done some research about what they are and how to get rid of them, and it seems the only danger of having them is that they're a symptom of over feeding. I probably do over feed a little, but my water parameters are fine. I've cut back on feeding, but is there anything I can do to get rid of the planaria? Internet says my fish will eat them, but they're really high up on the glass and I can't imagine my shell dwellers are going to go up there to get them. I've got a pleco, but he doesn't seem interested.

Should I just scrape them off and try to siphon them up?

 

[Lotus]

Cutting back on feeding and perhaps giving the gravel some extra vacuuming may help. They're not harmful to the tank, so it's not a major cause for concern. You can scrape them off and see if the fish eat them.

 

[ryanoh]

I've got sand, which honestly could probably use a good vacuuming. Where do planaria even come from? Are they something that's just in water but needs the right condition to get established, like algae?

 

[Lotus]

Planaria can come in with plants or fish. Like snails, they can be really small when they come in with the fish or plants, but the populations will explode if conditions are right.

 

[ryanoh]

I skipped a day of feeding and noticed there was almost none left on the front glass. Surely they couldn't have all died off so soon? Will some aquarium salt help me out at all?